We would still to like to avoid an eruption of the epidemic, the Chief Medical Officer stressed at the Friday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic.

Cecília Müller said it is a great result that we have managed to avoid an eruption of the epidemic, a sudden exponential growth in the number of incidences. She said we have managed to gain time and have prepared even for a worst-case scenario, but we must continue to remain cautious and moderate, and observe the rules.

In her words, they would like to keep the epidemic under control. Therefore, she asked residents of Budapest and Pest County to continue to observe the rules related to the restrictions on movement, and to only leave their homes for essential reasons.

At the same time, the Chief Medical Officer asked people living in the countryside to observe the rules that apply to them.

Everyone should continue to keep a safe distance of 1.5 metres, and should cover up their faces in shops and on public transport, she said, stressing that the shopping slot reserved for the elderly between 9.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. will remain in effect throughout the country.

Ms. Müller highlighted that there will be “slow relaxing measures” which will be kept under strict control also from a disease control point of view, while she described the screening tests that have started among the general population as useful. She indicated that health care services would also resume, about which they would provide detailed information in the coming days.

The Chief Medical Officer said they continue to recommend that, wherever possible, employers should maintain the possibility of working online. If this is not possible, only healthy workers who are not coughing or sneezing and do not have a temperature should take up work. She said in some places, including the Tatabánya hospital, there were health care workers who continued to work while already sick, and one cannot rule out that this may have played a part in the spread of the epidemic.

She drew attention to the importance of thorough disinfecting and social distancing also at the workplace, and recommended that the number of persons who may be present on canteen premises, in rest areas and areas designated for smoking at any one time should be limited. At the entrances of buildings, disinfectants should be made available, while surfaces which are often touched, including light switches, lift buttons and door handles, should be disinfected frequently.

She also spoke about the importance of airing rooms; she said if natural ventilation is not possible, air-conditioning equipment should be kept clean and disinfected with virucides. She highlighted the importance of compliance with rules of hygiene in lunch areas at workplaces as well as of the disinfecting of sports equipment and distancing when doing sports at the workplace.

She said there are 2,863 registered coronavirus patients, while the number of recovered patients stands at 609. On Thursday 11 persons died, and the total number of persons whose deaths may have been partially caused by the coronavirus has risen to 323. On Friday, 983 persons were being treated in hospital, including 49 on assisted ventilation.

Regarding the quarantine ordered in the Tatabánya hospital, she said during the quarantine, patient care is ongoing. The available replacement health care institutions have been designated; patients can find the necessary information on the website of the National Centre for Public Health. In answer to a question, she also said all the workers of the hospital are being tested, not only health care workers, and denied reports that testing had not begun in the hospital.

In the context of the fact that from 4 May lakes, other free waters and bathing facilities will be open for visiting, she confirmed that the virus does not spread via water, while it is destroyed by chlorine which is used for the disinfecting of bathing facilities. Therefore, if visitors observe the recommended distance, visiting these facilities will not represent an additional risk.

In response to the suggestion that several people claim to have undergone a disease similar to the coronavirus in February, she said it cannot be ruled out that these individuals did indeed undergo novel coronavirus infection. A blood test could determine whether they had the disease and their bodies produced a sufficient quantity of antibodies. She recalled that the spread of the virus in larger numbers had begun in March, but it cannot be ruled out that some individuals may have undergone coronavirus infection already in February.

Regarding the therapy using the blood plasma of recovered patients, she said for the time being, this is a research project and cannot be described as a widely used therapy; however, it appears to be a highly promising mode of treatment.

In response to press reports claiming that at the Pesti út elderly care home there has not been an attending physician since November, she said the ongoing investigation will establish the facts.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)