Bulgaria ranks 26th in Europe in the incidence of Covid-19 per 100,000 people

The country continues to successfully control the development of the epidemic and the health care system is not overloaded, Bulgaria's Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov reported to the National Operational Headquarters in the Council of Ministers, BTA reports.

Bulgaria with 3 other countries are the only ones in Europe with a negative trend of -6.5% in relation to the newly registered cases in the last two weeks. For the same period the average trend in Europe is for an increase of + 22%.

The application of measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus is very well managed. At the moment, absolutely nothing requires different anti-epidemic measures that the ones we now have,  Prime Minister Boyko Borissov stressed.

Percentage of PCR tests returning positive up to almost 6%

A total of 290, or almost 6% of the 4,859 PCR tests performed in Bulgaria over the past 24 hours have returned positive, Single Information Portal data show. The number of newly registered Covid-19 cases is highest in Sofia - 61, Blagoevgrad - 58 and Turgovishte - 27.

Six people have died and 146 have recovered. 744 patients with coronavirus are being treated in hospital, of them 30 are in intensive care.

The number of active cases is 4,775.

Depression and anxiety disorders rise due to Covid-19: Mental health expert

 “Disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders have increased somewhat in connection with the coronavirus epidemic,” Prof. Petar Marinov, chair of the Mental Health Experts Association, said for the BNR.

“As a matter of fact the question of “Covid-19” is a question of “Fear” – irrational, over and above the real danger, and it has become part of the thought deviations which makes the clinical picture worse,” he said.

In the words of Prof. Marinov, Covid-19 is having a powerful effect on the psyche of all people, even on those who do not believe it exists. He went on to describe the situation at schools as pessimistic, as stress among children is rising.

Bulgarian Medical Association warns against downplaying Covid-19 threat

Against the backdrop of dozens of human tragedies related to the pandemic in Bulgarian, contradictory statements continue to be made in the media and public space, unsupported by scientific facts, expressing only personal opinions related to wearing masks and the spread of the coronavirus, the Bulgarian Medical Association warns.

Particularly worrying are the messages delivered by fellow doctors that there is no point in wearing masks. The BMA also warns that there is a massive neglect of anti-epidemic measures against the background of the upcoming flu wave.

That is why the Bulgarian doctors once again call on citizens to observe physical distancing, wear masks, and not to forget disinfection, BNR reports.

Bulgaria reports 0.4% of school classes affected by coronavirus

With EU funds, we will buy at least 80,000 tablets - 20,000 for teachers, and a minimum of 60,000 for students. They will be earmarked for e-learning purposes, Bulgaria's Education Minister Krasimir Valchev said in response to a parliamentary question. The tablets will also be used in school, not just for distance learning.

Nearly 20% of children have problems with their engagement also with in-person training. These children were not included in the e-learning, the minister explained.

Currently, 0.4% of the classes are quarantined. Even if they reach 1%, there is no problem with the available equipment to provide training in an electronic environment, Valchev said .

Pirogov emergency hospital director: 30,000 Covid-19 cases in November

 “A serious spike in the number of coronavirus cases is to be expected in the coming two weeks,” said Prof. Assen Baltov, director of Pirogov emergency hospital for Bulgarian National TV, BNT.

“Medical specialists are getting ready for the worse scenario with a serious surge in infections in November,” he added. In Prof. Baltov’s words by then the number of registered cases will have reached 30,000, of them 7-8,000 active.

He added that shutting people up in their homes is not a good option, and that work must not stop. “Perhaps there will be regions where the measures will be stricter,” he adds. At this time there is a sufficient number of beds for Covid-19 patients but there is an option of increasing the number of hospitals for patients with coronavirus infection.

Almost half of hotel operators have trouble meeting their expenses: National Statistical Institute

44% of entrepreneurs in the hotel industry are able to meet half of their expenses due to the Covid-19 epidemic, a National Statistical Institute survey shows.

One third say that in the short term they are able to cover all of their expenses, and the rest – that they are unable to do so without outside help. More than half of the operators in the industry say they are prepared to offer their clients alternative periods for their reservations. During the summer 63% of the entrepreneurs announced a price reduction for their packages, and 49% - for accommodation. However, those who received government support are prepared to keep or even add to their staff in the short term.

Compiled by Gergana Mancheva and RB's News Team

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