Coronavirus: Experts Urge Stricter Restrictions to Avoid Mass Infections

In Hungary, the summer was essentially spent without the shadow of Coronavirus. People could travel abroad and within Hungary, they only needed to wear masks in closed spaces, and the number of new cases was relatively low, around 10-20 a day. However, this carefree-life should change drastically as new records are set daily (178, 292, 365, 459, 510, and the latest one is 567). No wonder that some health experts urge stricter restrictions in daily life.

Béla Merkely, the rector at Semmelweis University, believes that shopping time slots for the elderly need to be re-introduced. Also, he would ban clubs and party locations and enforce wearing a mask in closed spaces – in short, he believes that the virus could be controlled with disciplined behavior. However, he added that making such a decision is not within his jurisdiction.

Ferenc Falus, a doctor specializing in pulmonology, said that the sky-rocketed numbers show a late response to the coronavirus, and blames the government that it let the infections get out of hand in August. Falus believes mass events, weddings, university freshman orientation camps and parties have significantly increased the risk of spreading the coronavirus, and it’s time again to encourage people not to leave their homes, only just to work. He would also ban gatherings with more than 15 participants. Falus says carrying out tests is essential, they should be free of charge, more laboratories should be included in fighting against the virus, and a minimum of 15,000 tests should be executed on a daily basis.

Albert-László Barabási, acknowledged physicist who is best known for his work in the research of network theory, has talked about in a Facebook post of the importance of wearing a mask in order to control the virus and decrease the exposure of groups at risk of being infected. He also mentioned the daily 500 confirmed cases, highlighting that the data suggests around 100,000 active cases in Hungary – so in other words, one out of 100 people is infected. This respiratory infection, with less obvious symptoms for younger generations, is within us already, and not taking it seriously could have fatal consequences.

To sum up, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and not leaving the house except for necessary reasons can stop the spread of the virus and save people at risk from infection.

Featured photo illustration by János Vajda/MTI