2.25% newly detected Covid-19 cases out of 7026 PCR tests

158 new cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Bulgaria for the past 24 hours,data of the Single Information Portal show. 7026 PCR tests have been performed for the past day. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far has reached 16,775. There are 4182 active cases. 764 patients are in hospital, 61 of whom are in intensive care units. The number of recovered has been growing. After 175 recoveries for a day, the total number of people who recovered from the virus has reached 11,935. 10 people passed away in the past 24 hours, bringing the Covid-19 death toll to 658 people.  

Two-thirds of hospital beds for Covid-19 patients in Sofia are empty

There are nearly 300 hospital beds for patients infected with Covid-19 in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. Only one-third of them are occupied at present, Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Health Boyko Penkov told BNR. Deputy Minister Penkov pointed out that a coordination center for Covid-19 patient triage opened at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Sofia. Its task is to help direct patients to hospitals for urgent medical consultation. 

Bulgaria registers dramatic economic decline in second quarter

Bulgarian economy has contracted in the second quarter of the year by a record 10% compared to the first three months of the year and also recorded the most dramatic decline on an annual basis by 8.5% since 1997. Data from the National Statistical Institute are for the period of the strictest anti-epidemic quarantine measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. GDP decreased in the second quarter of 2020 by as much as 10% compared to the first three months, when it grew slightly by 0.3 percent. This has been the worst economic quarter for Bulgaria for a quarter of a century. For the second quarter, GDP reached over 14 billion euros or 2016 euros per capita.

More than EUR 100 million from anti-crisis package already invested in Bulgaria’s economy

By September 4, 2020, over EUR 100 million from the anti-crisis package has been allocated by the Ministry of Economy to business and citizens amid the Covid-19 pandemic, data of this country’s ministry published on its website show. Over EUR 43 million was given to micro and small enterprises to overcome the economic consequences of Covid-19. Nearly EUR 50 million was allocated as credits to natural persons and companies, the information further reads.

During pandemic, Bulgarians shop the least in EU

For the third month in a row, Bulgaria ranks first in the EU in terms of annual decline in retail trade, according to Eurostat. Retail trade in Bulgaria declined by 17.5% on an annual basis in July, while for the EU as a whole, the indicator fell by 0.7%. The rate of decline in retail sales in Bulgaria slowed down after May, when the strongest decline was reached - 20.4% on an annual basis. On an annual basis, the indicator increased the most in Ireland by 9.1%, in Lithuania by 6.8% and in the Netherlands by 6%. With the biggest declines, Bulgaria was followed by Malta with minus 8.1% and Luxembourg with 6.1% decline in consumer spending on shopping.

Bulgaria supports coordinated measures in EU amid Covid-19 pandemic

Bulgaria supports coordinated measures related to quarantine requirements and testing amidst coronavirus epidemic in all EU member states, this country’s Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov said at an informal video conference of the Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). Thus, the confusion that has been witnessed in the spring of 2020 will be avoided, BNR reporters inform. Minister Angelov underlined that Bulgaria strictly adhered to the fourteen-day mandatory quarantine recommended by the World Health Organization. “I believe that taking into consideration the scientific recommendations and in view of the forthcoming flu season, we should continue to adhere to the established rules”, Minister Angelov said further.

Warning over fake emails

 The Ministry of Health warned that false phishing messages were being sent on their behalf and that these fake emails were trying to extract personal data from citizens under the pretext of free donations in the form of face masks, ventilators, testing equipment and other ptotective equipment against Covid-19, the fraudsters are trying to obtain information about “the exact number of employees and address of company”.

Compiled by: Darina Grigorova

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