New easing of anti-epidemic measures

As of 1 June, visits to enclosed spaces in Bulgaria are allowed – restaurants and fast food restaurants, drinking establishments, coffee and sweet shops, indoor children’s and sports facilities, amusement halls and gaming arcades, with the exception of discotheques, night bars and piano bars. International buses to Greece and Serbia are running again as of 1 June. There is no 14-day quarantine for people traveling to these countries. Transportation of passengers will take place in compliance with all anti-epidemic measures. Again as of 1 June, Turkey is opening its border checkpoints with Greece and Bulgaria to tourists.

Protection masks still required for restaurant staff

Despite the order of the Minister of Health, for mandatory wearing of masks in closed public places, an exception is allowed for restaurants. This is what the instructions published today for the operation of restaurants, family hotels and guest houses read. The new rules have been developed by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health. The requirements for the tables to be at a distance of 1.5 m and for up to four people to sit together at a table (more are allowed only if they are from one family) remain. Staff must wear masks or face shields, as well as gloves, and disinfect after each visitor.

Coronavirus breaks tradition going back 144 years

For the first time in the more than 140-year long history of the celebrations of Botev, the events in Vratsa and the vicinity have been cancelled over the coronavirus. On 1 June, Vratsa will not be holding the traditional rally and fireworks commemorating revolutionary poet Hristo Botev. The mayor of Vratsa Kalin Kamenov invited the public to pay their respects to Hristo Botev and his companion fighters virtually, by recording a brief video of a poem by Botev. The video can be accompanied by a photograph, or by story, if the entrant has taken part in previous marches from Kozloduy to Okolchitsa. June 2 is the day of Hristo Botev and all those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of Bulgaria.

Industrial capital calls for legislation and plan for action in crises

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association /BICA/ has been calling for a broad and non-politicized public debate, as well as for the development of legislation and an algorithm for action in crises of the scale of Covid-19. According to the industrialists, in the event of a second wave of the epidemic, there must be predictability in order to reduce the negative effects. It is also necessary to create development priorities in the conditions of new social and socio-economic global environment. The reason for the request is also the large-scale plan for sustainable, coherent, inclusive and fair recovery for all Member States with a budget of 1.85 trillion euros, proposed by the European Commission.

No people died from Covid-19 in Bulgaria in past 24 hours

6 new cases of coronavirus infection have been identified in the past day in Bulgaria. Three of the patients have been hospitalised. No people with established coronavirus infection passed away during the day. The total number of people infected with Covid-19 in Bulgaria is 2519.

Summer tourist season has started

With the start of the summer tourist season on June 1, Bulgaria is welcoming tourists from 29 countries, the Ministry of Tourism has announced. The citizens of Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Greece, Denmark, Romania, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Finland, Cyprus, France, Latvia, Croatia, Lithuania, Czechia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican, Serbia and North Macedonia can enter the country from all border checkpoints without being subject to quarantine. The list will be updated and supplemented depending on how the epidemic situation develops and the decisions of the Bulgarian government.

Motorway to Serbia to be ready by the end of the year

Despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the accelerated implementation of the Europe highway and the Balkan Stream gas pipeline will continue. Such confidence was expressed in Sofia by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Serbian President Alexander Vucic. The two expressed hope that notwithstanding the difficulties resulting from the Covid-19 epidemic, the construction, at accelerated rates, of Europe motorway and the Balkan Stream gas pipeline will continue. “The motorway will facilitate travel between Bulgaria and Serbia, but it is also crucial to the trade in goods between Europe and Asia. I expect the motorway to Serbia to be ready by the end of the year,” PM Borissov said. The two also inspected the construction of the Balkan Stream gas pipeline.

Editor: E. Karkalanova and Radio Bulgaria’s News Team

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