# Hungarian doctors warn of ‘sad Christmas’ as COVID cases soar Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-11-17 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Hungary Reports Record COVID-19 Infections, Urges Mask Meta Description: Hungary sees surge in COVID-19 cases prompting calls for restrictions to prevent overwhelmed hospitals and ensure a safer Christmas. URL: https://financedigest.com/hungarian-doctors-warn-of-sad-christmas-as-covid-cases-soarhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-11-17t090123z1lynxmpehag0curtroptp4health-coronavirus-hungary-reopening-1736837219207-compressed.jpg) By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary reported 10,265 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, its highest daily tally since the end of March, prompting the country’s Medical Chamber to call for a ban on mass events and mandatory mask wearing in closed spaces. In a statement, the Hungarian Medical Chamber also said entry to restaurants, theatres and cinemas should be conditional on a COVID-19 immunity certificate. “We must slow down the increase in the number of patients, a flooding of hospitals (with COVID-19 patients) or many families will have a very sad Christmas,” they said. Apart from a slowing [vaccination campaign](https://www.financedigest.com/immunization-campaigns-to-boost-the-demand-for-vaccines.html "Immunization Campaigns To Boost The Demand For Vaccines"), we have not seen any preventive measures (to contain the pandemic). The daily tally is getting close to the peak of 11,265 reached during the third wave of the [pandemic in a country with hardly any restrictions](https://www.financedigest.com/pandemic-restrictions-that-hampered-the-circulation-of-viruses-other-than-covid-19.html "Pandemic restrictions that hampered the circulation of viruses other than COVID-19") in place and where the vaccination rate is below the European Union average. A new wave of infections has swept [across Central Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/air-pollution-surges-as-heatwave-sweeps-across-europe.html "Air pollution surges as heatwave sweeps across Europe") with hospitals struggling to cope in some countries like neighbouring Romania. Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland have all [tightened rules](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-rightist-government-tightens-rules-for-migrant-rescues.html "Italy’s rightist government tightens rules for migrant rescues") on mask wearing and introduced measures to curb infections. In Hungary, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is facing a close election in early 2022, has urged people to take up [vaccines and announced mandatory](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-countries-making-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-2.html "Factbox-Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory") inoculations at state institutions. It also empowered private companies to make vaccinations mandatory for employees. But it has refrained from making mask wearing mandatory in [closed spaces – apart from on public transport](https://www.financedigest.com/why-investors-are-looking-closely-at-transport-and-logistics.html "Why investors are looking closely at transport and logistics") and in hospitals – and there are no other restrictions in place. On Tuesday, the government said it was monitoring cases, and “if necessary will take further measures”. The government has not replied to emailed Reuters questions. Hungary, a country of 10 million, has [reported 32,514 deaths](https://www.financedigest.com/strong-nighttime-earthquake-jolts-sleeping-mexicans-at-least-one-death-reported.html "Strong nighttime earthquake jolts sleeping Mexicans, at least one death reported") from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic but only 5.78 million of its people are fully vaccinated. More than 1.66 million people have received a [booster shot](https://www.financedigest.com/fda-advisers-back-the-same-covid-vaccine-for-initial-shots-boosters.html "FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters"). (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves; Editing by Toby Chopra, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Giles Elgood) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---