BUDAPEST, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced more COVID-19 restrictions such as a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., and the switch to online education for secondary schools and universities, in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On Monday, Hungary registered 5,162 new COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour span, raising the national total to 114,778, according to the government's coronavirus information website.
In the past 24 hours, a further 55 people have succumbed to the disease, taking the toll to 2,493 in Hungary, while 26,161 have recovered. Currently, 6,061 patients are being treated in hospital, 415 of whom are on ventilators.
The measures announced by Orban will take effect from midnight on Tuesday and last 30 days, but could be extended if necessary.
The most important measure is the new curfew. "Only those going to and coming from work will be exempted," Orban noted.
Furthermore, Orban said, all gatherings are forbidden, and restaurants will also have to close, but the rules permit home deliveries, while factory canteens may stay open.
Shops, hairdressers and other small service providers will have to close at 7 p.m. and only up to ten people are allowed for family reunions and private events.
Higher education facilities and universities will switch to online education, while university dormitories will be closed and nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools will remain open to those under 14 years of age.
A maximum of 50 people are allowed to attend funerals, sports matches can be held only behind closed doors, while amateur team sports are prohibited. Individual sports are allowed outdoors.
Leisure and fitness facilities, indoor swimming pools, theaters, museums, zoos should stay closed.
Hotels can only accommodate business guests, not tourists.
Hungary's COVID-19 cases have risen sharply since late August. The country's total cases topped 10,000 on Sept. 10, 50,000 on Oct. 21, 80,000 on Nov. 2 and 100,000 on Nov. 7.
Orban has pledged to procure COVID-19 vaccines, which will be made available to all citizens who want it.
The prime minister said his administration was engaged in talks on purchasing vaccines from China and Russia, adding that Hungary could have access to two to three different vaccines by next spring.
As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, many countries are racing to find a vaccine. According to the website of the World Health Organization, as of Nov. 3, there were 202 COVID-19 candidate vaccines being developed worldwide, and 47 of them were in clinical trials. Enditem
