Covid reopening took place on Labor Day, Covid data looks OK for now

HUNGARY - In Brief 02 May 2021 by Istvan Racz

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The reopening measures announced a few days ago became effective yesterday, as the number of first-shot vaccinated people had exceeded the 4 million mark domestically (4.064 million or 42% of the whole population by this morning). The basic rule is that pretty much everything, including shops, services, cultural and sport events, hotels, restaurants, etc. is allowed to reopen for those who have at least their first-shot vaccination, certified by an officially distributed plastic card. The night curfew is now reduced to between midnight and 5 am, and the higher classes of elementary schools as well as high schools remain closed until May 10.Despite the relatively high level and rapid progress of vaccination, these measures appear to have an element of a jump in the dark, of course. But so far so good, as the 3rd wave of Covid continues to be receding spectacularly, despite the reopening of kindergartens and the lower classes of elementary schools from April 19, the opening up of open-air terraces of restaurants a few days earlier and the numerous mass scenes near vaccination points as people were rushing to take vaccines in big numbers. The number of daily new infections, hospitalisations and patients in severe conditions, the positivity ratio of virus tests have all fallen very sharply in recent weeks. But there are still close to 2000 new infections detected daily, and the number of active cases is also quite high, close to 250 thousand people.So, fingers crossed, and everyone better remains careful indeed.