Do not throw them away: masks could be back in autumn in Hungary?
Virologist Miklós Rusvai says that we should enjoy the mask-less months of summer, as it will, for sure, be obligatory again from autumn.
As of today, Hungary is considered one of the safest countries in the region. Due to the high percentage of the population already vaccinated, Hungary is in the “green zone” of many European countries.
It also results in the easement of some restrictions when it comes to travelling to and from certain countries. For instance, the borders to six neighbouring countries are already open.
After the first six months of a very successful vaccination campaign, it seems like things are slowing down significantly. According to 24.hu, on the course of the weekend, only 13,000 jabs were administered, while Monday brought an even lower number of 9,200. It means that we are more than 23,000 vaccines away from the well-awaited and needed elimination of the mask and the days when we can finally enjoy certain services without the immunity certificate.
Here are all details you need to know about the lifting of the mask mandate
It is excellent news about which many are extremely happy. On the other hand, some do not agree with it and would be more precautious. Ferenc Falusi, former Chief Medical Officer, talked about his concerns to ATV.
“With this decision, they are gravely endangering the safety of three and a half million unvaccinated adults and that of one and a half million unvaccinated children.”
He also thinks that the quick inoculation of at least two million more people should be organised.
László Gárdos, president of the Association of Hungarian Paediatricians, would even include all children in this process, without a minimum age limit, for the same reason. He says that no such side effects of the vaccine are known, which would advise the contrary.
These concerns arose as a new variant of the coronavirus has recently been identified. The so-called “delta variant” was only found in the case of five people in Hungary. Nevertheless, Miklós Rusvai warns everyone that this modification of the virus infects faster and more easily than the British one. Already, in that case, we were very concerned and afraid as the British variant that appeared over six months ago was also said to spread faster and more quickly than the previous variants we had known.
Despite warning everyone about the delta variant, Rusvai agrees with the abolition of the measurement and says that
we should make the most of these mask-less months this summer since we will have to start all over in autumn.
As he says, the coronavirus pandemic as we know it now will only come to an end in two or three years. After that, it will still be with us, but only like the seasonal flu we are all used to. Nevertheless, for the severity of the infection and the effects it has on the human body,
he advises the third dose for those who are considered members of a “risk group”.
In Hungary, many people fall into this category. Rusvai probably mainly referred to those elderly who received the Sinopharm jabs but did not produce any or only very few antibodies. In their case, a third dose would, for sure, be necessary. However, in Hungary, this is not only not allowed but directly goes against the law, as the Hungarian National Centre for Public Health said.
No chance in Hungary for a third vaccine dose
That is why many Hungarians, who were inoculated with the Chinese jab, decided to travel to Romania, as the country offers free vaccination to EU citizens.
Source: 24.hu, ATV