BUDAPEST, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ordered a lockdown for the whole country on Friday to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"We are introducing nationwide curfew restrictions for a period of two weeks, between March 28 and April 11," Orban said in his regular weekly interview on public radio MR1.

"In that period, it will be only possible to leave home for work or for running essential errands," Orban added.

Grocery shops and pharmacies will be open to people above 65 years of age between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. every day. Others will not be allowed in those shops during that period, he also said, noting that people could still go outside, but only on individual basis, not in a group.

The aim of the measure is to slow down the spread of the outbreak by separating the young from the elderly.

Local police will help enforce compliance with the rule and encourage cooperation and can impose fines, but only as a last resort, according to Orban.

"I think this is something we can live with," he underlined, saying that the new measures were created based on international examples of similar laws.

Orban also criticized the European Union for not acting fast enough, and thanked China and the Turkic Council for sending help to Hungary.

According to official figures, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 300 on Friday, with 34 reported recoveries and 10 fatalities. Enditem

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