Protective masks are mandatory indoors!

Wearing a disposable or reusable protective mask or other means covering the nose and mouth, including, scarfs, face shields, etc., is once again mandatory in all indoor public places. An exception is allowed for customers in restaurants and drinking establishments. This has been ordered by the Minister of Health, who regulates the temporary anti-epidemic measures on the territory of Bulgaria for the period June 23 - 30. The same document states that visits to hospitals and specialized institutions for the provision of social services are banned.

Foreign Ministry advises for use of EU airlines when traveling

Due to the ongoing restrictions on travel from third countries to EU countries, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry recommends that travelers from Bulgaria to EU countries and the Schengen area countries should not use transit flights through third countries. The ministry recommends the use of internal direct lines within the EU. Even if the authorities in the respective third country have not imposed restrictions on the travel of Bulgarian citizens, some airlines set additional conditions for proving the purpose of the trip through third countries, the Ministry announced.

Andrey Chobanov: We cannot talk about second wave of coronavirus in Bulgaria

What we see is a normal development of the coronavirus epidemic and we can not talk about a second wave. It was naive to think that we would prevent the virus from spreading more widely. The epidemic will stop when everyone gets in contact with the coronavirus, Andrey Chorbanov, head of the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, has told the Bulgarian National Radio. A small percentage of people are seriously ill, but a huge number of people will not even realize that they were infected. People should be responsible, but not paranoid, Chorbanov said.

Bulgarian Prime Minister fined over not wearing mask

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his entourage will be fined 150 euros each for violating the order of the Minister of Health and not wearing masks in closed public spaces, the Ministry of Health has announced. Among the sanctioned persons are journalists, cameramen, photographers and everyone who was in the church of the Rila Monastery. They will be fined for non-compliance with anti-epidemic measures, the ministry said in response to an inquiry by the Sega newspaper. Borissov visited Rila monastery to check on ongoing renovation and strengthening of the road leading to Bulgaria's biggest monastery.

Anti-epidemic measures could continue after June 30

At the current new peak of the coronavirus epidemic, efforts are focused on monitoring the implementation of existing precautions. Control will be tightened, but the introduction of new restrictions is not planned, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev - Chief State Health Inspector told the BNT. It is too early to say whether we have a second wave of coronavirus formed, but there is a significant change in the situation, with a significant jump in the number of patients in the country compared to the previous two weeks. Probably the reasons for this jump are complex, but this second wave is not extraordinary and not only a Bulgarian phenomenon. You also see what is happening around us, said Kunchev and admitted that his prediction that the virus would weaken in the summer did not come true.

Enhanced checks in Sofia public transport

Intensified checks for wearing protective masks are carried out in the capital's public transport. The fine is BGN 300 (about 150 euros). Starting today until the end of the month, passengers in violation will not be fined, Carlos Contrera, chairman of the transport committee of the Sofia Municipal Council, told BNR. From next week, tickets for the public transport will be available for purchase at lottery points and in state post offices.

Building of Sofia Municipality remains open despite infected councilors

The main building of the Sofia Municipality will not be closed because of the municipal councilors infected with Covid-19, Deputy Mayor Doncho Barbalov told the BNR. He assured that the building is disinfected daily every 4 hours. Only the contact persons of the infected councilors will be tested.

Bulgarian Medical Association: The state must ensure safety of the health system

It is the duty of the state to ensure the safety of the health system, the Chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Association Dr. Ivan Madzharov said in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio. Earlier, in a letter to the media, the Bulgarian Medical Association reacted sharply against the intention of the Ministry of Health to fine hospitals which require their patients to undergo Covid-19 tests before admission. A lot of patients refuse treatment, because they cannot afford to pay the tests. According to Dr. Madzharov, the patients should not pay these tests, but the costs for PCR tests are not calculated in the price of the clinical pathways.

Bulgaria registers 79 new cases of Covid-19 in past 24 hours

79 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours, out of 2,776 PCR tests made. 32 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Sofia, data of the National Coronavirus Information System shows. The total number of Covid-19 cases rose to 3,984. There are 1,606 active cases of Covid-19. The Covid-19 death toll rose to 207 people. 8 Bulgarians died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. 341 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, 11 of whom are in intensive care units. A total of 2,171 people already recovered from the virus. 97 people recovered in the past 24 hours.

Coronavirus tests in Sofia University

About 200 law students, employees and lecturers from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski have been tested for Covid-19. They have been contact with BSP leadership member Yanaki Stoilov, who tested positive for coronavirus. The results of the tests are expected. All the premises of the Faculty of Law where Stoilov is a lecturer in General Theory of Law, have been disinfected.

There has been no peak of Covid-19 in Bulgaria

I do not think that the virus was at the door and went away, but rather there was a false impression in our society that this virus could disappear - viruses never do this, virologist Prof. Mira Kozhuharova has told the BNR. According to her, currently there was a smoothly developing epidemic, which was the main goal of the measures - to slow down the epidemic process.

WHO: Simultaneous removal of number of anti-epidemic measures is mistake

The simultaneous removal of many anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria was a move that is not in line with the world practice. As a result, we do not know the loosening of which measure led to a second peak of the Covid-19 cases in this country, the representative of the World Health Organization in Bulgaria Dr. Mihail Okoliyski told the Bulgarian National Television. However, the Police checkpoints are not necessarily the most effective measure, Mihail Okoliyski pointed out.

Postponing proms is recommended

Due to the increased number of Covid-19 patients, the Ministry of Education has recommended that proms be postponed and held after June 30, when the extraordinary epidemic situation is lifted. The Ministry commented for BNR that organization of the proms is a decision of the high school graduates and the schools and the ministry do not have the authority to control them because they are held outside school hours and outside the educational institutions. It is important for students to celebrate their graduation, but most important is their health. It is reasonable to continue to follow the recommendations, the institution points out.

Compiled by: Elena Karkalanova and Radio Bulgaria’s News Team

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