Hungary has reported 3,149 new cases of coronavirus, its highest single-day tally and jumping above 3,000 for the first time, the government said.

The total number of cases rose to 59,247 in the country of 10 million, with 35 new deaths taking the total to 1,425.

Although coronavirus cases have been rising sharply since late August, Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban is seeking to avoid a repeat of the spring lockdown that sent the economy crashing by 13.6pc in the second quarter, reported Reuters.