Record number of new Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria – 104 for 24 hours

published on 6/11/20 8:30 AM

For the past 24 hours, 104 out of 2308 samples have tested positive for coronavirus, data from the National Information System shows. This has been the highest number of newly infected for 24 hours in Bulgaria since the beginning of the epidemic. Yesterday, the government announced that in case of more than 100 new cases per day for 3 consecutive days, restrictive measures will be tightened.

The distribution of the new cases by districts is the following: Smolyan - 41; Sofia city - 19; Stara Zagora - 15; Sliven - 8; Pleven - 4, Sofia region - 4; Razgrad - 3; Blagoevgrad - 2, Pazardzhik - 2, Shumen - 2, Veliko Tarnovo - 1, Kardzhali - 1, Pernik - 1, and Haskovo - 1.

The total number of registered cases of coronavirus infection in Bulgaria is 2993. The active cases are 1162. The number of medical staff with proven coronavirus infection in Bulgaria has reached 306, as new cases are 4. Covid-19 patients in hospital are 187, as 17 of them are in intensive care units. A total of 1664 people have recovered so far.

For the past 24 hours in Bulgaria there have been no deceased persons with Covid-19 infection.

Chief State Health Inspector: Coronavirus has reduced its infectivity

The coronavirus has reduced its infectivity. There are more and more positive cases without severe symptoms shown, Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev said in an interview with BNR, speaking about the record number of coronavirus cases registered in the past 24 hours - 104.

He pointed out that the number of newly infected people would influence decisions for introducing stricter restrictions. According to him, everything possible was being done so that no extreme measures were taken. Currently, efforts are focused on 5 or 6 active outbreaks in the country.

PM Borissov: Despite increase in Covid-19 cases Bulgaria is on the borderline of reasonable risk

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov stated that even though the number of coronavirus cases is going up, the country is managing to move on the borderline of reasonable risk. He once again urged people to act responsibly: “The virus is not so ferocious at the moment, many people develop a comparatively mild form of the disease but we must protect older people and people with serious underlying medical conditions.”

No coronavirus found during mass screening in Plovdiv

There is no coronavirus infection in Plovdiv at the moment, indicate the first results from the mass screening, using the ELISA method, conducted in the city in mid-May. Around 1,100 people have been tested. Regional governor Dani Kanazireva announced that 958 tests have returned, and antibodies indicating a recent infection have been found in only 12 of them, but that none of the subsequent PCR tests have returned positive for Covid-19. The full data will be sent to the National Crisis Headquarters.

With regard to the momentary incidence of the disease, the data from Bansko from a month ago were very similar - even though the town had been quarantined, the screening of 2,500 people did not return any positive test results.

Record slump in Bulgarian export in April due to Covid-19

Over the first four months of the year Bulgaria’s export of goods amounted to EUR 9.2 billion.  According to the National Statistical Institute this is a 4.8% drop compared to the same period of 2019. Imports amount to EUR 9.9 billion or a decline of 8.5%. In April alone – the first full coronavirus crisis month – exports dropped by 19.5% or EUR 1.94 billion, and imports – by 30.8% or again EUR 1.94 billion. The foreign trade balance is negative for the period January-April, 2020, and amounts to EUR 685 million.

Outside the EU, Bulgaria’s principal trade partners are Turkey, China, Great Britain, USA, Serbia, Russia and North Macedonia which form 52.8% of the exports to third countries.

Bulgaria to attract tourists from countries with similar epidemic situation

Bulgaria's Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova has discussed in telephone and online conversations the way out of the crisis situation with representatives of institutions and businesses from Romania, Greece, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Israel and other countries.

My partners confirm that the prospects for Bulgaria as a tourist destination are optimistic because it is among the countries with effective preventive measures against the coronavirus, Angelkova said. In the talks with the leading tour operators from these countries it was declared that they were planning their charter programs to Bulgaria for the end of June and beginning of July 2020.

We focus on Bulgarian tourists and those from neighbouring countries and, of course, our guests from tourism markets in the EU which are of major importance for Bulgaria and which have a similar epidemic situation, Angelkova added.

Bulgaria calls for coordinated restoration of free travel in the EU

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva took part in a video conference of 13 countries dedicated to restoring safe free travel in Europe. Zaharieva stressed that the lifting of restrictions in the EU must be coordinated in accordance with the Tourism and Transport Package of the European Commission.

Bulgaria has adopted strict rules to ensure safety in tourism. As of 1 June, tourists from 28 countries - member states of the EU and the Schengen area - are welcome as they are not subject to a 14-day quarantine and tourists from another 8 have to go through a quarantine period.

Zaharieva pointed out that the situation in Bulgaria with the spread of the coronavirus is stable and Bulgaria is currently one of the safest tourist destinations.

PM Borissov: Covid-19 crisis will not affect planned military spending

For the first time in 18 years, the experimental shooting of the anti-ship missile complex "Rubezh" took place in Bulgaria. I extend big congratulations to our military commanders and the navy for what they showed us today. I saw many masterful things. I would like the Bulgarian citizens to know that we have great professionals in our army, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, who was present at the shootings, wrote on Facebook:

The planned increase in military salaries will remain, despite the frightening global crisis. We can cope financially and we do not need to suspend large military projects. I got convinced that our army is very well prepared and the Bulgarian people can sleep more peacefully, Borissov  stressed. 

1/5 of Bulgarians believe Bill Gates stands behind pandemic

One out of five Bulgarians believes that Bill Gates was behind the coronavirus pandemic, as a way to control people by microchips that would be introduced into humans through vaccines against the virus.

More than 2.3 million Bulgarians believe that the novel coronavirus was artificially created and more than one million believe that the virus did not exist and that it was a global fraud. This is shown by the data from a study by Trend agency commissioned by the 24 Chasa newspaper. The study tests the attitudes of Bulgarians after the end of the state of emergency and lifting of anti-epidemic measures.

Compiled by Diana Tsankova and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

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