From Friday, the rules of entry from Austria have changed; Hungarian and Austrian nationals who have certificates of negative coronavirus tests performed not more than 4 days previously will not be required to retire to compulsory home quarantine, a staff member of the duty centre of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic said at an online press conference held on Friday.

Police Lt. Colonel Róbert Kiss added that if, however, those entering the country detect symptoms of coronavirus infection within 14 days of entry, they will not be allowed to leave their homes or place of residence and will be required to notify the disease control authority by telephone.

The rules have also changed at the Hungarian-Slovak border; Slovak nationals, too, may enter Hungary if they are not staying in Hungary for more than 24 hours.

The staff member of the duty centre recalled that at the Romanian-Hungarian border transit traffic from Western Europe and to Western Europe is allowed through. Transit opportunities have been extended to Romanian nationals transported in passenger cars, by buses and minivans who travel on from Liszt Ferenc Airport to other destinations or who arrive at the airport and travel on home from here. Upon entry, both drivers and passengers will be exempt from compulsory home quarantine, he added.

Mr Kiss indicated that there are ongoing consultations with the law enforcement agencies of neighbouring countries with respect to the suspension or lifting of border controls. They are making recommendations regarding international measures – whilst monitoring their effects – as necessary.

The Lt. Colonel also said, based on the Operational Group’s instruction, on Friday protective supplies will be transported to more than 30 hospitals and other organisations involved in the containment effort.

In answer to a question, Mr Kiss said during the present phase of the fight against the epidemic, it is necessary to maintain the shopping time slots because persons over the age of 65 are most at risk of diseases related to coronavirus infection. He added that they are asking elderly persons to remain patient.

The staff member of the duty centre also highlighted that as many as 1,230 persons had registered for the mobile telephone application which served the electronic monitoring of compliance with compulsory home quarantine. The number of active users currently stands at 875. On Thursday, 1,046 compulsory home quarantine orders were issued, resulting in 11,668 in effect in total at present. During checks carried out in the past 24 hours, the police have detected 30 violations.

He added that the number of criminal procedures instituted in connection with the epidemic had risen to 390, including 105 due to scaremongering, 29 due to the threat of public endangerment, 120 due to fraud and 21 due to the violation of disease control regulations. The police have questioned 79 suspects in these cases so far, he observed.

Regarding border traffic, Mr Kiss said in cargo traffic on the entry and exit sides there are one-hour delays at Tompa, Röszke and Csanádpalota. In passenger traffic on the exit side there are delays of up to four hours at Nagylak, while on the entry side there are delays of one hour at Ártánd and delays of two hours at Nagylak.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)