Hungary s pandemic restrictions introduced earlier will remain in force until January, with no relief in the current regulations to be expected at Christmas.

The prime minister said that everyone was of the opinion that it was not the time for lifting the restrictions. According to him, the experts said: „We need to be strict because there will also be Christmas next year. What is important now is for us to be there, too.”

The restrictions will remain in force until 11 January, with no relief to be expected at Christmas. The Hungarian prime minister said the government will decide on 21 December whether they can lift some of the restrictions on Christmas Eve, based on the pandemic situation at the time.

However, Viktor Orban emphasized that all restrictions would remain in force for New Year s Eve, so street parades and all types of parties will be banned on 31 December this year. He stressed that the solution was the vaccine, for which registration would start in Hungary on Tuesday.

We are working to ensure that Hungary will be one of the first countries to receive a vaccine, the prime minister said. „We are negotiating with everyone, with no regard to politics or the interests of large international companies competing with each other. All that matters is that Hungarians can get the vaccine as quickly and safely as possible,” Mr Orban added.

The premier also urged to Hungarians to observe the rules during the holidays and to take good care of each other, „because every life counts.”