180 newly registered Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria over past 24 hours

180 new Covid-19 cases have been registered in Bulgaria out of 2,591 PCR tests performed over the past 24 hours,indicate national information system data.  A total of 5,677 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in this country so far, of them 2,538 are active. The number of recoveries is 2,898. 463 patients with confirmed coronavirus infection have been hospitalized, 29 of them are in intensive care. A total of 241 have so far died, 2 of them over the past 24 hours. There is one newly registered Covid-19 case among medical staff – a doctor – bringing the total number of coronavirus infections among medical workers up to 446.

There will be no tightening of measures during the summer season: PM Borissov

“Self-restraint by the public is what will be relied on, whatever the development of Covid-19 in Bulgaria,” said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov at the opening of the 4-lane road to Sunny Beach.
He pointed out that the tourist industry is insisting that bars, and food and drinking establishments remain open, and that people wanted to have a vacation. Boyko Borissov urged Bulgarians to stay safe and to observe personal hygiene.

The epidemic situation in Bulgaria is under control: Prof. Iva Hristova

“The situation is being monitored closely, but a return to restrictions is not to be ruled out so as not to overload the health system,” said Prof. Iva Hristova, deputy director of the National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases for the BNR. Commenting on the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, Prof. Hristova warned that things could get much worse if we say to ourselves that the virus does not exist and that it is not infectious. She expressed concern that doctors are contracting coronavirus, because Bulgaria does not have an infinite supply of specialists. In Prof. Hristova’s words part of our society is conscientious but there are others who quickly forgot all about the danger. 

National Health Insurance Fund has a financial reserve: NHIF director

The proposed increase in the funding of the clinical pathways for infectious diseases will stimulate the infectious units.
Prof. Petko Salchev, director of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) stated, in an interview for the BNR, that “each hospital will decide for itself how to absorb the additional money.” In the words of Prof. Salchev, the NHIF has paid for the PCR tests thus far, with estimates of up to 2,500 tests a day. He stressed that the NHIF has a financial reserve. 

Kulata is only border checkpoint tourists bound for Greece can use

As of 2 PM today, the only border checkpoint all tourists bound for Greece can use is Kulata,the border police have announced. Tourists are no longer allowed through the crossings Makaza, Kapitan Petko Voivoda and Ivailovgrad. Only people, who own property in Greece will be allowed across Makaza, provided they have the relevant papers. Only trucks and seasonal workers are allowed across Ilinden and Kapitan Petko Voivoda border checkpoints. Seasonal workers can also cross at Ivailovgrad. Zlatograd border crossing is closed in both directions. For entry into Bulgaria from Greece tourists will be allowed to use all functioning border checkpoints, the border police declare further.

Compiled by Darina Grigorova

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