Anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria extended until May 13

The duration of the introduced anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria in connection with the spread of Covid-19 is extended until May 13, 2020, a new order of Bulgaria's Health Minister Kiril Ananiev reads. The decision is motivated by the complicated epidemic situation in the country, by the Decision of April 3, 2020 taken by the Bulgarian Parliament for extending the declared state of emergency and the recommendations of the National Crisis Staff.

Until May 13, schools and kindergartens in Bulgaria will remain closed. The entry into and exit from the regional cities remains limited. There remains a ban on visits to city parks and the requirement for people under 60 not to go shopping in grocery stores and pharmacies between 8.30 am and 10.30 am. Restaurants, cafes and shopping centres will remain closed.

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria reach 635, 1 new death

According to the latest data from the National Crisis Staff, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 infections is now 635. Today, 11 new cases have been registered, with 7 in Sofia, 1 in Smolyan and 3 in Veliko Tarnovo. 231 persons with a confirmed Covid-19 infection are now hospitalized. 56% of all cases reported in the country are men, 44% are women. There has been one new death today of a 44-year-old woman treated in the hospital in Sliven. This brings the total Covid-19 death toll in Bulgaria to 25.

Good payers given the right to defer loan payments

The management board of the Bulgarian National Bank has approved a procedure for deferring and settling outstanding liabilities to commercial banks in light of the state of emergency introduced in Bulgaria on March 13, 2020. According to the document, credit obligations could be deferred for up to six months because of the Covid-19 crisis. Applications for deferrals may be submitted by 22 June. Three deferral options are provided. Only good payers will be able to exercise the right to defer credit payments.

Tourism Minister: No tourist trips allowed until May 13, 2020

Bulgaria's Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova has issued an order that all  organized tourist trips of Bulgarians abroad, organized trips of foreigners in Bulgaria, as well as all organized tourist visits inside the country are suspended until May 13, 2020. Angelkova calls on all businesses, local authorities and tourists to strictly observe the requirements imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Bulgaria to purchase masks, ventilators from China, PCR tests from South Korea

The Bulgaria government will provide and pay for the transportation of 1.176 million disposable safety masks, 1 million medical masks and 50 ventilators from China. The same transportation will be used to deliver the donations made by China to Bulgaria. This was decided at an extraordinary cabinet meeting today. A contract for the delivery of 303,000 Covid-19 tests is also to be signed with a South Korean company. The tests will be a "real time" PCR tests with a certificate of use in the EU.

President of Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union, Asena Stoimenova, accused of "causing panic"

The head of Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union, Asena Stoimenova, has been accused of causing panic among the public following her interviews with the Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television. The charge envisages up to two years in prison for transmitting via radio, telephone or otherwise false calls or misleading signs of assistance, accident or alarm. In her interviews, Stoimenova has warned that the observed practice of people hoarding medicines could lead to a shortage of medicines for those in need, and appealed for checks by the relevant authorities. Stoimenova does not rule out the possibility of seeking her rights at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

New online portal offers information on Covid-19 outbreak in Bulgaria

A new information portal already provides official information on the measures taken by the authorities and all documents issued by the government. "All information will be gathered in one place for the convenience of citizens and businesses," said Krasimir Bozhanov, director of the Modernization Directorate with the Council of Ministers. The site contains current news, questions and answers, important phones and links, as well as statistics on the distribution of Covid-19 in Bulgaria.

Interior Ministry: Increased police presence around churches in coming holidays

For the upcoming Christian holidays of Palm Sunday on April 12 and the Orthodox Easter on April 19, the police presence throughout the country will be strengthened, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Chief Commissioner Ivaylo Ivanov, announced at an extraordinary briefing. There are about 4,000 churches in Bulgaria, and there will be police officers around all of them to oversee the order. So far, 638 fines have been imposed in the country for non-compliance with the restrictive measures in relation to the state of emergency. There are currently a total of 24,000 people under quarantine, who are being checked constantly. 27 employees of the Interior Ministry officials have tested positive for Covid-19.

Disinfection begins around Orthodox churches in Sofia

The disinfection of the spaces around the Orthodox churches in Sofia begins. There are 58 churches in total. "There will be manual disinfection with sprayers. The area around St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral and the Saint Nedelya Church will be also washed before the disinfection. Before the manual disinfection, Sofia will also be cleaned," said the director of the Sofia Inspectorate, Veska Georgieva. For the coming holidays - Palm Sunday and Easter, the churches will be open and the purpose is to guarantee the safety of the people who will attend the religious ceremonies.

Bulgaria’s government supports artists during state of emergency

Bulgarian artists whose monthly incomes were below EUR 500 in 2019 will receive one minimum salary, including the social security contributions, in the months during the state of emergency and the month after its end, Bulgaria’s Minister of Culture Boil Banov announced at an extraordinary briefing. The measure concerns people from the so-called free sector, where many Bulgarian artists, painters, dancers, musicians and literary men are employed. Minister Banov assumed that nearly 1,200 people who are currently unable to work for objective reasons will benefit from this support.

43% of Bulgarians expect lower incomes due to Covid-19 crisis

43% of Bulgarians expect that they will receive lower incomes due to the Covid-19 crisis, a survey of Trend sociological agency shows. One-third of the respondents fear that they may lose their jobs, and according to 80% of the Bulgarians, the world will not be the same after the coronavirus pandemic. The sociologists register increased anxiety about the social and economic consequences of the Covid-19 crisis and growing expectations for even stronger economic intervention by the state. 

Compiled by Diana Tsankova and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

You can find all stories and important publications related to COVID-19 in Bulgaria at our special coverage section in English.

You can also follow all latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak and all measures in Bulgaria in 9 more languages at Radio Bulgaria.