An ode to Hungary’s kindness during trying times

As the Central European country closed its borders to foreign citizens and shut down schools to contain the spread of the coronavirus, more and more Hungarians have decided to help the elderly and vulnerable, as well as healthcare workers who will bear the brunt of the crisis reports New York Times.

Members of the Facebook group “Budapest Airbnb community for the health workers”, which now has more than 1,200 members, are offering their flats to nurses and other healthcare workers who want to self-isolate to protect their families. Budapest had more than 10,000 Airbnb flats before the crisis hit, and the business collapsed overnight as tourists disappeared.

“We think that those who can, should help those who are doing the actual work with action, with money, with kind words – we have no idea sitting within four walls at home about the hardships that the health workers are going through now,” said Viktoria Hojer-Szabo, who owns three Airbnb flats in Budapest.

A nurse from Budapest’s central hospital treating coronavirus patients lives in one of her flats now. So far, 43 healthcare workers have moved into vacant Airbnb flats.

Milan Varga saved money for three years to be able to open his small pizzeria in Budapest last Monday. On Tuesday his customers all but disappeared as streets emptied due to the coronavirus epidemic.