Hungary is still in the phase of group coronavirus incidences, and has not yet entered the phase of mass incidences; however, this will probably happen, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Kossuth Radio’s programme ‘Good morning, Hungary’ on Friday.

Medical doctors, too, are of the opinion that a significant rise in the number of infections cannot be avoided, but it is possible to slow down the rate of the increase, the Prime Minister said, adding that we must seek to slow down processes to enable the health care system to attend to urgent cases.

He said according to the latest data, there are 85 coronavirus patients in the country, 6 of them are in a serious condition, one person died, while seven persons have recovered.

Mr Orbán expects the medical task force concerned with patient care issues to clearly state by next week what different social groups could expect in the event of infection, thereby minimising people’s fears.

However, already at this stage one can tell that most patients who will need intensive care will come from among the elderly, he pointed out, observing that children suffering from immunodeficiency disorders could also be seriously affected by the virus.

In the context of children, he highlighted that parents who are unable to stay at home with their children can take them to their local schools. The same applies to nursery schools designated for duty service.

He also said the government made the right decision when, heeding the advice of disease control specialists, adopted measures already in the early stage of the epidemic, and as a result, “the spread of the disease is slow”. However, those specialising in mathematical modelling agree that while the spread of the virus can be slowed down, in the end the number of incidences will even out more or less in the whole of Europe.

A dramatic situation such as in Italy could arise if the number of incidences rises swiftly, and the health care system collapses. We can seek to avoid this by increasing the available supplies and human resource capacities, and slowing down the number of patients in need of intensive case; “we’re doing both things at the same time,” Mr Orbán explained.

He observed that they had increased the number of health care workers, but everyone must prepare for the eventuality that there will be incidences also among them. The good news is that there are plans for their replacement.

He further pointed out it is not true that there are not enough supplies; there are sufficient stocks of everything at the current level of infection. However, as they are preparing for a higher level, they must procure more supplies than necessary at present. There is also an order of use for the event of the development of a mass epidemic: health care workers are the first to receive face masks and supplies, followed by law enforcement personnel and public administration staff, he said.

There are face masks available in Hungary in the millions, they are manufactured in Hungary, for instance, in penal institutions, they are also procuring raw materials, and are buying all the different types of face masks, he said. “We are not begging from others […], we are taking care of ourselves.” They have set all existing connections in motion, “from Beijing to Shanghai our people are there at the airports,” he stated, adding that the money necessary for the containment effort is available.

He remarked that a virology task force is working on a drug alteration, in case they can swiftly find an appropriate medicine at least for alleviating the coronavirus symptoms.

“We have organised a collective containment effort. […] Today, the community of Hungarians is a community set to containment mode,” Mr Orbán said, stating that “we have a military plan for the containment of the virus, and the country is ready for battle according to the logic of defence”.

Those who found themselves in trouble abroad will be taken care of by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the borders have been sealed, with only humanitarian corridors in operation, there are soldiers and police officers in sufficient numbers, officer candidates have also been mobilised, military units have been assigned to companies engaged in vital activities, the schedule of physicians is in place, disease control hospitals have been designated, and a disease control hospital is currently being erected, he listed.

Addressing the elderly, Mr Orbán stressed that “it is not that they are a burden or a source of danger; this is about the fact that if the epidemic becomes mass, they will be in the biggest trouble, and we are worried about them”.

It would not be right to impose mandatory regulations on the elderly, and he would like to avoid such an arrangement. It is, however, possible to appeal to them, “I’m asking the elderly […] to stay at home”. Local governments are required to take care of the needs of the elderly staying at home, he said.

The goal is that as few people should drop out of work as possible

At this point, the goal is that as few people should drop out of work as possible, and that those who are unable to work for some reason should be able to resume work within the shortest possible time because “if there are jobs, there is everything,” Mr Orbán said.

It is very important that the country should carry on working, the Prime Minister highlighted, indicating that this is not possible under all circumstances, but they will help those who lose their jobs.

He added that they will also try to support businesses so that they should not be compelled to lay off work force.

People are concerned, Mr Orbán continued, that they might lose their jobs, and meanwhile their debts must be paid, their properties are repossessed, and they become financially ruined.

Therefore, as an initial measure, principal and interest payments on loan debts have been suspended until the end of the year, meaning that no one should be concerned that if they are unable to pay their debts now “everything they have worked for in the past ten years will be reduced to zero,” he stressed.

He highlighted that the sums in question are enormous as the total debt payments made to banks in a single year amount to some HUF 3,600 billion.

In answer to the question as to whether banks are willingly cooperating in this measure, the Prime Minister said “I didn’t ask them, but reactions seem to indicate that they are”.

Additionally, in “sensitive” sectors, from taxi services through restaurants to hotels, they have reduced contribution payment liabilities, Mr Orbán said, adding that further measures will be necessary.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)