PM Borissov calls for 10,000 vaccinations a day

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov demanded that no less than 10,000 people be vaccinated every day. At a working meeting with the National Coronavirus Operational Headquarters he ordered a “green corridor” to be provided for all people who want to be vaccinated. Even though there is a slight increase in the number of infections the measures will not be tightened, the prime minister said. Chief state health inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev pointed out that the increase in coronavirus incidence is not posing a threat to the healthcare system as yet. Pirogov emergency hospital director Prof. Asen Baltov stated that 5 vaccination centres have been opened at the hospital where AstraZeneca vaccines will be administered. The head of the National Operational Headquarters Prof. Ventsislav Mutafchyiski reported a decline in the percentage of coronavirus deaths.

In-person school attendance depends on success of vaccination: Education Minister

“It is our wish to have more in-person attendance and we can achieve this to a higher degree and sooner if we have more vaccinated teachers,” Education Minister Krasimir Valchev said during question time in parliament today. There are more than 160,000 people employed in the system of education, the teaching staff are 90,000 in number. A trade union study shows that teachers have a positive attitude to vaccines, that they are interested and seek scientific proof of their effectiveness though many of them are not finding a sufficient amount of information yet. That is why a more serious campaign to raise vaccine awareness is needed, Minister Valchev said.

Bulgaria reports 1,086 new cases of Covid-19 out of 10,926 tests performed

1,086 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 10,926 tests performed. Nearly 10% of the tests have returned a positive result. 42 people have died in the past 24 hours, data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal show. The highest number of new infections was reported in Sofia- 335, followed by Plovdiv- 93, Pleven- 70 and Pazardzhik- 62. There are 25,010 active cases of Covid-19. 3,074 people are in hospital, including 300 patients in intensive care. 744 people have recovered in the past 24 hours, thus bringing the total number of coronavirus recoveries to 199,632. A total of 90,512 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered since the beginning of the vaccination campaign. 4,594 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. 25,441 Bulgarians have already received their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

PCR tests continue to be leading method in detection of Covid-19

Antigen tests show about one-third of the currently reported positive cases. PCR tests continue to be the leading method of detecting coronavirus infection, Dr. Nedyalko Kalachev, owner of one of the largest chains of laboratories in Bulgaria, has told BNR.

Tour operators call for a Guarantee Fund to save their business

The associations of tour operators and travel agencies which have not been working for a year are demanding a meeting with the prime minister, travelnews.bg writes. In their letter they point out that the most pressing problem is the refunds to clients whose holidays and travels have been cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020. According to the sector the refund sums amount to 75 million euro. That is why they are demanding the creation of a Guarantee Fund to protect consumers in the event of insolvency of the tour operator. The fund will save the sector and help its recovery. This is particularly important now, as 13 March approaches and this is the date when the clients have to be refunded. The government has already allocated over 25 million euro for compensating clients over travel cancellations.

Bulgarian anti-Covid vaccine needs additional financing

Information about the Bulgarian vaccine against coronavirus has been extremely contradictory and inconsistent. The Ministry of Health would finance the vaccine, if we had all the data and documentation, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov has told the parliament, the 24 Chasa newspaper reported. In the summer of 2020, scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences began developing their own vaccine. The project was funded by the Pasteur Institute with 70,000 euros. Scientists have complained that development may remain unfinished because they need co-financing. They call for another 120,000 USD for a machine to produce the drug so the prototype of the vaccine can be ready by early summer.

Compiled by: Vesela Krasteva

English translation: Radio Bulgaria's English-language team 

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