Bulgaria enters second lock-down on November 27 in attempt to curb infection

More stringent measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 will be introduced in Bulgaria on Friday night (November 27) and will be in force until December 21. By order of Bulgaria’s Minister of Health the following restrictions will be imposed:

- In-person classes in all educational institutions in Bulgaria are suspended, including in-person classes for students from the 1st to the 12th grade and for all universities, kindergartens and all group forms providing services for children.

-  All group events, public events, cultural and entertainment events, conferences, seminars and competitions are prohibited.

- Visits to fitness centers and all sports and training events for people under 18 are suspended. Exceptions are made only for ongoing sports events. All sports events for people aged 18 or above will be held behind closed doors.

- Private events with more than 15 people are not allowed.

- Large shopping centers and malls will close during the abovementioned period.

- All restaurants, catering establishments and places for entertainment will be closed. The catering establishments will be allowed to make food deliveries to homes and offices only.

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Extension of school year for students from 1st to 6th grade being considered

The Ministry of Education and Science is considering extending the school year for students from 1st to 6th grade by two weeks in June.

We will do our best to make sure that the extension does not affect students from 7th to 12th grade, this country’s Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev said at a press-conference, quoted by BGNES.

1,876 people recover from coronavirus, the newly infected are 4,382

In the past 24 hours, 4382 new cases of coronavirus infection have been registered after 10,474 PCR tests, according to the single information portal. This equals 42% of those tested.

The total number of infected has already reached 129,348. There are 86,020 active cases and 6365 patients are in hospital. There are 392 people in intensive care wards. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 5,126 medics have been infected. The new cases from past day are 182.

During the past day, 1876 people recovered, which has been the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic. The total number of recovered people has reached 40,102. 157 people infected with coronavirus passed away in the past 24 hours. The total number of dead has reached 3226.

Agriculture is among least impacted sectors by Covid-19 pandemic

Gross value added in Bulgaria’s agriculture, forestry and fishery in 2019 increased with 4.1% as compared to 2018 and amounted to nearly EUR 2 billion, the analysis part of the government’s annual report on the state and development of this country’s agriculture reads.

According to preliminary data, in the first quarter of 2020, Bulgaria’s gross value added in agriculture increased by 0.7% on an annual basis and declined by 2.1% in the second trimester of the year. According to the analysis, the agricultural sector remains less affected by the Covid-19 crisis as compared to other sectors of the national economy, the Ministry of Agriculture announced.

Two kindergartens in Sofia to remain open for children of front-line medical workers

After it was announced today that due to the anti-epidemic measures all kindergartens and nurseries in Bulgaria will be closed, the mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova decided to set up two working kindergartens for the children of the medical staff on the first line. The selected kindergartens are located near the main hospitals in the capital.

 "I am convinced that we have a duty to provide security to the doctors, nurses and orderlies who are currently treating 2,142 patients. This is the least we can do for them, " the mayor wrote on her Facebook page.

Compiled by Joan Kolev

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