Over the past 24 hours the authorities in Bulgaria have stepped up enormously the penalization of persons not complying with the measures against the spread of coronavirus.

In Bulgaria’s second biggest city Plovdiv joint teams of police and the municipal authorities imposed fines of EUR 2,500 /5,000 Leva/ on 100 individuals in just one day, Sunday. The greatest number of reports of violations are in the neighbourhoods with a predominantly ethnic population, but many people have been fined in other parts of towns as well. If the violation is by a sole proprietor or legal person the fine is EUR 7,500 /15,000 Leva/. Control of the implementation of the measures aimed at checking the spread of the epidemic in Sofia has also been stepped up considerably.