New Covid-19 variants have more than one mutation: Prof. Soren Hayrabedyan

During the outgoing week British researchers warned that there are more than 4,000 different SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in the world, and the UK variant, which is much more contagious, is now spreading in Bulgaria. Commenting on the virus mutations for Nova TV, Prof. Soren Hayrabedyan, Director of the Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences pointed out that the Brazil Covid-19 variant is the most dangerous of all.
“It has 20 mutations and the mortality rate is much higher.” In the words of Prof. Hayrabedyan even immunity acquired individually may not be enough. "In the state where the epidemic is now spreading, at least 50% of the population contracted the disease during the first wave, nevertheless there is a new wave there now," Prof. Soren Hayrabedyan said but added that does not necessarily mean people develop severe forms of the disease.

910 new daily Covid-19 cases registered in Bulgaria, or 7.3% of tests performed

910 is the number of newly registered Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours, 35 of them among medical staff.Out of the12,463 tests performed, 7.3 % returned positive. 3,070 Covid-19 patients are being treated in hospital, 276 of them in intensive care. 698 have recovered over the past 24 hours , 30 have died.
The highest number of new infections is again in Sofia - 206, followed by Burgas - 113 and Plovdiv with 79 new cases.2,835 people were vaccinated yesterday, bringing the total number of vaccinations up to 56,860.
17,392 received their second dose of the vaccine.

57 countries consent so far to voting in Bulgarian parliamentary elections on their territory

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far obtained the consent of 57 countries for the opening of polling stations on their territory for the forthcoming elections for National Assembly in Bulgaria, the Foreign Ministry has announced.
The requirement is for the voting to take place on strict observance of the anti-epidemic measures. Because of the pandemic some countries have only consented to voting on the territory of Bulgaria’s representations abroad. Others will allow voting outside polling stations, but only after consent is given additionally for each individual proposal for the opening of new polling places.
Due to the additional measures in place in some countries where travel inside the country is restricted, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry will request that voting be recognized as a justified reason so that Bulgarian voters may be able to exercise their right to vote.

Inspections underway in Sofia for compliance with anti-epidemic measures

Health inspectorate officials together with the police are conducting inspections of commercial premises and eating and drinking establishments in Sofia to check whether the anti-epidemic measures are being observed.
The inspections are of chain stores, convenience stores etc. Later tonight officers from the Sofia police department are to inspect eating and drinking establishments.

More than 50 passengers bound for Switzerland blocked at Sofia airport

Passengers flying to Switzerland were blocked at Sofia airport for hours today, BNR’s Horizont channel reports.
The reason was the unexpected requirement to present a negative PCR test. According to a BNR listener travelling to Switzerland, the Swiss health authorities are putting this requirement in place as of Monday, 8 February. After reporting the incident and contacting the Bulgarian health authorities the passengers bound for Switzerland were allowed to board the airplane just with the declarations required.

Compiled by Darina Grigorova