Orbán: Restrictions to stay in place until January 11

The current curfew between 8pm and 5am will stay in place, Orbán said, adding that “we will decide about a possible exception for Christmas Eve on December 21, in view of the situation then.” He added, however, that December 31 would be no exception, with a ban on New Year’s Eve parties.

Orbán said the decision was made after consultation with epidemiologists and other experts who called for prolonging the restrictions.

Orbán said that a vaccine would be made available in the “foreseeable future”, adding that people wishing to be inoculated could start registering on Tuesday.

“We are working for Hungary to be among the first countries to get the vaccine,” he said.

The government is in talks with every player, without regard to political or corporate interests, he said. The only priority is to bring the vaccine to Hungarians as soon and as safely as possible, he said.

Regarding the testing of frontline workers which started two weeks ago, Orbán said Hungary had been among the countries carrying out the higest number of tests last week.

He again thanked doctors, nurses and teachers for their work and called on all citizens to adhere to epidemiological regulations.