No more coronavirus briefings, crisis headquarters to work until end of year

On the 100^th day after the establishment of the National Coronavirus Headquarters, it ended its daily press conferences, according to a decision by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. From now on information will be published online as „daily conferences create tension.“

Summarized data:

• A total of 193,732 tests for Covid-19, including 85,435 PCR tests have been carried out in Bulgaria since the beginning of the epidemic, the head of the National Coronavirus Headquarters Major General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski announced.

• 1317 patients with Covid-19 have received medical treatment in 77 Bulgarian hospitals.

• Infected women are 1325; the men are 1260, and children -145

• The biggest share of patients (20%) is in the age group 50 – 59, followed by people aged 60 - 69 г. (19%).

• Most Covid-19 fatalities were mainly due to underlying health conditions such as diabetes, chronic cardio-vascular and pulmonary diseases.

PM Borissov: We did great job during the pandemic

Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov has thanked all Bulgarians- medical staff, police, social workers and ordinary citizens for their efforts and self-discipline during that period. “We did great during a very severe pandemic”, Premier Borissov summarized. “There are many heroes in each victory”, PM Borissov quoted Associate Professor Atanas Mangarov, who was part of the Medical Expert Council to the cabinet during the coronavirus pandemic. According to Boyko Borissov’s, Bulgaria adopted the softest, the most-timely measures with least restrictions, which yielded the best results. Premier Borissov pointed out that lifting of the measures after June 15 was his personal political decision.

More than half of Covid-19 patients have recovered

25 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours. A total of 1,174 PCR tests were carried out during the period. The number of people infected with Covid-19 increased by 1% as compared to the previous day. 8 people in Sofia, 7 in Pazardzhik, 3 in Yambol, 2 in Sliven, 2 in Razgrad, 1 in Vidin, 1 in Ruse and 1 person in Plovdiv tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the National Coronavirus Headquarters announced. The total number of Covid-19 cases rose to 2,585. There are 1,116 active cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria. 270 Bulgarian medics were infected with the virus until now. One person died with Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The total Covid-19 death toll rose to 147. A total of 141 patients were admitted to hospitals, of whom 8 in intensive care units. 116 people recovered from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours. The total number of people who were cured from Covid-19 reached 1,322, or 51% of all cases.

People arriving from North Macedonia are subject to 14-day quarantine

The Minister of Health issued a decree introducing a 14-day mandatory quarantine for persons arriving in Bulgaria from North Macedonia. The same order lifted the 14-day quarantine for citizens arriving from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Both changes were proposed by the chief state health inspector after assessing the epidemiological situation and the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Bulgaria Air resumes its flights

Bulgaria Air restores domestic flights to Varna and starting on June 29 the daily flights to Bourgas are restored. During the isolation and social distancing there was only 1 flight to Varna, and from June 11 they became 3. The airline flies again to Rome and Milan and flights to Cyprus will also resume on June 9. Bulgaria Air expects more clarity when it would have access to Russia and Israel, said director Hristo Todorov. During the pandemic, the airline was forced to reduce its operations, but operated repatriation flights and almost all scheduled routes.

Turkey resumes flights to Bulgaria

The planes, temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, will start flying on June 10th, Turkish Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu has said.

Risk of social tension in Bulgaria declining

Bulgaria ranks 46th in the international ranking for the degree of risk of social tension among 102 countries from all over the world. The Allianz Social Risk Index is measured by Euler Hermes using 12 parameters. Although Bulgaria is in the top half of the rankings and has climbed three places up compared to the previous edition from 2015, it is behind the countries of Central Europe. Neighboring Greece and Serbia rank 36th and 42nd. Romania and Turkey are in the significant risk zone, respectively, 55th and 87th place. The new ranking was made to take into account the risk of protests and tensions against governments at the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has brought the greatest economic recession since 1945.

Hospitals along Black Sea coast ready to treat patients with Covid-19

The hotel staff should direct guests who need medical care to certain medical establishments, Dnevnik daily informs. Upon arrival of tourists, hoteliers are required to provide information about the nearest medical establishments and the medical services offered there. EU tourists with European Health Insurance Card will face fewer formalities. Foreign nationals with long-term stay or short-term stay permits in Bulgaria, or those traveling in transit through Bulgaria, must have an insurance covering the costs of treatment and hospital stay during their stay in the country. The prices set by the respective medical establishment apply to those citizens.

Medical tourism to extend summer tourist season in Bulgaria

In order to save their business, some Spa and Wellness hotels in Nesebar and Sunny Beach have already started preparations to welcome tourists for medical tourism even after the end of the summer tourism season, the Bulgarian National Television announced. Sport tourism will also develop in Sunny Beach. Dozens of foreign teams are expected to train and rest in Sunny Beach at the end of the summer.

Chatbot platform "COME TO BULGARIA" to help in restoring tourism after Covid-19

It will make tourists acquainted with the opportunities for a safe holiday in this country and offer information about Bulgarian culture, cities and historical sites. The platform will not only write to the users, but will also perceive voice questions in Bulgarian and English. The company will provide the service free of charge to tourists, companies and institutions in the tourism industry.

Edited by Diana Tsankova + 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.