Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, announced the lifting of most of the COVID restrictions after the number of vaccinated people reached 5 million this weekend, representing over 50% of the country.
Hungary is turning back to normality after an announcement was made in the morning of May 21st. Two of the most significant changes are the end of the night-time curfew and the lifting of the mandatory mask mandate. The PM declared the latter with the message “Goodbye masks” as he sees the end of the pandemic´s third wave. Hungary was the first and only EU member country who vaccinated it´s population with the Russian vaccine “Sputnik V” and the Chinese vaccine “Sinopharm”. Péter Szijjártó, the Foreign Minister said that because of these decisions, Hungary can go back to normality about one and a half months earlier than any other European country. According to both Ministers, Hungary is currently one of the most protected and safest places in Europe.
Bars, restaurants, gyms etc. already opened at the end of April allowing all customers for their outdoor spaces, and even allowing vaccinated people to be served inside their buildings. The reopening came as a big relief for the gastronomy sector as it has been seriously struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
To reach the number of 5 million vaccinated people, Hungary has a vaccination rate of 50% its whole population, which accounts for about 9.8 million inhabitants. All vaccinated persons receive a so called “security certificate”, which gives them a higher “freedom” regarding daily activities. The Hungarian government is now in discussions with other European countries to make them accept these vaccination cards so that Hungarians can travel freely across the continent.
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