Hospitals in Sofia suspend inoculation during “green corridors” over lack of vaccines

Inoculation against Covid-19 during the so-called “green corridors” has been temporarily suspended due to the lack of vaccines, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov announced. The vaccination centres will reopen as soon as new quantities are supplied.
"When we (the EU-editorial note) had to pay millions of euros for vaccines, we did it strictly. Now, big vaccine manufacturers are not fulfilling their contractual obligations and are putting our vaccine plans at risk", commented Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov on Facebook.
“At the moment we have around 80,000 doses of vaccine of all three companies approved. When the new shipments arrive half will go to the GPs.”

Health Minister sends strongly-worded letter to vaccine manufacturer

Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov sent a strongly-worded letter to AstraZeneca regarding the delayed deliveries of their vaccine. It has transpired that on March 1, Bulgaria will probably receive slightly more than 1/3 of the negotiated 142,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine. 17,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Bulgaria on 22February, 33,000 fewer than agreed. On 1 March we shall probably receive a little over one-third of the 142,000 doses agreed.
“The Ministry of Health insists that 52,000 doses be delivered today, February 25. For the purpose, Bulgaria is ready to provide air transport”, Minister Angelov wrote in the letter to the vaccine manufacturer. Today, Bulgaria received 12,000 doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, the fourth shipment of this vaccine.

Number of newly registered coronavirus cases continues to rise

The number of newly registered Covid-19 cases has increased by 26% in the past week. The number of Covid-19 fatalities decreased by 7%, announced the Chairman of the National Operational Headquarters General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski. Hospital bed occupancy fluctuates in different Bulgarian regions, Professor Mutafchiyski noted. 47% of the hospital beds for patients with moderate of symptoms of Covid-19 and 51% of the ICU beds are occupied. All Covid-19 beds in the Military Medical Academy, Pirogov Emergency Hospital and St. Anna hospital are completely full.
Bulgaria ranks 22^nd in the EU in terms of incidence with 156 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people. This country is 14^th in the EU in terms of mortality, with 8.27 fatalities per 100,000 people, Chief State Health Inspector Associate Professor Angel Kunchev said. Currently 19 out of all 28 Bulgarian districts are in the Covid-19 red zone. The highest incidence was reported in Kyustendil district- 446 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people. We have witnessed a slight increase in the number of coronavirus infections, while deaths appear to be plateauing, Dr. Kunchev went on to say.

More from today’s briefing

Once again almost 14% of coronavirus tests return positive

1,733 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 12,066 tests performed. The highest number of new infections was reported in Sofia - 464, followed by Plovdiv - 139 and Burgas - 94, indicate data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal.
48 patients have died and 505 people have recovered in the past 24 hours.
There are 30,093 active cases of coronavirus infection at present. 4,202 patients are in hospital, as 369 of them are in intensive care units. The Covid-19 death toll has reached 10,026. Meanwhile, the total number of Covid-19 recoveries has reached 202,005.
20,236 people have been inoculated against Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of vaccinations in this country to 168,462.

Bulgaria supports introduction of vaccination passport

“Bulgaria will support the introduction of a vaccination passport or "green electronic corridors" for European citizens who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov stated. The topic of vaccination certificates and the vaccination campaign in the Member States will be in the focus of discussions at the European Council meeting starting today.

Extension of interest-free loans for individuals is being prepared

The Bulgarian Development Bank has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Economy to extend the program for interest-free loans to citizens who are temporarily unable to work due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The proposal comes at the backdrop of the complicated epidemic situation and the continuing flow of applications for interest-free loans under the program. 
Due to reaching the guarantee limits, some of the commercial partner-banks in the program have temporarily stopped accepting applications.The program is aimed at persons with labor contracts and self-insured persons who ceased their activities because of the coronavirus crisis.

Compiled by Diana Tsankova