Update: Hungarian Government extends state of emergency but phases out certain protective measures

I. EXTENSION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY

On 21 May 2021 the Hungarian Parliament passed Act XL of 2021 amending the act on the defense against the COVID-19 pandemic, thus further extending the state of emergency until the 15th day following the first 2021 autumn parliamentary session, which in practice is likely to fall at the end of September. The extension of the state of emergency prolongs the effect of several COVID-19 related regulations as well, and also includes that the restrictions on foreign investments (FDI) will be effective until 31 December 2021 (see our earlier newsletter on this matter on the following link).

II. PHASING OUT OF FURTHER PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Effective from 23 May 2021, certain restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic are relaxed by the Government Decree No. 264/2021. (V.21.) on the fifth stage in the phasing out of protection measures introduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic (“Government Decree”). Many of the new measures contain concessions for people who have received a so called ‘protection certificate’ after having received their Covid-19 vaccines or have been confirmed to have contracted the disease within the last six months.

Measures on curfew, mask wearing and mandatory closing of shops:

• The curfew has been lifted;
• It is no longer mandatory to wear a mask in public spaces, however in closed spaces, public transportation, shops and places where vaccinated and unprotected people can stay in one closed space, the wearing of a mask is still mandatory;
• The mandatory closing of shops, catering premises and other locations has been abolished.

Measures on events, indoor and outdoor activities:

• Individual and group sports activity is permitted in public spaces;
• Private and family events with up to 50 people can be held without restriction;
• Weddings with up to 200 people can be held without restriction;
• In case of private and family events held in a hotel or a restaurant, the operator of the hotel or restaurant is obliged to ensure the separation of the participants of the private and / or family event from the other guests of the hotel or restaurant;
• Indoor events (other than private and family events) can only be visited by people in possession of a protection certificate;
• Other outdoor events can be held without restriction with the participation of up to 500 people. If the number of participants is anticipated to exceed 500, only people in possession of a protection certificate are allowed to attend the event;
• Music and dancing events can only be attended by people in possession of a protection certificate, irrespective of whether they are held indoors or outdoors;
• Children between 16 and 18 years old can go to restaurants, cinemas and other locations without the supervision of a person with a protection certificate, provided that such children have a protection certificate.

III. TERMINATION OF FREE PARKING

With effect from 25 May 2021 the Government Decree on measures to facilitate parking in the event of an emergency has been terminated, therefore people are no longer allowed to park for free in parking zones and parking garages where as a general rule the payment of a fee is required.

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