Children under five to be exempt from presenting negative test result upon arrival

Following an order of Bulgaria’s caretaker Minister of Health issued on May 18, children under five, who are nationals of Bulgaria, EU members states, Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the USA, Japan, New Zealand, China, Rwanda, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Israel, Kuwait, Belarus and Turkey, will no longer be required to present a document showing a negative PCR test result, or a negative antigen test result upon arrival. The new regulation takes effect on May 19. As of May 19, Bulgaria temporarily bans entry of travellers from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Maldives, Brazil and countries and territories in Africa. Bulgarian nationals and persons with long-term and permanent resident status in Bulgaria and their family members are exempt from the entry ban. They are subject to a ten-day quarantine.

All Bulgarian students to shift to in-person learning on May 31

As of May 31, all Bulgarian students will be allowed to attend in-person classes, reads an order of this country’s caretaker Minister of Health Stoycho Katsarov, issued on May 18. In-person group extracurricular activities, day care and other activities will be also allowed as of May 31.

Bulgaria and EC to co-operate in promoting Covid-19 vaccination

The possibilities for cooperation between Bulgaria and the Representation of the European Commission for promotion of vaccination against coronavirus were discussed today by the Minister of Health Stoycho Katsarov and the Acting Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, Tsvetan Kyulanov. "When we reach 70% of collective immunity we would be able to return to normal life. That is why it is extremely important for the institutions to work together so that the information can reach all citizens," Katsarov said. He pointed out that work continued on changes to the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, and in particular to the Health chapter. The changes are expected to be ready by the end of the week.

Bulgaria opens vaccination points on border with North Macedonia

Two vaccination centres against Covid-19 have been opened at Bulgaria's border checkpoints with North Macedonia near Stanke Lisichkovo and Zlatarevo. Talking to BNR's Radio Blagoevgrad, the initiator of the mobile vaccination points, Dr. Milen Vrabevski, announced that vaccination is open to the citizens of North Macedonia who have Bulgarian passports, to the permanent residents of North Macedonia, as well as temporary residents and their families. From May 19, the vaccination points will start operating as "green vaccination corridors" and "citizens on the other side of the border can come and get vaccinated freely,"  Dr. Vrabevski said. The vaccines provided are Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen.  About 2,000 people are already registered for immunization.

Bulgaria extends job-protection measures

Bulgaria has extended four measures in support of families and employment, implemented under the Human Resource Development Operational Programme, including the 60/40 wage support scheme and “Keep Me” measure, announced the National Employment Agency. The European Commission has approved additional funding for Bulgaria to the tune of EUR 173 million. The money is allocated under the Human Resource Development Operational Programme. Bulgaria is to use this funding to preserve employment and support small and medium-sized enterprises and low-income families, reported the correspondent of the Bulgarian National Radio in Brussels Angelina Piskova.

Bulgaria reports 4.1% new daily infections with Covid-19

Bulgaria has registered 677 new daily coronavirus cases. 4.1% of the 16,505 tests performed returned positive, according to the Unified Information Portal. Again, Sofia has the highest number of new infections - 113, followed by Stara Zagora with 73, Plovdiv with 49 and Blagoevgrad with 43. The number of registered active patients has decreased to 32,844. 4,592 patients with coronavirus are currently hospitalized, with a decrease of 406 beds on a daily basis. 490 patients are in intensive care. For the past 24 hours, 84 people have died with an established coronavirus infection. 2,207 people were cured. The doses of vaccines administered for the past 24 hours are 18,236. A total of 1,134,977 doses have been administered since the beginning of the vaccination rollout. 425,971 people have been immunized with two doses.

Compiled by: Ioan Kolev

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