Dance halls, theatres and operas are now be allowed to work indoors

Up to 20 people will be allowed inside dance halls, provided they keep a distance of 4 metres from one another. Theatre halls will work at 50% of their capacity. This was announced after a meeting of representatives of artistic professional unions with the Ministers of Health and of Culture Kiril Ananiev and Boil Banov. Absolutely all halls-community centers, cultural homes, youth centers, gyms and military clubs are open, Milena Nalbantova, Ambassador of the World Artistic Dance Federation for Bulgaria specified.

Kindergartens and nurseries are reopening as of today.

The kindergartens and nurseries are opening doors in Bulgaria. 26% of all parents have stated they want to send their children to kindergarten, 43% of them - to nurseries, indicate data provided by kindergarten and nursery headmasters. Under Health Ministry recommendations all premises must be disinfected four times a day, and sanitary facilities – every 15 minutes. Playgrounds will also be disinfected. It is advisable that children spend more time outdoors. 

Indoor and outdoor sports activities for children are also allowed

The indoor and outdoor individual and collective sports activities for children aged 18 or under are also allowed as of May 26.

Tendency of more coronavirus recoveries than new infections continues

10 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of novel coronavirus cases in the country up to 2,443, Angel Kunchev, National health inspector and member of the National Crisis Headquarters announced. This is an increase of 0.2%, and is on the basis of 295 coronavirus tests carried out over the past 24 hours. Of the newly infected patients 4 have been admitted to hospital, 6 are out-patients. Two of the new cases are children, aged 4 and 13, and they are being treated at home. Men account for 49% of all confirmed coronavirus cases, and women for 51%. The youngest Covid-19 patient is 2 months old, the oldest is 95. The average age of the people infected with coronavirus is 49.2. The number of coronavirus recoveries rose to 880. No new Covid-19 deaths have been registered. 

Epidemic will subside if current tendency keeps

In a few days’ time we shall be able to tell exactly where the epidemic is going, provided we continue to observe the principal safety measures, Prof. Dr. Todor Kantardzhiev, director of the National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases said in an interview for Focus Radio. However, if in the autumn new cases do occur, brought to the country by Bulgarians returning from high-risk countries, the quarantine scenario played out in March will have to be played out again, Todor Kantardzhiev added.

There are many ambiguities with regard to coronavirus immunity

Everyone must take personal responsibility for their own protection, because the virus continues to circulate, virologist Academician Angel Galabov told the Bulgarian National Radio. I doubt there will be a second wave of coronavirus epidemic. The good news is that the virus is weakening. We do not know whether the system is protected by antibodies or cellular immunity, Angel Galabov said further.

Emergency financing from Ministry of Agriculture to help restore fisheries and aquaculture sector

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has announced three emergency measures under the Programme “Maritime and fisheries” 2014-2020 to help the coronavirus impacted economic operators and the people employed in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. EUR 8 million in grants has been provided for the sector to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic. 720 impacted operators are expected to benefit from the measures – ship owners and their crews, owners of aquaculture ventures and owners of processing enterprises in Bulgaria. 

Manfred Weber: Bulgaria will be able to benefit from recovery fund

Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP group at the European Parliament stated, in an interview for the BNR that Bulgaria is one of the countries which will be able to benefit from the Covid-19 recovery fund despite the fewer cases. Manfred Weber added that Bulgaria had also been affected by the economic crisis because of the pandemic, that is why it should have access to this fund. The fund is expected to be presented at the European Parliament tomorrow by European commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

Online platform to help artists in difficulty

A new modern dance platform will present artists from all over the world on a virtual stage - Derida Stage onLINE. The project was developed in partnership with Sofia municipality, under the initiative “Solidarity in culture”, and will stream Bulgarian and foreign socially-committed stage performances. The selection of works is by artistic director Zhivko Zhelyazkov. Part of the money raised will go to help artists in difficulty because of the pandemic. 

Compiled by: E. Karkalanova and Radio Bulgaria’s News Team

You can also follow all latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak and all measures in Bulgaria in 9 more languages at Radio Bulgaria.