Hungary to close its borders to non-residents as Europe tightens Covid-19 rules

Hungary will close its borders to non-residents from Sept. 1 to try and stem an increasing number of coronavirus cases, the government said Friday.

The move comes as several European countries implement stricter Covid-19 measures.

„From September 1, foreign citizens will no longer be allowed to enter the territory of Hungary,” Gergely Gulyas, the cabinet chief of Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at a press briefing.

„There is a risk of introducing the virus and most of the new infections are of foreign origin,” he said, adding „Hungary is green, all other countries are now turning red,” in reference to the traffic light system.

He said Hungarian citizens returning from abroad must quarantine for 14 days or present two negative tests, paid from their own pocket.

The government indicated that the border closure which begins on Tuesday would stay in place for a month.

Hungary, which has a population of about 10 million, has recorded a cumulative total of 5,500 Covid-19 cases and more than 600 deaths due to the virus, lower than neighbors such as Romania and Serbia.

The move comes amid an uptick in coronavirus cases elsewhere in Europe and as countries implement new precautions.

LÄ‚SAÈšI UN MESAJ

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