In a regular government press conference (Kormányinfo) held on 3rd March, 2022, the government announced that – according to the Operational Group – the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is coming to an end in Hungary.

In view of this, most of the epidemiological restrictions currently in force will be lifted from 7th March, 2022.

The respective Government Decree No. 77/2022. (III.4.) (“Government Decree”) was published in No. 41. of the Hungarian Gazette. Pursuant to the Government Decree, the currently effective restrictive measures will change from the above date as follows:

  1. The obligation to wear mask on public transport, shops, shopping malls, post offices, customer services, theatres, cinemas, museums and sport events as regulated in Government Decree No. 484/2020. (XI.10.) on the second phase of protective measures applicable during the emergency will be abolished. The mandatory mask wearing will remain in effect for social and health workers, nursing homes and social institutions.
  2. The employer’s right to require employees to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 corona virus as condition of work in order to protect health, taking into account the specifics of the workplace and the job provided under Government Decree No. 598/2021. (X.28.) on the protection of the workplace against the coronavirus will also end on 7th March, 2022.
  3. The obligation to vaccinate teachers working in public education, which was previously prescribed by Government Decree No. 599/2021. (X.28.) on the mandatory vaccination against coronavirus of the employees of state and local government institutions, will also be abolished.
  4. On the other hand, vaccination obligation in the case of social and health care workers prescribed by Government Decree No. 449/2021. (VII.29.) on compulsory vaccination against coronavirus will be maintained.

  5. The obligation that only persons protected against coronavirus may take part in events of more than 500 people laid down in Government Decree No. 484/2020. (XI.10.) on the second phase of protective measures applicable during the emergency will also be ceased. Accordingly, as of 7th March, 2022, no vaccination certificate is required to attend any event.

Despite the abolition of the above restrictions, the government has decided that the health emergency shall remain in effect.

The purpose of this article is to provide a brief, concise information on certain issues. The content of this article is not exhaustive and does not constitute a legal advice.

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