Coronavirus – Fidesz’ communications director tests positive, others enter quarantine

István Hollik, communications director of ruling Fidesz, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, he said on Facebook on Thursday.

Hollik said he had felt ill on Monday and Tuesday after attending a private event on Saturday, which was also attended by other politicians of the ruling parties.

Hollik said he has not travelled abroad this year and had observed all coronavirus-related rules. “It shows that the virus is among us and it requires increased attention from everybody”. He added that he would continue working while in quarantine.

Gulyás, other ministers enter quarantine 

Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Balázs Orbán, his deputy, went into quarantine on Wednesday after attending a private event where one of the participants later tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the PM’s Office said on Thursday.

Gulyás tested negative for the virus on Wednesday, the statement said. However, the minister will not attend Friday’s government meeting or the regular press conference afterwards unless his second test also comes back negative, it said.

Another four government politicians said on Thursday that they moved into home quarantine.

Judit Varga, the justice minister, announced on Facebook that she will continue working from home after learning that she came into contact on Monday with a person confirmed to be infected with the Covid-19 virus. She said she had no symptoms and her first test taken on Thursday morning for the virus came back negative.