There are now more than twice as many recovered patients as active infections, the Chief Medical Officer said at the Tuesday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic.

Cecília Müller said in the past 24 hours three new positive cases have been registered; at present, the total number of infections stands at 4,017. Two patients have died, and with this the number of fatalities has risen to 550.

She added that 2,324 persons had recovered from the disease and the number of active infections currently stands at 1,134. At present, 365 patients are being treated in hospital, including 20 requiring assisted ventilation.

She said Budapest is responsible for the highest number of active infections at 467; there are 144 cases in Pest County, 185 in Zala County, 139 in Komárom-Esztergom County, 138 in Fejér County, 25 in Nógrád County, 12 in Csongrád-Csanád County, 8 in Veszprém County, 7 in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, five in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, four in Hajdú-Bihar County, 2 each in Borsod County, Heves County, Vas County and Jász-Nagykun County, and one in Somogy County. There are no active infections in Baranya County, Bács-Kiskun County, Békés County and Tolna County, she stated.

The Chief Medical Officer highlighted that temporary licences can no longer be issued for the production of disinfectants. She said the legal rules in effect during the state of danger made this possible earlier and a very large number of such licences had been issued. However, as today there is a safe supply of these products in the country, there is no need for the issuance of temporary licences.

The expert said if manufacturers would like to maintain their production capacity in the future, they would have to seek authorisation in the usual manner, as part of the procedures laid down in the relevant regulations. The National Centre for Public Health will not issue temporary licences any further.

Ms. Müller also said the restrictions on the movement of the homeless had been lifted, and so from now on they, too, would be able to leave homeless shelters or institutions to go to work. She added that they were not aware of any positive cases at homeless shelters.

In answer to a question, she said they will decide on Tuesday whether health care should return to the pre-epidemic operating protocol; they will inform members of the public about the specific decisions adopted on Wednesday.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)