Orban says Hungary expects COVID-19 pandemic to peak on May 3
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. /Reuters

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. /Reuters

Experts in Hungary expect the COVID-19 pandemic to peak on May 3, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a video posted on his official Facebook page on Sunday.

Orban, who was visiting a hospital in the town of Ajka west of Budapest, said by that time, the country would have 5,000 ventilators, 3,000 more than the number currently available.

He said that figure would later rise to 8,000, which would be enough to treat all COVID-19 patients who need to be put on the machines.

"The number (of ventilators) will go up to 8,000 and then anything can happen. That is enough, even at a time of war," Orban told a doctor in the video.

As of Sunday, Hungary had recorded 1,916 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 189 fatalities.

The pandemic is arguably the toughest challenge to Orban's decade-long rule.

Globally, confirmed COVID-19 cases have surpassed 2.35 million, with over 162,000 deaths registered.

Many countries are however beginning to see a decline in new infections and deaths, signaling to a possible slowing down of the pandemic.

But the World Health Organization is warning countries against any lax in their response to the crisis, saying that may lead to a second wave of infections.

Source(s): Reuters