Hungary has reported 11,289 new Covid-19 cases, its highest daily tally since the start of the pandemic, the government has said, according to Reuters.

Hungary, a country of 10 million people whose vaccination rate lags the European Union average, imposed new curbs on Thursday, a day before neighbour Austria, which also has a relatively low vaccination rate, announced a full lockdown.

Hungary will make booster shots mandatory for all healthcare workers and require mask-wearing in most indoor places from Saturday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said.

In this file photo, people walk in a shopping street as shops reopen amid the Covid-19 pandemic in downtown Budapest, Hungary. — Reuters/File
In this file photo, people walk in a shopping street as shops reopen amid the Covid-19 pandemic in downtown Budapest, Hungary. — Reuters/File

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...