Emergency epidemic situation extended until July 15

The emergency epidemic situation has been extended until July 15, this country’s cabinet dicided. The government will not impose new or old stricter measures. The requirements for observance of social distance and personal hygiene remain in force. The control will be significantly increased. The proposal is based on an in-depth analysis of the disease's development, Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev explained. The number of Covid-19 cases increased 3.2 times since June 9, Minister Ananiev explained.

Covid-19 is now spreading in Bulgaria in clusters as well as diffusely: Chief Health Inspector

“Whereas in recent weeks Covid-19 spread in clusters in Bulgaria, now coronavirus is spreading in a mixed kind of way - in clusters, as well as diffusely, i.e. there are individual new cases appearing in places,” said Chief Health Inspector Dr. Angel Kunchev. In his words the spike in the number of newly registered Covid-19 cases is not due to the relaxation of the measures but because the measures that are in place are not being observed. An example of this is the holding of mass events without any compliance with the measures in place. As to the coming proms, Dr. Kunchev called for their being postponed, or held in a way that will allow maximum compliance with coronavirus measures. 

130 new cases of coronavirus in 2946 tests registered in past 24 hours

130 are the new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for the last 24 hours, the data of the Unified Information System show. 2,946 tests were performed in the last 24 hours. The total number of infections since the beginning of the epidemic has reached 4,114. Of these, 1689 are active cases. 2,217 people have recovered. 46 people have been cured in the past 24 hours. A total of 362 coronavirus patients remain in hospital and 13 are in intensive care units. The coronavirus-related death toll has reached 208. One new death has been registered in the past 24 hours - a 65-year-old woman with diabetes, chronic neurological and heart disease.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Finance to be closed for a day over Covid-19 case

The Bulgarian Ministry of Finance will be closed for disinfection on June 25 after an employee of the ministry tested positive for Covid-19. All people who contacted with the infected person will undergo tests for coronavirus. Services for citizens will be provided remotely tomorrow. 

Bulgarians employed at transport and tourism to receive state support

Employers and self-employed from the Transport, Hotel and Restaurant Business and Tourism whose revenues decreased by at least 20% are entitled to financial compensations to the tune of EUR 148 a month to maintain employment. Nearly 22,000 people affected by the coronavirus pandemic are expected to receive this support. The money is allotted under the Human Resources Development Operational Programme. Compensations will be paid as of July 1, 2020 for a maximum period of six months. Applicants must not have tax liabilities.

Only 15.5% of hotel managers say they will be able to cover 100% of their costs in June

57.5% of hotel operators intend to offer their clients an alternative period for the reservations they have made, 65.6% intend to reduce the price of their services package, and 49.4% - of accommodation, show National Statistical Institute data from a survey among managers of accommodation facilities conducted in May. 

Workers from risky slaughterhouses in Germany return to Bulgaria without notice

Three residents of the municipality of Belitsa, who worked in the German slaughterhouses Tönnies, which turned out to be the largest outbreak of Covid-19 in the Federal Republic, have returned to Bulgaria without notifying the authorities. In the middle of last week, another resident of the municipality of Belitsa went to pick them up by bus. The mayor of Belitsa, Radoslav Revanski, told the BNR that he accidentally found out about it and was forced to take immediate measures by quarantining the returnees, who are not formally subject to this measure. Three more workers, residents of a neighboring municipality, have returned from the same hotspot of the infection in Germany, Revanski added.

2,000 people a day find new employment

2,000 people a day find a new job in recent days. This is a trend similar to the situation before the coronavirus crisis, said Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Zornitsa Rusinova.The demand for workers in the construction sector has not decreased, adds Ivo Ivanov, head of the Analysis Department at the Employment Agency. The same applies to other skilled workers in production, including agriculture. Unskilled workers, who make up 1/3 of the vacancies, are still being sought. 

Compiled by: E. Karkalanova and Radio Bulgaria’s News Team

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