The New Entry Ban On Travel To Hungary: What Does It Mean?

• Published date: 03 September 2020
• Subject Matter: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Government Measures
• Law Firm: lus Laboris
• Author: Ms Henrietta Hanyu

Hungary has introduced fresh restrictions on travel into the country. This article gives details.

The Hungarian Government has introduced new travel restrictions in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The Decree on travel restrictions during the epidemiological preparedness period (Decree no. 408/2020. (VIII. 30.), the 'Decree') regulates entry into Hungary from 1 September 2020 to 1 October 2020.

1. Hungarian citizens and foreign nationals with equivalent status

These individuals can enter Hungary with a private passport or other travel document entitling them to entry, and must submit to a medical examination upon entry. They will, however, be quarantined in any event. Where will depend on whether or they show signs of infection during the border check: if the individual has symptoms s/he must quarantine in a designated public institution, if not s/he must quarantine for a 14-day period at home.

2. Exemption from quarantine

Upon request of the quarantined person, the appropriate epidemiological authority may allow him/her to take a SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests two times within five days, at least 48 hours apart.

If the results are negative, the epidemiological authority ordering the quarantine will give an exemption from quarantine.

In this case, the costs of the two negative PCR tests required for the exemption will be borne by the individual. The cost is EUR 100 for each test, and EUR 10 as the general fee for the exemption decision.

3. Labour law implications of returning to Hungary from abroad

Under the legal provisions in question, a person who is in officially ordered home quarantine due to private travel abroad shall not be considered incapacitated for work. This means s/he will not be entitled to benefits payable to incapacitated employees for the duration of the quarantine.

If it is possible to employ the employee from home either in his/her own job or in another job the employee should be paid a wage. However, if this is not possible, the employee's absence from work will be considered justified unpaid absence.

4. Cases of incapacity for work

If the home quarantine was not ordered due to return from a private trip, but the employee is banned from working for public health reasons or is officially isolated for public health reasons (designated quarantine), or cannot come to work due to an epidemiological or veterinary quarantine, and cannot be even temporarily employed at a different workplace (or in a different job), then s/he will be...