With the exception of border closures, no specific measure is imposed in Hungary despite the rise in the number of deaths linked to covid-19 -

Johanna Geron / AP / SIPA

Almost normal life in Hungary.

While the central European country now has one of the highest coronavirus-related death rates in the European Union per million inhabitants, the government does not seem to want to apply radical measures.

Viktor Orban, who declared a strict state of emergency in the spring, simply closed the country's borders.

"After the initial fear", the population relaxed its vigilance, commented the head of the medical university of Budapest, Bela Merkely, in the local press, while the milestone of one thousand deaths was passed.

No strict recommendations this summer

Experts blame the change in tactics by the government, which over the summer refrained from delivering strict recommendations on mask wearing, large gatherings or travel abroad.

For example, a minister was seen on a yacht in Croatia, while the spokesperson for the ruling Fidesz party contracted the coronavirus during a big party he had organized.

The fault on foreigners

On the other hand, the borders have been closed to tourists, despite the warning from the European Commission: since September 1, non-residents are not allowed to enter Hungary to "stop the chains of transmission", according to the Prime Minister. sovereignist minister.

In reality, this decision only serves to fuel the government's propaganda, analyzes the independent deputy Akos Hadhazy.

In March, Viktor Orban had already blamed foreigners: Iranian students had been accused of being the source of the first infections.

Football fans have the right to enter: on September 24, Budapest hosted the European Supercup, the first European match to take place in front of an audience.

"We must preserve the economy"

We are far from the attitude adopted in the face of the first wave: the government had implemented strict containment and a "state of danger", but the legislation was repealed in June and the restrictions relaxed.

"People want Hungary to continue to function, we must preserve the economy as well as save lives", underlined the Prime Minister last month, after a "national consultation".

"The Hungarians have made it clear that they do not want a mask and containment", so Viktor Orban can "wash his hands" if the situation turns badly, believes the elected Hadhazy.

He "realized that if the economy collapses, it will cost him the next election" in 2022, he continues.

In the second quarter, gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 13.6%, the worst result for the Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia).

Chaos at school

At the same time, Viktor Orban ensures that hospitals are ready to receive an influx of patients.

In April, thousands of beds had been emptied to make room for patients with the new coronavirus.

Some 16,000 ventilators have been purchased and the government has offered doctors a doubling of their salary, a measure unprecedented since 1990. Despite these reassuring speeches, confusion reigns on the ground, especially in schools.

The Democratic Union of Teachers (PDSZ) points to dozens of examples of teachers being forced to continue working despite students showing mild symptoms in class.

"Contact cases and teachers are not isolated, parents and other children are not informed," he laments.

The health authorities are not able to carry out tests quickly and in large numbers or even less to trace the contacts, assures the former chief doctor of the country, Ferenc Falus.

Within the EU, only Bulgaria performs fewer tests per 1,000 people than Hungary.

"The statistics by number of cases do not reflect reality," a doctor told AFP on condition of anonymity.

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  • Hungary

  • Covid 19

  • Europe

  • Health

  • Coronavirus

  • Viktor Orban