Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has unveiled a detailed plan to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as lawmakers appear poised to approve on Monday granting him special powers to address the crisis.

While Hungary is imposing extraordinary measures in light of the coronavirus threat, it is not locking down the whole nation as some other countries have done, and people will be permitted to go to work.

Starting Saturday, residents of Hungary will be allowed to commute to work and be out in the open. However, any large gatherings will be restricted, Reuters reports.

United Nations human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said in a press conference the Hungarian bill “appears to give the government practically unlimited powers to rule by decree.” 

“Restrictions put in place so far have been efficient,” Orban told Hungarian public radio, adding more measures will be needed because the disease isn’t expected to peak in the country until June or July. 

Hungary, with a population about 9.7 million, has 261 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 35 new cases and 10 deaths, according to the March 26 World Health Organization Coronavirus Disease Situational Report. 

Critics of the legislation expected to win ratification on Monday say it establishes no timeframe or sunset clause limiting the span during which Orban would have the power to issue directives without parliamentary oversight. 

The measure also imposes prison sentences of up to five years for false information that could inhibit the government’s ability to fight the virus, Bloomberg News reported. 

But on Friday, Hungarian Ambassador to the United States László Szabó responded to those criticisms in a letter seeking to correct any “misinterpretation of the current situation.”

He stated Hungary “has declared [a] ‘state of danger’ ... one type of national emergency listed in the Hungarian constitution.”

The ambassador’s letter also says the Hungarian Constitution clearly states, “Emergency decrees issued during the state of danger expire after 15 days, unless the Parliament extends them.”

Thus, it would have a sunset clause and would not unlimited in duration as critics charge.

“The Parliament can withdraw its consent to any and all of the extended government decrees any time,” the ambassador wrote. “The Constitutional Court cannot cease its operation during a state of danger. Measures taken by the Government must respect the principles of necessity, proportionality and purpose limitation.”

Hungarian Justice Minister Judith Varga called attacks on the legislation “very damaging fake news,” explaining the legislation will only punish any intentional, “malicious disinformation campaign” that impedes the disaster response.