The National Coronavirus Response Headquarters has confirmed the anti-epidemic measures proposed by health authorities yesterday - nightclubs, restaurants and shopping malls will remain closed until January 31, children up to 4^th grade will return to schools on January 4, nurseries and kindergartens will reopen on January 4, and from the beginning of the new year theatres, museums and galleries will also reopen with 30% attendance.

Today, the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov and Economy Minister Lachezar Borisov will warn the representatives of the chains of food and non-food stores to observe the anti-epidemic measures. "Otherwise, we will be forced to close them," State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev said at the briefing of the Ministry of Health.

Groups of the regional health inspectorates and the police will monitor the observance of the restrictions and in case of their violation a “quick closure” will follow, according to the Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov.

The first immunizations against the coronavirus are expected by the end of the year.

On this occasion, the head of the National Coronavirus Response Staff Gen. Ventsislav Mutafchiiski called on all people to be vaccinated and on doctors to explain to their patients the benefits of getting the vaccines. "The Ministry of Health will not become a distributor of vaccines, nor will it conduct campaigns in favour of any of them," said, in turn, Prof. Kostadin Angelov. He explained that doctors would be the first to receive the "digested information" in order to help citizens give informed consent.

A differentiated approach will be applied when returning children to school, said Education Minister Krassimir Valchev.

He added that the youngest pupils are less likely to be carriers of the infection. Parents who do not want to send their children to school yet must apply for distance learning, the minister added, adding that 1,000 such applications have been received so far.

The measure for compensation of people from closed businesses in the amount of 12 euros per day will remain in force by the end of the year, Minister of Social Affairs Denitsa Sacheva said.

According to her, so far employers have submitted more than 4,000 applications for nearly 19,500 employees. The support measures 60/40 and 80/20 for the hotel, restaurant, tourism and transport sectors will be valid until March 31.

Economy Minister Lachezar Borisov said that as of Monday businesses will be able to apply for support under the measures developed together with the National Revenue Agency. At the beginning of next year, the measure in support of "large small enterprises" with a turnover of over EUR 256,000 will begin.

Bulgaria still takes the first place in terms of coronavirus mortality in the European Union, and it is 14^thin terms of morbidity. In the last week, the number of cured patients is 18,907, and with them the number of people who have recovered since the beginning of the epidemic is 90,510. Regarding the number of occupied hospital beds across the country, data shows that that bed occupancy is 52% with patients without severe complications and 44% with patients in intensive care.

Photos: BGNES