Bulgaria reports record high number of Covid-19 cases in record number of PCR tests

Bulgaria has registered a record high number of 1,336 new cases of Covid-19 over the last 24 hours out of 11,505 PCR tests performed, which means 11.6% of the tests have returned positive. 
The highest number of newly registered cases is in Sofia - 523, Plovdiv - 135, and Bourgas – 78, indicate data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal. In the last 24 hours, 11 people have died and 261 have recovered from the virus. There are currently 1,633 patients with coronavirus in hospital, 93 of whom are in intensive care units. The active cases are 13,430. 
As of October 22, mandatory mask-wearing outdoors with increased control will be introduced. The quarantine of the contact persons is now reduced to 10 days

Covid-19 curfew for under 18s imposed in Bulgaria's Gotse Delchev

A curfew for people aged under 18 has been introduced in the municipality of Gotse Delchev located in southern Bulgaria near the border with Greece. They will not be allowed to go out without good reason from 9:00 pm to 6:30 am. The measure is in place for 14 days. Minors will only be able to go to a pharmacy, grocery store or their GP. 
The reason for this decision is the widespread violation of the safety measures against the coronavirus as well as the large number of people  infected with coronavirus in Blagoevgrad district.

Education Minister: For time being masks will not be mandatory during school classes

In the event of 20% of students with symptoms similar to Covid-19 or seasonal flu, the entire school will be closed and classes will be taught remotely, Bulgaria's Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev said in an interview with bTV. This rule is being set down because of the appearance of seasonal flu, which, along with the coronavirus epidemic, will further complicate the situation.
Minister Valchev pointed out that for the time being, masks are not planned in class, or during outdoor activities in schools. However, masks will be worn when students spend time during breaks in the school yards. 
40,000 children did not have access to online education during the previous school year, Krasimir Valchev said.

President Rumen Radev's test for coronavirus returns negative

The result of the PCR test of President Rumen Radev, performed after the return of the Bulgarian delegation from their visit to Estonia, is negative. This was announced by the press centre of the presidency. This is the second negative coronavirus test of the Bulgarian head of state in two consecutive days and the third in a week. 
Yesterday it was reported that Rumen Radev had been in contact with a person infected with Covid-19 and had to be quarantined. The president denied the information and described it as a "special op by well-wishers". This information was also cited as the reason for the cancellation of Radev's official meetings in Estonia. 
At today's government sitting, Prime Minister Boyko Boriskov said that he had ordered SANS and the State Intelligence Agency to check the words of President Radev that a conspiratorial operation had been carried out against him, BNR’s reporter Tsvetelina Stoyanova informed.

PM Borissov calls on Minister of Health to make order for mask-wearing outdoors more detailed

"An order by the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov for mandatory mask-wearing outdoors will come into force tomorrow. I insist that every single detail be described in it! It should be explained clearly and accurately to people that when a person walks alone on the street, rides a bicycle, walks in the park or is in open spaces where there is no crowding, it is not necessary to wear a mask. If they want, they can but only if they want to," the Bulgarian Prime Minister wrote on Facebook. 
He pointed out that strict adherence to the measures will help protect the health of the public and of doctors. The government has allocated nearly 2.5 million euro for the purchase of Remdesivir to provide treatment to patients with Covid-19 until the end of March 2021, the Prime Minister added.

Uniform anti-epidemic rules introduced in Bulgarian winter resorts

The Ministry of Tourism has introduced uniform rules for anti-epidemic and sanitary measures in the resorts for the upcoming winter season. This guarantees the health and safety of tourists and Bulgaria will defend its status as a healthy and safe destination. Good practices in European ski resorts have been studied and adapted. If necessary, the measures will be changed or supplemented depending on the epidemic situation.
Thanks to the general measures in the summer resorts of Bulgaria there was not a single case of coronavirus infection. The goal is to upgrade this positive trend for winter destinations as well, Minister of Tourism Mariyana Nikolova stated.

Meanwhile the winter resort of Bansko is opening a laboratory for rapid PCR tests, while wearing masks outdoors is now mandatory in the resort, local authorities have decided. Bansko will have a laboratory for PCR tests, and the test results will be available within 2 hours. Thus, foreign tourists who have to present a document for a negative test upon returning home, will be able to do it in the resort, BTA has reported.
In order to avoid accumulation of people in front of the gondola lift, a permanent bus line will be opened to transport skiers to the mountains, in compliance with all anti-epidemic measures. The occupancy in the gondola and chair lifts has been reduced. Tickets for the use of the facilities in the ski area will also be sold by vending machines especially installed in the town.

Compiled by Darina Grigorova

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