The number of new cases of Covid-19 has been rising steadily in the past weeks, Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Professor Kostadin Angelov announced at the regular weekly briefing. We are now witnessing the beginning of the third wave of Covid-19, contends Minister Angelov. Although anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria are less stringent, the morbidity and mortality rates in this country are comparable to those in Europe.

The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has exceeded the number of Covid-19 recoveries, Minister Angelov went on to say. Bulgaria has registered 143 cases per 100,000 people since the beginning of this week. In other words, morbidity has increased by 32% as compared to the previous week, informed General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, head of the National Operational Headquarters. Meanwhile, mortality increased by 4% and the number of patients admitted to hospital saw 15% increase. Twelve Bulgarian districts are classified as Covid-19 red zones with more than 120 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people.

Bulgaria offers voluntary antigen testing for students. Parents are to express their agreement or disagreement in a written declaration, underlined this country’s Chief Health State Inspector Associate Professor Angel Kunchev. He made it clear that testing for Covid-19 will take place in schools only, not in nurseries and kindergartens. Meanwhile, more than 29,000 teachers and non-teaching staff underwent testing with rapid antigen tests and only 74 people tested positive for coronavirus infection. 

Members of election commissions will be inoculated against Covid-19  until March 5 at the latest. They will get their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and achieve immunity before the Parliamentary elections, announced Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov.

Bulgaria ranks 26^th in the EU in terms of Covid-19 morbidity and 15^th in terms of coronavirus mortality. 25% of all hospital beds for patients with moderate symptoms of Covid-19 have been occupied. The intensive care units are operating at 38% of their total capacity. 9,764 medics have been diagnosed with Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Currently, 690 medics are positive for coronavirus infection.

The third phase of the vaccination in Bulgaria will end at the beginning of March and then mass vaccination will begin, Minister Angelov announced. Bulgaria may consider introducing stricter anti-epidemic measures if the number of Covid-19 cases exceeds 200 per 100,000 people, added Minister Angelov.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov