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While Austria is reconfiguring its entire population for 3 weeks, on the other side of the border, in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, no restriction measures are planned. Yet, Thursday, November 25, there were more than 12,000 new cases and 185 deaths in Hungary, much to the chagrin of Hungarians, who are calling for more measures.
With our correspondent in Budapest, Florence La Bruyere
The pandemic kills 4 times more in Hungary than in confined Austria: the medical profession calls for emergency measures. The government contented itself with reintroducing the mask requirement in stores on November 20 and in public transport since November 13. For Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, there is no question of returning to confinement or the health pass: ” These measures are only slowing the pandemic. The only thing that works is the vaccine! “
To push Hungarians to get vaccinated – only 60% are – the government has made things easier. You can come to the vaccination center without an appointment. But the unvaccinated are few in the centers, and the majority come for a 3rd dose. This is the case of Erzsébet, 72, who asks for more incentives from the government: “ More severe measures are needed. People should be forced to be vaccinated. Otherwise, it will never end! “
Confining the unvaccinated?
Sandor, a tall 53-year-old guy, even hopes the government will go further. For him, we should confine the unvaccinated: ” They could go to work as much as possible: but no restaurant, show, or sports club! But the elections are coming soon, so the government does not dare to tell people: you cannot go out any more. “
The coronavirus kills 150 people a day. The situation is worse than in Austria, according to Dr Zsombor Kunetz. ” In Austria, the hospital system works. But in Hungary it collapsed last year. And we’re close to collapse again He worries.
Hospitals are so understaffed that the government has just banned caregivers from resigning.
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