Four planes delivered 4.9 million face masks, two million gloves, 193,000 protective suits and 170,000 test kits from China to Hungary on Tuesday, the Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

The protective equipment will be distributed to hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions in the country, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto told MTI.

Hungary must prepare for a prolonged fight against the novel coronavirus, the minister said. "This challenge will be with us for a long time, so we will have to keep importing protective gear for doctors and nurses," he said.

According to official figures, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 2,098 on Tuesday, with 287 recoveries and 213 fatalities.