The Hungarian and Slovenian governments both announced Monday that they would relax their coronavirus-related restrictions in order to allow families to gather for Christmas.

A Hungarian government spokesman told a press conference that the curfew currently in force would be suspended from the evening of December 24 until the following morning and that children under 14 would not be included in the 10-person limit on gatherings.

However the Chief Medical Officer Cecilia Muller cautioned that "the epidemic is still a threat" adding that "the temporary lifting of the curfew is an option which should only be used carefully".

-It's important that this opportunity shouldn't make anyone careless or endanger those suffering from serious illnesses- she said, emphasising that particular care needed to be taken around older family members.

The government in neighbouring Slovenia also announced that restrictions on gatherings would be suspended from noon on December 24 until 8 pm on December 25.

Six adults from two households will be able to meet within that time window and the ban on travel within the country in force since November will also be temporarily lifted.