Covid lockdown is unlikely to be eased before early April

HUNGARY - In Brief 01 Feb 2021 by Istvan Racz

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A few days ago, the government cabinet decided to extend the existing Covid lockdown until March 1, i.e., by a full month. This was just as expected, of course. Although the second wave of Covid has retreated substantially in every respect, but it is not at all out of the way yet. Moreover, it was also in line with expectation that according to the latest public statement by PM Orbán, talking seriously about a potential easing of the lockdown rule will be possible no sooner than around Easter, which means early April in 2021.The Prime Minister said a number of times previously that the lockdown will have to be maintained until domestic Covid vaccination has reached a critical mass to block a renewal of the Covid epidemic. Compared to these statements, his most recent message was a bit more concessionary. It seemed to indicate that as vaccination is proceeding, the government may be prepared to consider an easing of the lockdown rule.This difference is unlikely to be the result of the recent development of vaccination in Hungary. The latter is proceeding at a moderately increasing speed, but its momentum has not got anything close to what would be required to reach the critical mass within the next few months. As of this morning, some 2.4% of the domestic population has received its first shot of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and 0.6% received a second shot already. The real reason for Mr. Orbán's more concessionary talk may be that the lockdown rule is rapidly getting politically inconvenient for Fidesz' election campaign, especially because of the growing problems facing entrepreneurs and employees in hospitality industries. Running into the tourism season with an uncha...