Nurseries and kindergartens to reopen on May 22

On the first day children’s temperature will be taken which this will be done only if there are symptoms. A note from a doctor will not be required, but parents will need to sign a declaration of informed consent that they have voluntarily decided to bring their child to the kindergarten or nursery and that they are aware of all the hygienic and anti-epidemic measures that need to be implemented. This was announced at a briefing by the ministers of education and of health who presented the special measures for the reopening of children's establishments.

More Covid-19 recoveries than new cases over past 24 hours

Over the past 24 hours, 24 new cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Bulgaria. 10 of them have been admitted to hospitals, the National Operational Headquarters for Covid-19 announced. Thus, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria has reached 2,259. The newly confirmed cases are in Sofia, Yambol, Sliven, Kyustendil and Pazardzhik. 34 people have recovered bringing the number of coronavirus recoveries up to 646. There are currently 299 people in hospitals in the country and 36 are on ventilators. Two new deaths have been registered - a man aged 79 and a woman aged 93.

Quarantine lifted for Bulgarian truck drivers entering the country as of 25 May

“This is valid for all drivers of heavy goods truck as well as for bus drivers,” Minister of Transport Rosen Zhelyazkov announced. International drivers are now put under 14-day quarantine because of Covid-19 before making their next run.

Quarantine with Greece and Serbia to be lifted on June 1

“Though free, travel between Bulgaria and Serbia will take place with bilateral declarations, for Greece they will not be necessary,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said after a video conference with his counterparts from Romania, Serbia and Greece “I hope the Romanian parliament will take such a decision, but the government there has resigned,” PM Borissov explained.

Indoor restaurants to reopen as of 1 June

“As we are talking about tourism during this period we should also open indoor restaurants,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said. Commenting on the demand for a reduction in VAT on all food, he stated that this was a high-risk venture. PM Borissov stated that nobody had been prepared for tens of thousands of companies requesting financing at the same time but that companies are being provided credits and grants, in full.

Bulgaria is counting on a tourist season as of 15 June

“The summer tourism strategy is counting on Bulgarians and on tourists from neighbouring countries,” said Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova for the BNR. “Negotiations are underway with European countries in an epidemiological situation similar to that in Bulgaria for their tourists to start coming to Bulgaria after 15 June. No charter flights to Bulgaria after 15 June have been cancelled. There is a high probability of free traffic in Europe being restored as of 15 June if the epidemiological situation permits,” Minister Angelkova said.

There will be no celebratory processions on 24 May, Slavonic alphabet day

“There are numerous initiatives to mark 24 May, Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture, most of them online. There will be no celebratory processions,” said Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev. “10-15% of  all children are not covered by the system of distance learning. For them there will be additional activities for filling in educational gaps in June and July. There will probably be summer study-halls as of 1 June so that parents can go to work. The final decision will depend on the epidemiological situation,” Minister Valchev said.

Tourist transport companies organize protests

Owners of tourist transport companies organized protests in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Ruse. The reason is that the sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic cannot benefit from the government’s financial assistance. For carriers, the 60/40 measure is inapplicable because their companies have no revenues.

State could preserve 170,000 jobs

170,000 jobs can be preserved by way of the 60/40 measure so that staff will not have to be fired during the crisis. If the current rate of incoming applications at the Employment Agency keeps and their approval rate remains within 70%, the aid would reach about 170,000 employees, Minister of Social Affairs Denitsa Sacheva explained. A total of EUR 92 million is needed for two months of support, and about EUR 137 million for three months.

Balkans and EU with more intensive cooperation for exiting the crisis

The foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo agreed on setting up a regional health network for the treatment of patients and the safe restoration of tourism. At a video conference they also decided that the “green corridors” connecting the EU with the Western Balkans must remain open after the crisis,  

Compiled by Diana Tsankova and “News” team 

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