Only social anti-epidemic measures remain after June 15

On June 15, the emergency epidemic situation related to the Covid-19 pandemic ends. After this date, only social measures will remain in force.This was what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said at today's government meeting. He asked Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev to make texts that regulate wearing of masks indoors more precise. EUR 692 million could be made available to Bulgaria from the European Commission Covid-19 recovery fund as early as the end of the year, it also became clear at the cabinet’s sitting. The government is working actively in this direction. Adequate mechanisms for grant schemes should be developed by June-July, Deputy Premier Tomislav Donchev pointed out and added that these funds may well reach beneficiaries – companies, public institutions, hospitals - as early as late autumn. Today, the Bulgarian cabinet held its first live meeting since the beginning of the state of emergency introduced on March 13. Until today, the ministers have been holding their cabinet sitting via video conference link.

1,206 Bulgarians recover from Covid-19

The new cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria registered for the past 24 hours are 22 after 1347 PCR tests done. With them the number of confirmed cases has reached 2560. This has been reported by the National Operational Headquarters. 9 medics are among the newly infected. 7 of them work in the gastroenterology ward of a hospital in Sliven. The ward has already been closed. Two people diagnosed with coronavirus infection have passed away in the past 24 hours. The total number of the deceased patients is 146. The number of hospitalized people is record low - 132 people. Only 9 of them need intensive treatment, it was reported. 1,206 Bulgarians have recovered from Covid-19 until now.

Covid-19 is coming to an end for this season: Associate Professor Angel Kunchev

“Even if the measures are no longer mandatory, they will be advisable, especially for people with flu-like symptoms,” said Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev, member of the National Crisis Headquarters for BGNES news agency. 

“It is a fact that any time these rules are disregarded the result is a smaller or bigger outbreak,” Assoc. Prof. Kunchev said, and gave North Macedonia as an example where the number of newly confirmed cases had dropped down to below 10 but several days later surged to 90. He is categorical that this is due to the close contacts during the religious holidays. Angel Kunchev says he is moderately optimistic, and that even if there are new outbreaks in the autumn they are hardly likely to be significant. 

Bulgaria amends 60/40 wage support scheme

The 60/40 wage support scheme used by the state to pay 60% of the social security contributions and 60% of the salaries will be amended and will continue from July 1 until September 30, Bulgaria’s Minister of Labor and Social Policy Denitsa Sacheva said. The measure will be also used for hiring unemployed people from the employment offices and will no longer be used as instrument for compensations, but as a subsidy for salaries instead, Minister Sacheva said further. The measure will no longer be bound up with the circumstances during the state of emergency which ended on May 13. The companies will not have to cease activity or put staff to part time work, in order to apply for the wage support scheme. However, Bulgaria needs the European Commission's support before amending the measure. 

There will be no apocalyptic second wave of Covid-19: Assoc. Prof. Atanas Mangarov

“I am not expecting a second coronavirus wave in the autumn in the apocalyptic sense usually attributed to these words,” said Assoc. Prof. Atanas Mangarov, head of the Pediatric Clinic at the Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Sofia. At a medical forum in Ruse on “Covid-19 in the present and the question of the future”, the expert said that if it were to remain among the population, the coronavirus would by no means cause epidemic morbidity.“ The scenario now unfolding to a great extent repeats what happened with SARS in 2002-2003,” Assoc. Prof. Mangarov said. 

Bulgarian scientists and entrepreneurs launch anti-epidemic electronic platform

The system is named Open Pandemic and covers all aspects related to the dissemination, the health and economic impact of the epidemics. The platform has 14 modules and a completely anonymous mobile application. The system allows health and government institutions to monitor the development of any infection and manage the hospital resources more efficiently. It can help the authorities prevent possible second wave of Covid-19 and other diseases.

Bulgarian diplomats make personal donation to hospital in Bitola

Bulgarian Consulate General in Bitola, North Macedonia and the Bulgarian Embassy in North Macedonia donated to the Bitola hospital new protective equipment. The multiple-use protective clothing can be used up to 850 days. We are happy that neighboring Bulgaria has developed a technology for production of such modern protective suits, Mayor of Bitola Natasha Petrovska said. Bulgaria’s Ambassador to North Macedonia Angel Angelov said that at the initiative of the Bulgarian Consulate General in Bitola and the Bulgarian Embassy in North Macedonia, all Bulgarians working at the diplomatic representations have donated money for the purchase of protective clothing for doctors working at the frontline against Covid-19.

Compiled by: Gergana Mancheva and Radio Bulgaria’s News Team

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