The Prime Minister is proud of the work done by Hungarian epidemiological experts who are working according to the relevant protocols. Mr Orbán spoke about this in answer to questions at a press conference held on Thursday in Budapest after the meeting of the Operational Corps responsible for the protective measures taken against the coronavirus infection.

In answer to a question regarding the epidemic’s impact on the economy, Mr Orbán said the epidemic will affect the world economy and in particular the growth of the European economy, and is “shattering” tourism. He indicated that he had instructed Finance Minister Mihály Varga and Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics to assess the anticipated consequences at an expert level. He added that at the next cabinet meeting they will allocate funds for the necessary protective measures; until then, the present general reserves will remain sufficient.

The Prime Minister confirmed they now know that the other infected Iranian young man attends the Gödöllő Szent István University.

Regarding the Iranian students, he said they had arrived in Hungary by plane on 22 February, but had shown no symptoms. They underwent the body temperature check at the airport; at the time, they did not have an elevated body temperature. Two days later, one of them contacted Semmelweis University’s on-site physician; the students were quarantined on 3 and 4 March, and the necessary laboratory tests were carried out.

The Prime Minister also said in the case of both the university students travelling from Milan to Budapest (and then on to Prague) and the Iranian students, investigations had started immediately in order to find out whom they may have been in contact with. The authorities now have information about the persons they came into contact with, and those that the epidemiological experts failed to locate were tracked down by the police and “subjected to the necessary procedure”.

Mr Orbán highlighted that several days earlier university managers had received all requests and recommendations from the Operational Corps concerning the measures relating to them. He highlighted that, in addition to the South Pest Central Hospital, they had designated further institutions for the event of a rise in the number of patients.

In this context, Minister of Human Capacities Miklós Kásler said in answer to a question that the infectious diseases ward and the designated quarantine building of the South Pest Central Hospital serve as the central venue for caring for infected patients. This is where confirmed patients as well as persons suspected of having been infected are transferred. If necessary, they will designate further hospital places; in the case of this hospital, 180 beds are available. Throughout the country, there are 28 infectious diseases wards with 850 beds, he added.

Mr Kásler, too, confirmed that both the necessary funds and teams of experts were available. He said he had instructed health care workers not to attend conferences, and had asked the operators of other hospitals to follow suit, and to also reconsider any health care conferences planned to be held in Hungary.

In answer to a question regarding a ban on entry into the country, the Minister said Hungary is not preparing to take any such action. He added that so far not a single other country had introduced a ban in relation to Iran or any other widely infected country.

(MTI)