We have arrived at a stable phase, the epidemic is abating, the Chief Medical Officer said at the Thursday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic.

Cecília Müller added that so far the lifting of restrictions in the countryside has not resulted in excess infections, but we must wait until the end of the incubation period of 14 days before we can confidently state this.

The number of persons requiring hospitalisation is on the decrease, while 23 per cent of confirmed coronavirus patients, 787 persons are residents of elderly care homes, she said, observing that every fourth infected person lives in elderly care homes, and those living in elderly care homes account for the same percentage of the deceased.

She highlighted that there are 3,380 registered coronavirus patients; on Wednesday, their number has risen by 39. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 436 persons have died. At the same time, it is good news that the number of recovered patients is steadily rising, totalling 1,169 at present. She also recalled that 658 persons are currently in need of hospitalisation, including 49 persons requiring assisted ventilation. She said the number of laboratory tests is increasing; so far, 123,258 tests have been carried out with the PCR technique according to WHO standards.

In answer to a question, she said health care workers account for 13 per cent of the total number of infections, and the virus has appeared in 45 hospital wards. These have been sealed, and are not receiving new patients.

She said in Zala County there are infected residents in two elderly care homes. In the Zala County Care Centre with 428 residents, the coronavirus tests of 43 residents and 12 workers have come back positive, 30 persons have been hospitalised, and one of them has died. In the Zalaegerszeg Care Centre for the Elderly providing care for 100 persons, 38 residents and 13 workers have become infected, and three of the 23 persons requiring hospitalisation have died.

Ms. Müller said ever more people are returning to work from working at home.

There are many places of work where a large number of people are required to work in a single space. In these places, people must be especially careful, she said.

She suggested that already at the point of entry contactless hand sanitising should be made possible; in the absence of this, workers should thoroughly wash their hands with soap.

The workplace environment must be disinfected, and there must be a distance of 1.5 to 2 metres between two workstations. She pointed out that natural airing is the best way to keep the air inside enclosed spaces clean. If this is not possible, experts must disinfect the ventilation equipment.

She highlighted that workplace canteens should attempt to avoid overcrowding by scheduling several shifts for workers as well as by keeping a safe distance between tables. The coronavirus typically dies at temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius, meaning that freshly-cooked meals and meals kept above that temperature do not pose a threat, she added.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister / MTI)