Hungary Report

Hungary was badly prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s crisis management system, healthcare system and education system were already in bad shape, and the Hungarian economy proved vulnerable to the pandemic as a result of its strong dependence on the car industry and tourism sector. When the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread in China and Italy, the Hungarian government was initially reluctant to react, with Prime Minister Orbán deliberating whether or not to follow the course taken by leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump or Brazilian President Jair Bolsenaro, who downplayed the virus.