The government announced on Thursday that non-essential shops would be required to close from March 8 until 22. It said supermarkets, drugstores, pharmacies and petrol stations would remain open.
In addition to those businesses, the decree allows shops that sell "materials and equipment essential to complete work, fulfill professional commitments, and conduct economic, agricultural and forestry activities" to remain open, specifically mentioning those that sell "vehicles, machinery, parts, building materials, and tools", while clarifying that the exception does not apply to shops whose "main activity is the sale of entertainment and consumer electronics".
Shops that sell pet food and livestock feed, gardening stores, optician's shops, national tobacco shops, and newspaper sellers may also remain open.
Among businesses providing services, the decree allows financial service providers, transport companies, private healthcare providers, social service providers, postal and delivery companies, lottery shops, service garages, repair shops, veterinarians, businesses providing "food processing services", lawyers' offices and cleaning businesses to remain open.
Violators may be fined between HUF 100,000 and HUF 1,000,000 and be forced to close for a temporary period of between one day and one year.
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