As of Monday, 22 March, a national lockdown is to be imposed because of the alarming rate at which the coronavirus infection is spreading and the pressure on the healthcare system. Most commercial establishments are being closed down and a number of activities are being suspended, though no checkpoints are to be put in place around cities and people will be able to leave their homes at any time. This was made clear after a meeting of the National Operational Headquarters called by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

By order of the minister of health as of 22 March all pupils and university students will switch to remote learning. Crèches and kindergartens will also close, no extracurricular activity will be allowed. Visiting eating and entertainment establishments will be banned, including casinos and gambling halls. Shopping malls and shopping facilities covering an area of over 300 sq. m. selling non-food items will also close. However, banks, pharmacies, optics, telecommunication operators on large shopping premises will remain open.

Gyms and facilities for other kinds of group activities will not function. Holding cultural events will be prohibited in theatres, concert halls, galleries and cinemas. Mass outdoor public events will be prohibited, as will large gatherings of people such as congresses and seminars. No more than 15 people will be allowed at family gatherings. Sports events will take place without an audience, and one-way passage will be introduced at open-air markets, where mask-wearing and the observance of the 1.5 metre distance will be mandatory.

According to Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov the decision to impose a lockdown is due to the continuing surge in the number of coronavirus cases in past weeks and of the number of hospitalizations. “The aim is for the control of the epidemic to continue to be effective with the same results we are achieving now, without the bad memories of October and November,” he said.

Prof. Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, Head of the National Operational Headquarters stated there was a “steep rise in the mortality curve.” During the past week alone the number of Covid-19 deaths has gone up by 46% compared to the previous week, whereas the number of new infections has gone up by 40%. These figures place Bulgaria in 3^rd position in the world in mortality growth rate intensity, and 7^th in daily increase in coronavirus cases. Within the European Union Bulgaria is 9^th in coronavirus incidence and 4^th in number of coronavirus deaths.

The highest number of people with coronavirus infection at this time is in Burgas, Pleven, Sofia, Vratsa and Kyustendil, where numbers stand at 600 per 100,000 people. In Sofia alone the number of hospitalizations has gone up by 35%, and this morning more than 2,100 Covid-19 beds were occupied, Mayor Yordanka Fandakova said. It is a worrying fact that the number of infections and severe cases of coronavirus is growing among children and young people, she added.

Despite the spike in the epidemic, there is no shortage of hospital beds, Minister Angelov said, and added that out of 46,000 beds nationwide, 7,800 are currently occupied. Prof. Kostadin Angelov stated further that mass immunization will continue after the European Medicines Agency has had its say on the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is expected to happen today.

“There will be enough vaccines for everyone, the consultations for the delivery of additional doses continue,” he said. At the moment the country has 100,000 British vaccines, another 180,000 doses are expected by the end of the month.

"The current anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria are not observed. Some people do not wear masks and do not maintain physical distance", said this country’s Prеmier Boyko Borissov at a meeting with Bulgaria’s Minister of Health and the National Operational Headquarters. Boyko Borissov ordered the health authorities to take the necessary urgent measures aimed to contain the spread of coronavirus infection.

"The stringent anti-epidemic measures will be in force until March 31, because people's lives and health are the most important things. I am aware that many people will be annoyed by this decision, but I was never guided in my decisions by whether everybody will like us or not", said Premier Borissov.

Photos: BTA and BGNES