“Distance learning for schools will only be introduced if the country enters the dark-red coronavirus zone. This means more than 500 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over a 14-day period,” said Minister of Health Stoycho Katsarov in an interview for BNT.  “The aim is to have in-person school attendance throughout the year,” Minister Katsarov said.

“I am not going to tolerate what happened before – for restaurants and bars to remain open while schools are closed. I know that pupils are an epidemiological risk but the drawbacks of online learning are disproportionately high,” he added.

Minister Katsarov called for mass vaccination against Covid-19, adding that vaccination with a third dose is to begin on 27 September.