New shipment of vaccines arrives at Sofia Airport

A new delivery of 17,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 has arrived in Bulgaria. Another 260,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected this month, said Bogdan Kirilov, chairman of the Bulgarian Medicines Agency. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved by the European Medicines Agency, we are waiting for the product information about it and the brief description, which will be sent to the specialists. Regarding the Russian vaccine, Kirilov commented that the scientific consultations held in the EU continue. Delivery of the Moderna vaccines is expected to be delayed. Instead of 8,000 doses, only 6,000 doses will arrive in early February. The delay will be compensated by the end of the month, BTA reported.

An electronic register for people wishing to be vaccinated will be ready by end-February: Health Minister

“An electronic register of Bulgarian citizens who want to be vaccinated will be ready by the end of February,” said Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov at a meeting convened by PM Boyko Borissov. The aim of an electronic register is to facilitate the logistics of the vaccination process. In this register, the people wishing to get a vaccine will be able to choose whether to be inoculated by their GP or at a medical establishment. 

Shopping malls reopen, restaurants remain closed until the end of February

Few clients can be seen in the shopping malls which reopened on February 1, Norizont channel of BNR reports. The shopping facilities are sanitized every hour. Some shopping malls have been already equipped with air purification systems. The restaurants remain closed until the end of February. However, they can make home deliveries. The ban does not concern hotel restaurants.

Bulgarians showing negative PCR tests upon entry in this country are exempt from quarantine

From February 2 until April 30, Bulgarian nationals and persons with a permanent or long-term resident status in Bulgaria and their family members will be placed under ten-day quarantine if they fail to show a document for negative test for Covid-19 done within 72 hours before entering Bulgaria. Quarantine may be revoked upon presentation of a negative PCR test result performed 24 hours after the entry. Quarantine is revoked within 24 hours from the presentation of the document, reads an order issued today by Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov.

IMF recommends that Bulgaria adopt flexible policies because of the Covid-19 shock

In 2020, the Bulgarian economy contracted by 4.6%. In 2021, it is set to rebound and grow by up to 3.6%, reads the conclusion of experts from the International Monetary Fund made within the traditional consultations. IMF recommends that Bulgaria adopt flexible policies to mitigate the shock of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to an increase of this country’s budget deficit. Meanwhile, Bulgaria should monitor the situation regarding non-performing loans. IMF calls on Bulgaria to continue the fight against corruption and improve the business environment.

Bulgaria reports 1,449 recoveries from Covid-19 in past day

Bulgaria has registered 130 new cases of the new coronavirus during the last 24 hours. This accounts for 6.6% of the 1,962 tests performed. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic to 218,748. Of these, 22,651 are active cases. There are currently 2,886 patients in hospitalas. 264 patients are in intensive care units. The death toll for the last 24 hours is 17, according to the National Coronavirus Information Portal. The total number of coronavirus deaths since the beginning of the pandemic has reached 9,045. A total of 187,052 persons have been cured, with 1,449 recoveries registered in the past 24 hours. Another 105 people have been vaccinated in the past 24 hours. Thus, the number of those immunized since the beginning of the campaign is 41,125. Revaccinations have been performed on 13,084 people.

Ski resort of Bansko brimming with tourists

The requirement by the Bulgarian government for a negative PCR test upon entry into the country has resulted in the cancellation of 25-30%  of the reservations from abroad for the ski resort of Bansko in Mount Pirin. Nevertheless during the weekend the resort was bursting at the seams with Romanian and Bulgarian tourists. A queue formed for the gondola lift that was almost one kilometer long. The Tourism Business Union is to demand of the ministries concerned that foreign tourists be able to present antigen tests, which are cheaper, and also that this requirement be dropped for people who present a vaccination certificate, BNR reporter Keti Trencheva informs.

Compiled by Darina Grigorova and Radio Bulgaria’s news team

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