7% drop in new Covid-19 infections marked

Our goal is to reach a level of 70-75% vaccinated people in this country, but this would not be easy, Chief Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev told BNT. Lists are being prepared with medical specialists who want to be vaccinated against coronavirus. In some parts of the country interest among medics is small - up to 30%, and in others it is almost 100%, Kunchev said. He explained that the difference is due to the fact that many people expect more data about the vaccine. We have a 7.1% decline in new coronavirus cases. We can have some normal holidays with gatherings of up to 10-15 people. But if we gather in huge companies, we will see the results on January 7-8, Kunchev warned.

Bulgaria reports 41% positive PCR tests out of 9,715 PCR tests

3,980 new cases of coronavirus have been registered for the past 24 hours in Bulgaria out of 9,715 PCR tests performed, data of the Single Information Portal show. Most of the new cases are in Sofia - 711, followed by Burgas - 471 and Plovdiv - 394 new cases. The total number of tests performed by December 9 has reached 1,032,782. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 168,165 people have been infected. 93,981 cases are active. 6,839 people are in hospital. There are 514 people in intensive care wards. 3,412 patients recovered in the past day, as the total number of recovered in this country has reached 69,028. 146 people with coronavirus infection passed away in the past 24 hours. The total number of deaths since March has reached 5,156.

Easing anti-epidemic measures would be a mistake: crisis management expert

It would be wrong if nurseries and kindergartens were opened and then gradual opening of other sites took place, mathematician Petar Velkov, a lecturer and crisis management expert, has told BNR. "Data do not show that we could start easing the measures." In recent weeks, Bulgaria continues to hold the first place in Europe in terms of mortality per 1,000 people and the number of positive coronavirus tests shows that the virus is widespread in society. "Everything shows that easing the measures is contrary to logic at the moment," Velkov said. If the pandemic was managed with clear and precise measures, there would be no severe lockdowns, the expert says.

Government to finance production of vaccines and serums

The Bulgarian government allocates 11.3 million euros for investment projects developed by BUL BIO. The funds are for a new additional production line for TB vaccine, renovation of a laboratory for the production of human blood products and restoration of production of anti-toxic serum from horse plasma, the government's press service reported. "Bulgaria produces not only vaccines, but also anti-toxic serums for a number of countries around the world," Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said at a government meeting. At the meeting, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov reported that a record number of 16,028 people recovered from coronavirus in the country for a week, BTA reported.

Compiled by: Gergana Mancheva

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