Gulyas: Govt able to give up special powers thanks to effective epidemic response

Hungary's government is in a position to give up its special powers handed to it by parliament at the start of the coronavirus epidemic thanks to the effectiveness of the fight against the outbreak, the head of the Prime Minister's Office said on Thursday. The strict response measures Hungary introduced puts it in a category of countries that have not experienced mass infections, Gergely Gulyas told an online press briefing, adding that the virus was under control. He added, at the same time, that the health system would have to remain alert and prepared. This means hospitals will continue to operate under their current management structure and the chief medical officer and the government will be given special authority to handle the epidemic, Gulyas said. This can include the power to uphold shopping time restrictions for the elderly and a ban on organising events, he said.