The Latest: Hungary sets virus records for hospitals, deaths

BUDAPEST— Hungary set records Tuesday for the number of COVID-19 patients being treated in Hungarian hospitals and the number of new daily virus deaths amid a powerful surge in cases.

Nearly 350 people in Hungary were hospitalized with the virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the number of hospitalizations on Tuesday to 8,270, breaking the previous record of 8,045 set on Dec. 8. The number of patients on ventilators also set a new record with 833. Health care experts say that could within days reach the threshold of 1,000, the maximum number of critical patients the country’s health system can handle.

Another grim milestone was reached Tuesday as the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Hungary increased by 158 to more than 16,000, the most in a single day since before Christmas.

A new round of lockdown measures went into effect in Hungary on Monday requiring most shops to close for two weeks. Kindergartens and primary schools have also been closed until April 7.

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THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

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— CDC advice for U.S. residents: Fully-vaccinated people can gather without masks

— The U.S. COVID-19 bill will deliver big health insurance savings for many Americans

— Dutch prime minister extends country's pandemic lockdown

— The long game: The coronavirus pandemic changed the way we play, watch, cheer.

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