There are 188 Hungarian nationals in quarantine in Europe, and another 30 outside the continent, the head of the duty centre of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus infection said at an online press conference held on Monday.

Colonel Tibor Lakatos said 187 of those quarantined in Europe are in isolation in Austria, and one person is in quarantine in Germany.

In answer to a question, the colonel said supplies and raw materials necessary for the containment effort are arriving in Hungary on an ongoing basis. At present, there is a safe supply of raw materials and protective supplies, he pointed out.

In response to a question related to the possible introduction of a curfew, he said they are monitoring the situation continuously, taking account of the fact that the whole country will not undergo infection in 14 days; this will be an extended process. He said they must thoroughly consider when to introduce restrictive measures, and when these measures become unenforceable and unobservable, with a serious impact on people’s lives which is not in proportion to the spread of the virus.

Mr Lakatos stated, answering a question, that if epicentres develop, it will be necessary to restrict people’s movement with means which are in proportion to the fight against the infection and do not jeopardise the availability of general supplies.

Regarding the restrictions related to shops, he said the present restrictions appear to be sufficient. However, if further restrictions must be introduced, they will adjust the opening hours of shops to these. Whatever extraordinary situation may set in, general supplies for members of the public must be maintained, and they will guarantee them, he pointed out.

The colonel said in response to the fact that the Mayor of the settlement Polgár introduced a partial curfew that before taking any such measures, mayors are required to consult experts to determine whether the contemplated restriction will indeed serve the desired purpose.

He reported that the police had pressed charges in cases related to the coronavirus epidemic against 11 persons due to fraud, 14 persons due to scaremongering and 12 persons due to public endangerment. He highlighted that the bill that is designed to tighten the rules relating to the punishment for scaremongering is currently before Parliament.

They are also continuing checks related to the opening hours of stores; so far, they have pressed charges against 24 persons and imposed onsite fines in 14 cases.

At the borders, the police have ordered more than four thousand persons into compulsory home quarantine, have carried out 22,500 checks for compliance and have pressed charges against one hundred individuals due to the violation of the rules of compulsory home quarantine.

He also said based on this morning’s data there are no significant delays at border crossing points. In passenger traffic there are minor delays at Parassapuszta, Sopron and Csanádpalota. In cargo traffic, there is a one-hour delay on the entry side at Rajka, Ártánd and Csengersima, and on the exit side at Sopron and Nagylak.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)