COVID Restrictions End, Hungarian PM Says Goodbye Mask

JAKARTA - Hungary will remove most of the COVID-19 restrictions in its country. This includes a curfew, after the achievement of five million people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine this weekend.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on government radio that masks would no longer need to be used in public places, and a meeting of up to 500 people could already be held in the open air. Indoor events are also open to those who hold vaccination certificates.

"This means we have conquered the third wave of pandemics," Orban said, as quoted from Antara, Saturday, May 22.

He added that it was time to say "goodbye mask" in a public place.

Hungary is the only EU country to approve and use large quantities of Russian and Chinese-made vaccines --before the European Drug Administration (EMA) inspects or approves them.

The policy allows Hungary to achieve one of the EU's highest vaccination rates, with 50 percent of their roughly 10 million population having at least injected the first dose.

Most aspects of the service industry are back in operation, such as hotels, restaurants, spas, theaters, cinemas, fitness centers, and sports venues.

Orban reiterated that the government has decided to extend the suspension of COVID loan payments until the end of August, in order to allow banks and governments to continue talks and finalise plans for the future of the suspension.