There is a slight tendency of reduction in the total number of coronavirus cases in the last ten days, Proff. Todor Kantardzhiev, Director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases said at a briefing held at Bulgaria’s Ministry of Health. Let's turn our backs on politics and focus on efforts aimed at containing the epidemic in the remaining days until Christmas, this country‘s Minister of Health Proff. Kostadin Angelov said. Minister Angelov added that a total of 16,872 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the past week. It gives us hope in the battle against the coronavirus infection that continues to put pressure on the health system, but it is too early to draw conclusions, Professor Angelov said further.

Bulgaria no longer tops the European Covid-19 mortality ranking and now places second in Europe with 27.5 coronavirus fatalities per 100,000 people. This country is 9^th in Europe in terms of Covid-19 morbidity on the basis of 14-day statistics.

There is still no decision on whether kindergartens and nurseries will open next Monday, Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Angelov said. "The latest data does not lead us in this direction. We need more information to take such a step," Minister Angelov said.

The Ministry of Health will conduct an information campaign to explain the benefits of Covid-19 vaccines. A team of the Health Ministry cooperates with the manufacturers, which are expected to provide complete information about the medicines. Kostadin Angelov said it was too early to talk about contraindications and side effects, as not all data on Covid-19 vaccines had been received yet. He denied allegations that the substances were created at the last minute, citing the fact that experts have been working on them since 2003 when the first coronavirus appeared. The vaccines will go through all phases of clinical trials before being approved, Minister Angelov assured.

It became clear at the briefing that 52% of the hospital beds for patients with mild and moderate symptoms of coronavirus infection and 42% of the beds for Covid-19 patients in intensive care wards are currently occupied.

7,445 medics have tested positive for Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Currently, there are 3,590 medics with active coronavirus infection. Four medics were re-infected, the head of the National Crisis Headquarters General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski said at the briefing.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: BGNES and BTA