2,569 newly-registered Covid-19 cases in another single-day record

2,569 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 11,226 PCR tests performed, data of the Single Information Portal show. 23% of all PCR tests performed in the past 24 hours returned positive. 25 people have died and 293 have recovered from the virus. There are 22, 597 active Covid-19 cases at present. 2,217 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, 145 of whom in intensive care.

A record-high number of newly-registered cases have been reported in Sofia-1085, followed by Plovdiv-230 and Varna-169.

8,363 Bulgarians aged between 40 and 49 have been diagnosed with Covid-19 until now. 8030 people aged between 50 and 59 have tested positive for Covid-19. The third group which has been severely affected by the novel coronavirus is of the people aged between 30 and 39. 7,449 of them have been infected with Covid-19.

Bulgaria may set up field hospitals for Covid-19 patients: health minister

We do not rule out the possibility of setting up field hospitals. However, we must find doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants first. Currently, we are experiencing shortage of medical staff, Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Professor Kostadin Angelov said for NOVA TV.

In Minister Angelov’s words, the new restrictions were not introduced too late and underlined that no politicians tried to influence his decisions.

Bulgaria is among the EU countries with highest Covid-19 mortality rate, which is a reason for concern, Minister Angelov said. However, this country’s Chief State Health Inspector has not proposed new measures. The current situation related to the Covid-19 pandemic is controllable, Professor Angelov said further.

Bulgaria preserves employment amid Covid-19 pandemic

In the second quarter of 2020, Bulgaria was among the less affected countries from job losses or reduction of working hours, Eurostat announced.

Less than 10% of the Bulgarian workers were temporarily made redundant or had to work less hours between April and June this year. Between 2% and 3.5% of the employees lost their job due to closure of businesses because of the coronavirus crisis.

Italy, Greece and Ireland are the EU countries which have been most severely affected by temporary redundancies or reduction of working hours.

Spain, Ireland and Italy have dismissed highest number of workers during the crisis. Eurostat places Bulgaria among the five EU countries with lowest risk of job loss due to coronavirus crisis, investor.bg. informs.

Bulgarian government to look for opportunities to support pandemic-hit sectors

Bulgaria's Ministry of Social Affairs will look for ways to use European funds to help employers who have to stop their operation due to the pandemic, Social Affairs Minister Denitsa Sacheva told reporters. According to Sacheva, who is taking part in a meeting of the social parliamentary committee, a solution will be sought for all affected economic activities.

A mechanism for direct compensation of workers without going through the employer is also being considered. Within the social security budget, there are about 350 million euros earmarked for unemployment and if it is controlled to 7%, there is no obstacle, with internal changes, to direct more funds to the employment support measure 60/40, Sacheva explained.

Restrictive measures will prevent the holding of important economic events: Bulgarian Industrial Association

The Bulgarian Industrial Association is demanding that Health Minister Kostadin Angelov reconsider the new restrictive anti-coronavirus measures which come into effect on 29 October.

In a letter addressed to Minister Angelov the organization warns that the restriction, allowing no more than 30 attendees at an event, halts the work of conference and exhibition centres. For example, a number of traditional expositions scheduled for 4-7 November will not be held under the new restrictions, even though a lot of money has been invested in them, and this will have “colossal” economic consequences, the Bulgarian Industrial Association warns.

Start of third stage of 60/40 measure

The National Employment Agency has given the start to the third stage of the 60/40 measure targeted at employers who want to keep their staff after the end of the emergency epidemic situation.

The financial support during the new stage will again be 60% of the contribution basis of workers and employees. The aid is for the month of August and will be granted for a period of up to 3 months, as of 1 October until 31 December, 2020.

Private educational centres, language schools under threat of bankruptcy

A number of educational centres, language schools and daycare centres are under threat of bankruptcy because of the order issued by the minister of health which halts in-person activities as of 29 October.

Quite a few of their owners do not meet the conditions necessary for receiving financial aid from the state. In a letter to the institutions they warn that if they are deprived of the right to work they will stop paying taxes and social security contribution for the period in which they are closed. To survive the crisis they are demanding direct aid amounting to 80% of the salaries and social security contributions of their staff and 80% of the rent they pay for the premises they use.

Medical scientists from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences call for united efforts in fighting Covid-19

The members of the Department of Medical Sciences at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, which includes some of the most prominent specialists in Bulgaria in the field of medicine and healthcare, have called on Bulgarian citizens not to underestimate the risks associated with Covid-19, BTA reports.

Analyzing the distressing trends that seriously threaten public health, the academics call for compliance with the basic anti-epidemic requirements, in order to reduce the alarming spread of the infection and its consequences in Bulgaria.

Compiled by Gergana Mancheva

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