The number of patients treated with coronavirus infection has fallen to below four hundred, and there are four counties where there are no active infections, the Chief Medical Officer said at the Friday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus epidemic.
Cecília Müller added that the epidemic data continue to remain favourable; in the past 24 hours, 16 new cases have been registered, the number of active infections currently stands at 1,183, 397 persons are being treated in hospital, and 21 patients require assisted ventilation.
She said there are no active infections in Baranya County, Bács-Kiskun County, Békés County and Tolna County. According to her information, there are 487 active infections in Budapest, 144 in Pest County, 202 in Zala County, 146 in Fejér County, 135 in Komárom-Esztergom County, 22 in Nógrád County, 13 in Csongrád-Csanád County, 8 in Veszprém County, 6 in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, 5 in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, 4 in Hajdú-Bihar County, 3 in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Vas County each, 2 in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County and Heves County each, and 1 in Somogy County.
She said in Hungary since the beginning of the epidemic 3,970 persons have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection, 542 persons have died in connection with coronavirus infection, and the number of recovered patients currently stands at 2,245. Nationally, 40 positive coronavirus cases and 5 fatalities fall on 100,000 inhabitants.
In Ms. Müller’s words, all signs appear to indicate that the epidemic curve is following a downward trend, with ever fewer coronavirus infections and ever more recovered patients.
She pointed out that it was thanks to this that a decision had been adopted about the partial lifting of the visiting ban in social institutions. At the same time, she drew attention to the fact that visitors must be healthy, must observe the relevant hygiene regulations and it is best if they meet the residents of institutions in outdoor spaces or in a room specifically designated for the purpose, keeping a distance of two metres.
She indicated that in the case of several residents living in the same room, only one resident’s family members, relatives or acquaintances can be present at any one time, while persons diagnosed with coronavirus infection cannot be visited. Subject to the wearing of face masks, hairdressers, manicurists and pedicure specialists can also be received in social institutions, she added.
The Chief Medical Officer said graduation ceremonies can be held, subject to compliance with the rules relating to social distancing and hygiene. At the same time, they advise parents to remain outside the institution during the ceremony.
In answer to a question, Ms. Müller said for the time being they are not lifting the visiting ban in hospitals, “the time has not come yet” because those in need of hospital treatment “should be protected much more from possible infection”.
She also highlighted that they are aware of 15 active infected patients under the age of 14 years. The measures that sought to prevent the spread of the coronavirus also prevented the spread of the flu, she added.
The coronavirus is a respiratory virus; several experts take the view that, similar to the flu, in the future it will abate and become seasonal. However, there is no evidence for this, and there is likewise no way of knowing how it will mutate and in what form “it will stay with us,” the Chief Medical Officer said.