Ban on visiting museums, libraries, cinemas, theatres lifted

Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev has issued an order allowing the holding of cultural events, and visits to museums, galleries, libraries and indoor and outdoor cinemas. For stage events and cinema the admissible seat occupancy rate should be up to 30% of the maximum capacity.

It is too early to talk about opening theatres, concerts and philharmonic orchestras, said Culture Minister Boil Banov. For now, only open-air performances will be allowed, with a limited number of performers.

Only museums, galleries, and libraries will re-open in compliance with all safety measures. The cinemas will work without air conditioners and with a capacity of up to 30% of the seats. Cultural events are also allowed - but also with limited capacity for the audience in the halls, Banov explained.

The opening of the shopping malls will be among the last measures that will be relaxed.

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria reach 1990, deaths rise to 93

There are 9 newly registered cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria on Monday, May 11, by 5 pm local time, the National Operational Headquarters announced. The confirmed coronavirus infections have reached a total of 1990.  368 of patients are currently hospitalized. 50 of them are in intensive care units. A total of 214 medical staff have tested positive for coronavirus infection.

The number of fatalities with established Covid-19 has reached 93 people.

110 mediums-sized and large enterprises have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis

110 mediums-sized and large enterprises with a total staff of more than 48,700 have been affected by the coronavirus crisis, a nationwide survey conducted by the Confederation of Independent TUs in Bulgaria on 11 May indicates. The survey involves 134 enterprises. 12% of the companies have undertaken staff cuts. In 66% of them the staff is on paid leave, in 23% - on unpaid leave. 7% of these companies are planning to resume work fully or partially after 13 May. They are in the processing industry, manufacture of automotive components, energy, clothes manufacturing and water and sewerage.

Social partners agree on 20 out of total of 65 anti-crisis measures

The tourism and transport sectors will receive special anti-crisis assistance, the social partners in Bulgaria agreed at an online meeting of the Tripartite Cooperation Council. Out of 65 anti-crisis measures, an agreement has been reached on 20 of them, said the leader of the CITUB trade union Plamen Dimitrov.

The final measures approved by the government will be clear next week.

Culture Ministry to allocate more funds to support culture amidst pandemic

We will allocate another 2.5 million euros for culture and we will invest them immediately, Bulgaria's Minister of Culture Boil Banov stated. 10% of the money is targeted at theater productions, musical performances, dance shows and visual arts. Funds have been allocated also for the cinema and circus arts. The goal is to support the creation of products that can be presented over the Internet.

Separately, more than 3.5 m euros have been allocated under a Norwegian program for freelance artists, the minister said.

Beaches in Bulgaria to open on June 1

As of June 1, the beaches in Bulgaria will be open for visitors. Until then, the mobile application for showing where and what is the occupancy of umbrellas and sunbeds will start working, Bulgaria's Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova announced. She pointed out that beach accessories will be at least 50% cheaper than the previous summer season, but not free.

Heavy fines for passengers without masks in public transport vehicles in Sofia

Mass checks whether masks are being worn in public transport vehicles are starting in Sofia today. Passengers without masks will be fined and forcibly removed from the vehicles with the help of police. The fines are BGN 300-1000 (EUR153-511).

As of today the urban transport system in Sofia is beginning to return to its normal daily timetable. The Sofia underground will continue on a reduced timetable, and winter schedule, and there will be no night-time public transportation. This will be the last week in which ticket controllers will be selling tickets inside vehicles without fining passengers who have no tickers.

Professional footballers resume training on May 15

Bulgaria's Ministry of Youth and Sports has received approval from the Ministry of Health of a Plan for organizing and conducting preparatory training in professional football. As of May 15, 2020 the professional teams can start collective training in groups, observing strict anti-epidemic measures. Three days before that, all players will pass PCR tests for Covid-19.

Bulgarian athletes also resume training sessions

The Bulgarian Athletics Federation has made public the new rules of training in Bulgaria in the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. Athletics training sessions are only allowed for registered competitors, and only on outdoor race tracks and in compliance with the 2.5 m. distancing requirement.

Compiled by Diana Tsankova and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

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