Slight increase in number of coronavirus-infected patients, cases now total 593

Today, 12 new cases of Covid-19 infection have been confirmed in Bulgaria as 7 are in Sofia, 3 in Kyustendil and 2 in Smolyan. Thus, the total number of confirmed cases rises to 593, according to data from the National Crisis Staff. There are 233 persons with confirmed COVID-19 in hospitals, 27 patients are in intensive care.

32 are the confirmed cases of infection among medical professionals. The number of fatalities as a result of COVID-19 are now 24.

Mass testing for Covid-19 to begin in Bansko

A thousand citizens from the town of Bansko, a popular ski resort which was quarantined in the course of 14 days, are to be tested for Covid-19, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov stated, at a briefing at the Council of Ministers. The aim of the tests is to establish how many of the people in the small mountain town with a multitude of incoming and outgoing tourists have built up immunity.

PM Borissov also said mayors were now studying options to allow access of citizens to parks and mountains.

Bulgaria’s Chief Sanitary Inspector: Do not cancel your holidays for  July and August

Bulgaria’s Chief State Sanitary Inspector, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kanchev, has called on people not to rush to cancel their reservations for the summer holidays in July and August because of the coronavirus epidemic. The big challenge for the country is the upcoming holidays in April – Palm Sunday and Easter. "I have one fear that if people calm down a little and the two holidays arrive, we can cause big trouble. My plea is that, for a whole month, we have been complying with the restrictions, so let us do it for another two weeks. Optimistically, if anyone has a vacation booking for July and August, don't cancel it because I hope you might be able to make it!”, Prof. Kanchev said.

Emergency first aid teams in Sofia tested for Covid-19

The tests for Covid-19 of the emergency first aid teams in Sofia city and Sofia district have begun. The medics employed at the emergency first aid center are among the people exposed to the highest risk, because they are in contact with patients infected with coronavirus on a daily basis. Several days ago, 8 people from the Sofia Emergency First Aid Center were diagnosed with the virus. In the meantime, Alexander Alexandrov, chairman of the managing board of the Association of Paramedics in Bulgaria, has called on the authorities to conduct testing for all medical professionals. “We are at the frontline and we often examine patients without symptoms who turn out to be infected afterwards”, he told the BNR. There are nearly 3,000 paramedics (called feldsher) working in Bulgaria.

Additional security measures in Sofia’s subway lines

Surveillance cameras will monitor whether passengers observe the required distance while waiting for the train on the platform, Stoyan Bratoev, executive director of Sofia Metro, told the BNR. There will also be warning voice messages in the subway waiting areas. The subway lines are disinfected and washed every day. Passengers have reduced 5-6 times - 50-60 thousand people travel daily now, with a normal flow of 300-350 thousand before the epidemic.

Disinfection of Roma neighborhoods and urban transport, changes in the timetable

Disinfection in Roma neighborhoods has started today in Sofia and tomorrow it will start in public transportation with the participation of 25 volunteers, said Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova. She also added that access to parks and mountains for families with children was being considered, but after Easter at the earliest.

As of 8 April, 2020, public transport in Sofia is running with altered working hours for optimizing its lines and guaranteeing service in the conditions of the emergency situation, Sofia municipality has announced. The last urban lines will be at around 10 PM, and suburban lines – at around 10.30 PM.

Nearly 62,000 Bulgarians lose their jobs during state of emergency

A total of 61,644 Bulgarians registered at the employment offices since the beginning of the state of emergency, this country’s Minister of Labor and Social Policy Denitsa Sacheva announced. Some of these people have lost their jobs in Bulgaria due to the coronavirus crisis and some have returned from abroad. 32,000 people applied for unemployment benefits in the above-mentioned period. Meanwhile, 9,830 people started work during the state of emergency.

Bulgaria’s culture sector to receive state support as compensation for damages stemming from coronavirus epidemic

The Bulgarian state operas, theaters and concert institutions will receive a subsidy to pay the salaries and the social security contributions of their staff during the coronavirus crisis. The money will be paid for a maximum of 6 months starting on March 13, when the state of emergency was declared in Bulgaria, until the month when the revenues from ticket sales reach the revenues for the same period last year, the resolution of the Bulgarian government reads.

EU funds diverted to combat coronavirus epidemic

The Regions in Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020 of the EU will mobilize over BGN 40 million in European and national funds to help healthcare facilities in Bulgaria respond effectively to the unprecedented situation now," the press service of the Bulgarian government has informed. The money will be used to buy inhalers and ventilators, to supply medicines, testing kits, protective clothing, and personal protective equipment.

Bulgarian Red Cross distributes food to vulnerable people in Sofia

More than 1,000 people in Sofia will receive individual pacvkages of 16 essential kinds of food from 8 to 16 April. The recipients have been added to the lists of the Social Assistance Agency. The packages will be delivered to the homes of people aged over 65 who live alone by staff and volunteers of the Sofia Red Cross organization. The assistance is provided under the Food and/or Basic Material Assistance Operational Programme financed by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived.

Compiled by Diana Tsankova and Radio Bulgaria’s News Team

You can find all stories and important publications related to COVID-19 in Bulgaria at our special coverage section in English.

You can also follow all latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak and all measures in Bulgaria in all other 8 languages of Radio Bulgaria.