COVID-19 in Hungary: fatalities hit new daily high
The 2,079 new cases confirmed is the third highest daily figure since the beginning of the outbreak in March, behind only Monday’s and Sunday’s, with the latter holding the record at 3,149 new cases.
Meanwhile, the number of fatalities reached a new high as 63 people died due to the virus, compared to the previous daily record of 48. While most were again elderly patients, the list also includes a 49-year-old woman with pneumonia and circulatory problems.
There are currently 45,462 active cases in Hungary, also a record high.
The number of patients being treated in hospital is 2,891, 243 of whom are receiving artificial ventilation. The number of people on ventilators has continued to rise in recent days even as 145 people died due to the virus in the past three days.
Authorities applied 11,710 tests in the past 24 hours, but the detection rate remains low as the ratio of positive tests was 17.7%, the second highest after yesterday’s.
The number of new cases was above 100 in 7 counties yesterday. As usual, Budapest had the highest number (400), followed by Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén (279) and Pest (257) counties. Since March, Budapest has had the highest number of confirmed infections at 17,781. The capital also accounts for 27% of active cases, 35% of fatalities and 29% of recoveries, the official government website said.
The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is in a steeply rising phase all across Europe and in Hungary as well, the official government website said in its daily report, calling upon citizens to observe virus defence rules in order to help keep the country running.
Parliament on Monday voted to introduce further measures, increasing the fine for those leaving home quarantine and making the quarantine automatic for those returning from abroad.
Cover photo: MTI/Komka Péter
