Chief Health Inspector demands extension of emergency situation until end-November

Bulgaria's Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev has proposed to the Council of Ministers to extend the emergency situation in the country until the end of November.

According to Kunchev, this is necessary due to the increased morbidity in Europe. At the same time, new anti-epidemic measures will not be introduced in Bulgaria, BNR reports.

"What we expect is not at all optimistic for three reasons - the reopening of schools, the beginning of the second wave in Southern Europe and the possibility of new respiratory viruses in the next one or two months. Therefore, if the government accepts, it would be better this time to extend the state of emergency until the end of November, Kunchev suggests.

Bulgaria reports 154 new cases of Covid-19

154 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 5,856 PCR tests performed. 2.6% of all PCR tests returned positive, data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal show. 150 patients have recovered from the virus and 10 people have died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.

740 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, 37 of whom in intensive care units. The number of people in ICUs is lower as compared to previous days. Most new cases have been reported in Sofia-47, in Blagoevgrad-29 and in Stara Zagora-10.

Pulmonologist expects increase in number of Covid-19 cases in schools

Bulgaria’s schools will spread coronavirus infection, but they will not become incubators of Covid-19, Dr. Alexander Simidchiev said in an interview for Nova TV. The pulmonologist forecasted that Bulgarian pupils will not suffer severe symptoms of Covid-19, because they are in the low-risk group. However, this does not apply to teachers.

In his view, the number of Covid-19 cases in Bulgarian schools is to increase due to the large number of pupils who are in contact with Covid-19 positive people. Children must use protective equipment, in order to protect their older relatives, Dr. Alexander Simidchiev underlined. “Masks reduce the transmission of viral respiratory infections and are not harmful”, the expert said further.

Covid-19 at-home sample collection kits to be placed on Bulgaria’s market soon

It is not possible to tell whether a child is infected with Covid-19 or influenza in the first 24 hours after it shows symptoms of disease. That is why it is important to separate it from other children, Professor Iva Hristova, Deputy Director of the National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases told BNR.

Covid-19 at-home collection kits that can quickly identify the type of infection have been already developed, Professor Hristova went on to say. They will be on the market later this autumn and will cost around EUR 5 each. “These tests are more reliable than the existing rapid tests”, Professor Hristova specified. In her words, people produce antibodies after recovering from Covid-19 and reinfection of adults and children passes with less symptoms.

Bulgaria adopts national plan for absorption of Covid-19 funding by end of 2020

Bulgaria is to propose by the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021 a national plan for absorption of the EU funding allocated to the countries to overcome the health and economic consequences of Covid-19. "EUR 30 billion is only an indicative amount. We need a serious action plan to be able to absorb this sum", Deputy Premier Tomislav Donchev said during the Parliamentary control.

 However, the Bulgarian Socialist Party questioned the government’s ability to ensure fairness in spending European money. According to BSP MP Krum Zarkov, the loss of confidence in this country’s cabinet will be a problem in the absorption of money allocated to Bulgaria to restructure its economy and address the heavy coronavirus crisis.

Compiled by Joan Kolev and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

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