Total number of Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria reaches 1,594

6 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Bulgaria today- 3 in Sliven, 1 in Stara Zagora, 1 in Yambol and 1 in Sofia districts. Thus, the total number of Covid-19 cases in this country reached 1,594, data of the National Crisis Headquarters reads.

321 people who were diagnosed with coronavirus infection were admitted to hospitals, of whom 40 are in intensive-care units. 795 men and 799 women tested positive for Covid-19 until now.  

174 Bulgarians medics have been diagnosed with coronavirus. 729 people in Sofia, 157 in Pleven and 125 in Vidin tested positive for Covid-19.

The Covid-19 death toll rose to 72. A total of 287 Bulgarians recovered from the novel coronavirus infection until now.

National Crisis Headquarters ceases its regular briefings

Following today’s decision of Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov, the National Crisis Headquarters ceases its regular daily briefings. Information about the Covid-19 situation in this country will be provided via bulletins. The decision is based on the fact that the Bulgarian society is already well-informed about all aspects of the coronavirus epidemic. “We have started to hear more often criticism according to which, the damages of the Covid-19 briefings are bigger than the benefits”, the PR of the Bulgarian cabinet Sevdalina Arnaudova told the media.

Vice President Iliana Yotova criticizes cabinet on the lack of strategy for exiting the crisis

Bulgaria needs to establish headquarters which has to work on the policy aimed at existing the severe social and economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this country’s Vice President Iliana Yotova said in an interview for the Bulgarian National Television. In her view, the 60/40 wage support scheme announced by the Bulgarian government is not effective enough against the rising unemployment. “We neither have a strategy, nor tactics, nor public debate on the measures aimed to exit the crisis”, Vice President Yotova said.

Iliana Yotova also reminded that several days ago President Rumen Radev called for the introduction of a public registry for reporting the funds spent on the fight against the coronavirus.

We will not allow crisis in Bulgaria’s dairy sector: Ministry of Agriculture

In an interview for Nova TV Bulgaria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Desislava Taneva called on the consumers to choose Bulgarian products in support of the local producers. The crisis in the dairy sector in the EU continues for a second consecutive month. That is why Bulgaria makes huge efforts to avoid the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Bulgarian dairy sector, Minister Taneva said. One of the measures envisages communication with the large retail chains as a major channel for supply of foodstuffs, in order to offer real dairy products made from milk from Bulgarian farms, Desislava Taneva added.

Minister Taneva reminded that a decree of the Council of Ministers requiring the retail chains to offer on their shelves Bulgarian products from local producers enters in force.

Bulgaria’s consular representations abroad gradually resume normal work

Bulgaria’s consular representations abroad will gradually resume normal work and reception time while following the mitigation of the anti-epidemic measures in the counties. The decision was taken by the extraordinary headquarters formed at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19. Detailed information on reception time, services and the preventative measures undertaken by the foreign representations will be provided on their web pages.

The Bulgarian consular services stopped working with citizens due to the anti-epidemic measures, except in emergencies. 

Funds are being raised to support families of Bulgarian medics who become victims of Covid-19

The Bulgarian Medical Association launched a donation campaign aimed at raising money for the families of Bulgarian medics who lose their lives in the fight against Covid-19. The first donation to the tune of EUR 2,500 will be made by the Bulgarian Medical Association. The money will be given to the family of Doctor Iliana Ivanova. The forty three-year-old woman is the first Bulgarian doctor who became victim of Covid-19.

She worked at the department of infectious diseases of a Sliven-based hospital. Her health condition deteriorated extremely quickly. Doctor Ivanova did not have any other underlying health problems.

Details about the donation account will be given in the beginning of next week.

Bulgaria receives another delivery of medicines and protective equipment from China

Bulgaria received another delivery of  medicines and personal protective equipment from China. It was bought by the Bulgarian cabinet after the agreement between Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov and the Premier of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang. The delivery includes 156,000 face masks and over 200,000 boxes of medication necessary for the hospital treatment of Covid-19 patients according to international protocols. The flight was paid by the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology. The first delivery was made in the middle of April.

Recreation areas in the Rhodopes re-open for visits

The recreation areas on the territory of Rodopi National Park which includes Byala Cherkva, Students, Zdravets Hut and Koprivkite recreation areas have opened for visitors again. The decision was made by the District Crisis Headquarters in Plovdiv in connection with the order of Bulgaria’s Health Minister Kiril Ananiev which lifted the ban on visiting national parks and mountains. Walks in Rodopi Park are allowed from 9 am until 21 pm, but citizens must keep social distance and adhere to all anti-epidemic measures.

Burgas ready to resume boat trips to Saint Anastasia Island

The municipality of Burgas is ready to resume boat trips to Saint Anastasia Island. This may happen as of next week, Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikiolov said. The island is ready to welcome guests. Only the local hotel will be functioning in the beginning. The restaurant and the museum will remain closed until the anti-epidemic measures are lifted.

Saint Anastasia Island (formerly Bolshevik island) is located 6 kilometers of Burgas. It is the only Bulgarian island which became a tourist attraction. In 2001 the island was declared archaeological reserve. Last year, nearly 40,000 tourists visited Saint Anastasia Island.

Professional athletes should be allowed to resume training: VMRO

It is time to allow professional athletes to resume training, Bulgaria’s MP from VMRO party Mariya Tsvetkova wrote on her Fecebook page. For the time being, the sports facilities should be open for professional athletes only and the number of athletes and coaches on each sport facility should be based on the space of the facility, MP Tsvetkova contends. First, we should permit individual sports on outdoor facilities and later to think how to organize the process for team sports and indoor sports events.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

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