Round-the-clock control of compliance with anti-epidemic measures

Regional health inspectorates are starting mass inspections in public places - malls and other shops, nightclubs and bars for compliance with anti-epidemic measures, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov said at a briefing of the National Operational Headquarters. The Ministry of Interior and other institutions with control functions will be included in the supervision, as there was "observed hesitation among people in terms of discipline", according to the Minister. The inspections will be round the clock and the sites would be closed if they refused to comply with the instructions of Regional Health Inspectorates.

The situation is most serious in two districts – Blagoevgrad and Targovishte

The situation in the districts of Blagoevgrad and Targovishte is the worst, as there the infection rate reaches 120 people per 100,000. That is why the headquarters call on the public to avoid traveling to these areas, in order to avoid spreading the infection.

At a national level there is a sufficient number of Covid-19 hospital beds

This was announced by the health minister, but he added that in individual districts there may be difficulties. 19% of the hospital beds for patients without need of artificial respiration, and 6 % of the beds in intensive care units are currently occupied. More about today’s weekly briefing of the National Operational Headquarters here.

As of today school children in Targovishte switch to online tuition

On October 15, students in Targovishte (Northeast Bulgaria) are shifting to online studies. Pensioner clubs in Targovishte municipality have been closed by order of the local authorities, which will be in force until November 30. Due to the increased number of Covid-19 cases in recent days, Targovishte district has passed to the Red Zone which means that the number of coronavirus infections in the past 14 days exceeds 120 per 120,000 people.

Bulgaria reports record high number of new Covid-19 cases

819 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 5,898 PCR tests performed, data of the Single Information System show. 13.89% of all PCR tests returned positive - the highest percentage since the beginning of the pandemic. The total number of Covid-19 cases reached 26,593 since the beginning of the pandemic. 350 patients have recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 16,489. 1,380 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, 67 of whom in intensive care.

Covid-19 mortality rate is up to 15 times higher than that of influenza: virologist

Dr. Velislava Petrova, a virologist at the University of Cambridge and a consultant to the UN, has told Nova TV that Covid-19 is definitely not just a flu. The mortality rate is 3 to 15 times higher. The idea of somebody creating artificial panic does not correspond to reality, Dr. Petrova added. 
The measures taken in Bulgaria are in full accord with those around the world. The effect of the measures on the economy and many other factors must be taken into account. At the beginning of the current second phase, many more young people have become infected and mortality is lower. But these young people inevitably come into contact with older people, which unfortunately would lead to higher mortality, the virologist said.

Health workers and school teachers with “Worthy Bulgarians” awards

This year’s awards in the 18^th edition of the “Worthy Bulgarians” initiative by the 24 Chasa newspaper are marked by the Covid crisis and overcoming the challenges it poses. A special award went to Bulgaria’s school teachers, and the grand prix – to front line healthcare workers, some of whom lost their lives to save the lives of others, while others are continuing to battle coronavirus. 
Reporting by Tsvetelina Stoyanova, Horizont channel. 

Compiled by Yoan Kolev

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