The government held its first government meeting of the year yesterday, and Gergely Gulyás reported on the decisions. We highlight the most important ones below.

The fourth wave is already descending, but due to the omicron variant, the number of infected has increased dynamically again. This variant of the coronavirus infection does not cause symptoms as severe as the previous ones. There are more than nine thousand new infections, which shows that the omicron is spreading faster than before. We are doing well in terms of hospital capacity. 75 percent of the beds are free. 25 percent are where patients with or suspected of having COVID are cared for. The necessary conditions for defense have been ensured - noted the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office. He added: there is also enough vaccine. The campaign days in January were successful, so they will be extended in February. Many people have already received the third vaccination and so have the vaccinated children. 64 percent of Hungarians have already been vaccinated.

From February 15, the protection certificate will be converted into a vaccination certificate.  Anyone who has received the third vaccination or who is within six months of the second vaccination is considered vaccinated from here on. This of course applies to people over 18 years of age. Quarantine has been reduced to 7 days, as the course of omicron is faster. Those who test negative and have no symptoms are "released" from quarantine after 5 days. Education remains face-to-face. The omicron virus mainly attacks the respiratory tract, but the vaccine does not protect against the infection, but against the symptoms.

Gergely Gulyás also covered the economy. He said that we are performing better than expected, since 1990 there has been no such economic growth in the country. The difficulties are caused by rising energy prices, which cause an inflationary spiral. Therefore, inflation must be moderated. The reduction in utility costs means an annual saving of half a million forints for a family. The gasoline price ceiling has worked, and there will be talk of extending it in mid-February. The interest stop also helps people. Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced the food price freeze, which was extended to six types of food. These products must be offered to customers based on last October's prices.

The government welcomes the fact that the referendum and the parliamentary election will be held at the same time, which will save seven billion forints . He emphasized that he is grateful to PM Tímea Szabó, faction leader, for supporting the idea and thus reaching a seven-party agreement.

To a question, Gergely Gulyás said that the omicron variant spreads quickly, but everywhere in the world the obligation to quarantine has been shortened, but after 5 days if someone has no symptoms and has a negative test, they are exempted from quarantine, otherwise the quarantine was reduced to seven days.

Regarding the statements of Péter Márki-Zay, the prime minister candidate of the left, the minister who heads the prime minister's office said: what Péter Márki-Zay said is the left's position for a long time, for example, regarding the privatization of healthcare. It was easy for the left to support Péter Márki-Zay because they agree on these things, including the migration issue.

 The food price freeze will also last for three months, after which it will be possible to talk about a further extension. In mid-October last year, there was no inflationary pressure, and consumers did not complain about those prices. They will regulate whether the food price cap will apply to lactose-free and other milks. Those who do not comply with the rule (traders, for example) can expect sanctions. The VAT was not reduced because it would have meant a smaller price reduction. The time for this was now, because the prices increased significantly in December, Gulyás noted.

The question of the fourth vaccination will be decided this week, but the patient can request it after consulting the doctor. Regarding the free tests, the minister said: testing is not a solution and the problem with it is that people will be tested instead of vaccinated.

Regarding the infertility treatment, the minister said that it had to wait because of the coronavirus, but he hopes that this has already changed. The situation of the doctors and nurses working there was also difficult, but the new system has been installed, so they have to work as quickly as possible.

In European cultural circles, we don't say things like what Péter Márki-Zay said about the Jews who, in his opinion, occupy positions in the government, Gulyás noted. The privatization of health care, which the left sees as a big deal, is why they are pushing for it.

The left promised earlier that there would be more parking spaces in the city, yet the opposite is happening in the seventh district. They tricked the people with this, said the Heti TV journalist, but Gergely Gulyás defended the left by turning certain car lanes into parking lots.

Regarding the case of Attila Stójka, the government commissioner responsible for Roma relations, Gergely Gulyás said that we do not know the full recording, and the case is not being investigated. He emphasized: Stojka is not a BM.

Following the PestiSrácok

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