Number of infected in Bulgaria grows along with need for reliable test kits

In the period January 28 to April 5, a total of 15,899 COVID-19 tests were performed in Bulgarian laboratories, the Ministry of Health has announced. As of April 6, two new laboratories will start operating in Sofia and the total number of official laboratories in the country becomes 9. Laboratories in the cities of Plovdiv and Pleven will open in days, it was reported. According to the data of the National Headquarters, at 5:00 pm on April 5, the confirmed cases of coronavirus in Bulgaria are 531, and during the day 9 more people tested positive - 5 of them are in Sofia ,1 in Smolyan, 1 in Blagoevgrad, 1 in Stara Zagora and 1 in Haskovo. Laboratories continue to operate, the Ministry of Health reports.
37 people have been cured and left hospital. A total of 20 people have died so far. The new victims of the coronavirus are two patients in Pirogov Hospital, aged 75 and 60, as both had other illnesses.

Bulgarians blocked in Italy

A total of 82 Bulgarian citizens have been waiting to be transported from Italy as 12 of them are blocked in a ship in the Italian port of Piombino. One of them has already tested positive for coronavirus, musician Atanas Lovchinov, who works on the liner, has told the BNR. The Bulgarian Embassy in Rome has been in contact with the Italian authorities over the evacuation order for Bulgarians.

Freight transport has been working at its maximum, as a structure that is necessary for the economy, Transport Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told the BNR. It is evident that land transport has no alternative. Passenger transport, especially international transport, is frozen. In aviation, the decline in the EU is 80%. The state is obliged not to cut number of trains in order to guarantee this service. Passenger transport in cities and towns continues to function but is limited. We hear the voice of the people and depending on the severity of consequences we will take necessary measures, the minister added.

Minister Goranov: It is too early for Bulgaria to seek money from IMF

A parliamentary committee has approved the changes to the state budget law. The external debt limit has been raised from EUR 8 billion to EUR 10 billion. Unemployment fund rises by more than EUR 700 million. Bulgarian Development Bank's capital increases by EUR 350 million. A budget deficit of EUR 1.7 billion has also been allowed. Borrowing money from the International Monetary Fund has not been approved. Help has already been sought from the European Investment Bank and the Council of Europe Development Bank. Resources from EU funds will also be used, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov added. In addition to paying 60% of wages during the crisis under the so-called Measure 60/40, the state will also take over the social security payments from the employer in order to keep the jobs of workers without income, the committee has also decided.

Credit terms can be renegotiated by June

Putting off loan obligations will be made through an agreement with the banks for a new repayment plan. Temporarily the principal amount or the principal and the interest may not be paid, Petar Andronov, head of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria, told BNR. The deferment applies to all types of loans. Citizens and businesses not affected by the crisis should continue to make their payments properly. The deadline for renegotiation will be by the end of June. Mr. Andronov urged clients not to rush, but first to consult experts and to choose the right time to renegotiate.

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