Progress on Covid vaccination and reopening

HUNGARY - In Brief 14 Apr 2021 by Istvan Racz

On April 7, the night curfew, in force since November 11, was shortened by two hours, to between 10pm and 5am, and the time when shops that can be kept open otherwise are required to close was modified to 9.30pm from 7pm. All that was done with reference to the fact that the total number of those with a first shot of Covid vaccination had surpassed 2.5 million, out of a 9.7 million total population.This morning, the vaccination counter has crossed the 3 million line. Previously, PM Orbán said that lockdown measures would be revisited at this point, and yes, indeed he has made an announcement during the day. According to that, kindergartens and the lower four classes of elementary schools, closed down from March 8, will be reopened from April 19 as planned, whereas the upper four classes of elementary schools and secondary schools will reopen only on May 10.Mr. Orbán also said that the next measure to loosen lockdown rules will be the reopening of restaurants' open-air terraces, after vaccination numbers have exceeded 3.5 million people, which he expects, and indeed is likely, to take place by April 21-22.Linking reopening moves to progress in vaccination may serve the purpose of creating the public impression that the government has a well-established concept and is in control of the Covid situation. Vaccination progress is indeed quite rapid now that the supply of vaccines is not a major constraint anymore and that probably the best model of the vaccination process has been found and is being successfully operated.Meanwhile, the 3rd wave of Covid has also retreated recently from a peak that was reached on March 26. Daily new infections are substantially down from the ...

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