Hungary Sees Reopening Terraces, Shortening Of Curfew As Vaccinations Gain Momentum

By RFE/RL April 22, 2021

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff says he expects the reopening of restaurant terraces and a shortening of a curfew at night from April 24 as the country's vaccination campaign allows for a further reopening of the economy.

Gergely Gulyas told a briefing on April 22 that 3.5 million Hungarians could be vaccinated against the coronavirus by April 23, which could rise to 4 million -- or around 40 percent of Hungary's population -- by early next week.

Hungary, whose economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, began gradually reopening shops and services earlier this month after inoculating a quarter of its population in a move that the Hungarian Medical Chamber called premature.

Despite its vaccination campaign success, Hungary had struggled with a high infection and fatality rate until recently. The Central European country of 9.8 million has registered almost 761,000 infections and 26,000 deaths.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary- covid-reopening-shorter-curfew- vaccinations/31217146.html

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