20 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Bulgaria on May 6

The number of Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria reached 1,778, the National Crisis Headquarters announced. 20 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on May 6. Most new cases were reported as a result of targeted testing of certain groups, the Secretary of the National Crisis Headquarters Associate Professor Dimo Dimov announced. 353 people with Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals, of whom 38 are in intensive-care units. The Covid-19 death toll rose to 84 people. A sixty seven-year-old man died in the district hospital in Veliko Tarnovo. Seventy-year-old man died in Yambol. The two men had underlying health conditions. 18 patients have recovered from Covid-19 today. Thus, the total number of people who recovered from Covid-19 reached 360.

20,000 Bulgarians remain under quarantine

All Police checkpoints at the entry and the exit points near the district cities except for the town of Yambol were removed on 0.00 am on May 6. The Bulgarian citizens were required to fill in declarations for the reason of travelling for over one and a half months. Over 230,000 people were not allowed to enter or leave the major Bulgarian cities since March 21 when the restrictions were introduced. A total of 62,940 declarations were checked by the competent authorities. 3,750 people declared that they were going to work, but later it turned out that they did not have job contracts. 528 of them were registered as unemployed. 21,251 acts for non-compliance with the anti-epidemic measures were issued. The authorities issued acts to 16,305 people for not wearing face masks in public. 107,000 Bulgarians were placed under quarantine. Currently, 20,000 people remain under quarantine.

We are witnessing clusters of coronavirus infections in Bulgaria lately: Premier Borissov

"A record high number of people were infected with Covid-19 today. The infection has not subsided at all. 69 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in Bulgaria, but we are mainly talking about clusters of Covid-19. That is why we decided to lift the police checkpoints near the district cities. However, the people arriving from abroad are spreading the virus. How Bulgaria’s tourism will begin in such situation", Premier Borissov asked rhetorically. Bulgarians infected with Covid-19 return from abroad and infect a whole residential district. Mass testing of people accommodated in nursing homes across the whole country begins. There will be no increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, if we are disciplined and follow the measures", Premier Borissov added.

Bulgarian seasonal workers infected with Covid-19 return from abroad

Bulgaria’s Prosecutor’s Office is checking two women from the village of Bryagovo infected with Covid-19 who travelled from Sofia to Haskovo on May 1. They returned to Bulgaria with a flight from Amsterdam. Initially, the women declared that they travelled from Sofia to Haskovo by taxi, but tha authorities could not find the driver. Then it became clear that the women travelled from Bulgaria’s capital to Haskovo by bus and then took a taxi to the village of Bryagovo. The authorities are trying to contact with the passengers of the bus. The Bulgarian seasonal workers are returning to Bulgaria to receive medical treatment, because they have no health insurance abroad. They pass the thermal imaging cameras at the airports after taking medicines to reduce their body temperature. People arriving from abroad are not obliged to declare their health status, Monitor daily comments.

Inspections on observance of anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria begin

Open-air spaces and gardens in restaurants, pubs and cafeterias are allowed to re-open on May 6. The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and the health inspectorates begin mass inspections on the observance of the anti-epidemic measures. No fines will be imposed at this stage. We want to explain to the owners how to comply with the measures, Bistra Ivanova from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said. In an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio Dr. Lubomir Kulinski, Director at the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, summarized the three most-important requirements-physical distancing, personal protective equipment and hygiene. Everything depends on the awareness and discipline of both clients and personnel, Dr. Kulinski said.

Scientists from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences make interesting discovery about Covid-19

Scientists from the Institute of Biology and Immunology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences have found a connection between the severe symptoms of Covid-19 and the overreaction of a molecular complex. This is a protein complex which activates not only in the immune system, but also in the respiratory tract and the blood vessel cells, Professor Soren Hairabedyan explains. The study of the protein complex has begun in order to find out how immune response causes male infertility. The scientists found that this protein complex which is part of the immune system causes severe respiratory failure in some Covid-19 patients, because it is also activated in the alveolar cells of the lungs.

Ambassador of United States to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa sent greetings on occasion of St. George’s Day

The Ambassador of the United States to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa greeted the head of the National Crisis Headquarters General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski. On the Day of the Bulgarian Army also known as the Day of Bravery marked on May 6 Ambassador Mustafa sent greetings for health and wished all Bulgarians success in their endeavors. Herro Mustafa gave General Mutafchiyski an icon of Saint George the Victor. U.S. Embassy Defense Attaché Colonel Shannon Johnson also attended the meeting.

Compiled by Ivo Ivanov

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