196 new Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria or 10% of all tests performed

196 new Covid-19 cases have been registered in Bulgaria over the past 24 hours, single information portal data from midnight indicate.
This is 100 cases fewer than the previous day, but out of far fewer PCR tests - 2,003. This means that almost 10% of the PCR tests performed have returned positive. 605 patients with coronavirus have been hospitalized, 34 are in ICU. 2 have died over the past 24 hours.

EU leaders’ summit in Brussels enters into its third day

The negotiations on the EU budget for the coming seven years and on the coronavirus recovery fund continue, the Bulgarian National TV, BNT, correspondent reports. After Charles Michel, President of the European Council proposed last night that EUR 50 billion of grant money be transferred to loans, the “frugal four” countries are demanding that another EUR 25 billion be transferred to loans. However these proposals are meeting with the resistance of the countries hit hardest by the pandemic – Italy and Spain.
Before the start of the meeting, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov was met with a protest by Bulgarians demanding the resignation of the government and of the prosecutor general.
“We need to take into account some member countries’ fears and I hope a compromise will be found so that we can proceed with the annual financial framework,” PM Borissov said.  “The individual pillars are very important. The pandemic is raging with terrible ferocity. Everyone is saying that autumn will be hard. I still think that the European Union should have a common protocol.”

Foreign Minister Zaharieva congratulates Bulgarian diplomats on their work during the pandemic

On the occasion of the day of the Bulgarian diplomatic service, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva congratulated Bulgarian diplomats:
“With its high degree of professionalism and commitment Bulgarian diplomacy has been able to be the voice of Bulgarians around the world,” Ekaterina Zaharieva stated in her address. Minister Zaharieva expressed her admiration of the enormous efforts the Bulgarian diplomats have been making in this unprecedented Covid-19 situation. “During the first weeks of the pandemic you helped our countrymen return home. Over a brief space of time we created the most up-to-data and reliable source of information about the coronavirus measures, in which data from 90 countries are entered. We demonstrated an exceptional level of preparedness and worked, together, in the hardest of moments. Regrettably, the crisis is not over and will not be over any time soon. However, I am convinced that what we have learnt from it will make us stronger! The past 12 months were a special time for the Bulgarian diplomatic service, a time it celebrated its 140^th anniversary. I would like to thank all people who took part in organizing the numerous events marking the anniversary, and making it a truly festive occasion,” the Bulgarian foreign minister said.

More and more Bulgarians opt for alternative transport due to pandemic

The need to observe social distancing over the coronavirus has prompted many Bulgarians to buy bicycles as an alternative to urban transport. At the same time, due to the drop in demand as measures were being tightened, the prices of a small group of services went down, and then, as of June, started going up again, the National Statistical Institute says. The prices of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes have also gone up slightly – by 0.2%, of communications – by 0.3%, prices at hotels and restaurants – by 0.8%. Compiled by Darina Grigorova

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