The fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is at its peak “or maybe a little beyond” in Hungary, and taking the vaccine is the only way to flatten the curve, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday.
In an interview with public radio, Orbán said the latest surveys showed a slight decrease in the number of new coronavirus infections, those needing hospital treatment, or ventilators.
“There are always losses, but the situation is improving overall,” he said, noting the 166 victims of the disease in the past 24 hours.
“On Thursday, 51,666 people were vaccinated, 42,453 of whom got the third jab,” he said. That is especially important around Christmas, as holding large Christmas gatherings will depend on “whether we are vaccinated,” he said.
The prime minister also announced that 5-11 year-olds will be able to get inoculated from Dec. 15, with registration starting from Wednesday. Around 70,000 vaccines are soon arriving and vaccination points have been designated.
Featured photo illustration by Vivien Cher Benko/PM’s Press Office