Health minister issues 4 orders for extending emergency epidemic situation until 15 July

Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev has issued 4 orders to extend the emergency epidemic situation until July 15. The order for entry into the territory of Bulgaria states that bans on entry do not apply to persons traveling for educational purposes and for the completion of the academic year 2019/2020, as well as for practical training and exams and for the preparation of the school year 2020/2021, when it was impossible for this to happen remotely. Wearing protective masks in public transport vehicles, hospitals and indoor public spaces is mandatory, except inside eating and drinking establishments as well as for the duration of indoor training sessions.

Entry into Greece now possible only through Kulata – Promachonas checkpoint

The Greek Embassy in Sofia has informed the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that starting July 1, 2020, entry of all citizens across the land border from Bulgaria into Greece will be possible only through the Kulata-Promachonas border checkpoint. It will not be possible to enter Greece through any other land border crossings, except for essential travel. A definition of essential travel is yet to be given. Depending on the development of the coronavirus epidemic situation, the Greek authorities will consider opening other land border crossings in the future. On 1 July 2020, Greece introduced an online form for all incoming foreigners to fill in. The form is available here.

Minister of Sports warns stadiums could close doors to fans

Bulgarian Minister of Sports Krassen Kralev has warned that non-observance of anti-epidemic measures during the upcoming final of the Bulgaria Cup would lead to the closing of stadiums to fans. Bulgaria is one of the few countries in Europe that allows spectators at stadiums. Health experts in the country have already criticized the expected gathering of thousands of people at the event.

158 new coronavirus infections, 7 new deaths over past 24 hours

The number of new Covid-19 cases registered over the past 24 hours in Bulgaria is 158 on the basis of 3,343PCR tests performed, official data published in the coronavirus information portal at midnight shows. Sofia is the place with the biggest number of cases - 43, followed by Smolyan with 36 cases. The number of people infected since the beginning of the epidemic has reached 4,989. Out of them, 2,083 cases are still active. 435 patients are hospitalized and 32 are in intensive care units. In the past 24 hours, 7 people with Covid-19 have died bringing the death toll since the beginning of the epidemic to 230. A total of 2,676 have recovered, the number of recoveries in the past 24 hours is 94.

Assoc. Prof. Atanas Mangarov: Surge in coronavirus cases is not due to easing of measures

“The increased number of Covid-19 cases is due to the higher number of tests performed in recent weeks, not to the easing of the anti-epidemic measures,” Associate Professor Atanas Mangarov, Head of the Pediatric Clinic at the Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Sofia told the Bulgarian National Radio. “Doing 100 tests and finding 20 Covid-19 cases is not the same as doing 1,000 tests and finding 40 people infected with coronavirus,” Atanas Mangarov said further. “Absolute values are not comparable to percentage values. On April 12, when Bulgaria was under lockdown, 12% of all tests were positive, which is much more than the current figures. The epidemic will be among us until the critical mass of the population is infected,” Atanas Mangarov commented.

Bulgaria provides 660 million euros to save 300,000 jobs

In order to preserve the jobs of more than 300,000 people, the Bulgarian state will provide 660 million euros under various measures by September.
“We are updating the measure known as "60/40", under which 60 million euros in grants have already been paid out and we have preserved 160,000 jobs in 9,000 companies. Applications have been submitted by another 17,000 companies for another 300,000 people. So far, we have helped companies of 2-3 people to companies with 2,800 employees. In the passenger transport and tourism sectors, aid is up to a ratio of 80/20 and an additional 20 million euro is being allocated,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said. “Under a new, third measure for hiring unemployed people, we will provide 80 million euro from EU funds,” PM Borissov added.

Compiled by Gergana Mancheva and Radio Bulgaria’s News team  

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