Bulgaria no longer tops the European Covid-19 mortality ranking and now places second

There is a slight tendency of reduction in the total number of coronavirus cases in the last ten days, Proff. Todor Kantardzhiev, Director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases said at a briefing held at Bulgaria’s Ministry of Health. Let's turn our backs on politics and focus on efforts aimed at containing the epidemic in the remaining days until Christmas, this country‘s Minister of Health Proff. Kostadin Angelov said. Minister Angelov added that a total of 16,872 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the past week. It gives us hope in the battle against the coronavirus infection that continues to put pressure on the health system, but it is too early to draw conclusions, Professor Angelov said further. 

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Bulgaria prepares information campaign on benefits of vaccines

The Ministry of Health will conduct an information campaign to explain the benefits of Covid-19 vaccines. A team of the Health Ministry cooperates with the manufacturers, which are expected to provide complete information about the medicines. Kostadin Angelov said it was too early to talk about contraindications and side effects, as not all data on Covid-19 vaccines had been received yet. He denied allegations that the substances were created at the last minute, citing the fact that experts have been working on them since 2003 when the first coronavirus appeared. The vaccines will go through all phases of clinical trials before being approved, Minister Angelov assured.

48% of Bulgaria's front-line medical professionals are ready to be vaccinated

Nearly 48% of first-line employees in hospitals have shown interest in receiving a vaccine against Covid-19. This was announced by the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on health. Minister Angelov pointed out that Bulgaria was prepared to accept the first shipment of vaccines. This is expected to happen in the first days of 2021.

Physicians are among the first to be covered by coronavirus vaccination under the National Vaccination Plan.

Bulgaria reports more than 3,000 recoveries in past 24 hours

3,328 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 8,578 PCR tests performed, data of the Single Information Portal show. 38% of the PCR tests have returned positive. The highest number of new infections was registered in Sofia- 614, followed by Plovdiv-325 and Varna-321.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria reached 171,493. There are 94,132 active cases of coronavirus infection. 6,998 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, 544 of whom in intensive care. 127 patients with confirmed Covid-19 have died in the past 24 hours, thus bringing the total number of Covid-19 fatalities to 5,283.

The number of new recoveries exceeds 3,000 for the third consecutive day. 3,050 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The total number of coronavirus recoveries since the beginning of the pandemic reached 72,078.

MPs propose delay to national census due to Covid-19 pandemic

MPs from the ruling GERB party submitted proposals for amendment to the Population Census and Housing Census in the Republic of Bulgaria Act. The amendment entitles the government to change the census dates in the event of an emergency or emergency epidemic situation. By force of a law adopted in 2018, the census is scheduled for January 22 to February 15, 2021.

According to the petitioners, citizens and census takers are at risk during an emergency epidemic situation. According to the EU practice, the census is conducted every 10 years and the last one was in 2011. Data on ethnocultural characteristics, health status, energy efficiency and social services are also collected during the census.

In-class learning possible after January 4

If Covid-19 situation is favorable after January 4, the local district authorities will decide which schools and classes will resume in-class learning. Children from the 1st to the 4th grade will be the first to return to school. Later, priority will be given to 7th-12th grade students, Bulgaria’s Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev said. Minister Valchev participated at a discussion with parents, initiated by Bulgaria’s Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva, BNT reported.

30,000 children are not effectively involved in e-learning, although some of them have smartphones. Schools have the right to pay for the Internet for children whose parents cannot afford it, Minister Valchev explained.

Bulgarian airlines at risk of bankruptcy

It is quite possible that mass bankruptcies in our sector begin, Svetoslav Stanulov, President of Bulgarian Airlines Association warned in an interview for BNR. The state subsidizes 20-30% of the reduced revenues of the airlines, but after spending all financial reserves the branch needs state financial grants to survive, Mr. Stanulov contends.

Revenues from scheduled flights fell by about 65%. 90% decline was registered in the charter flight segment. There have been no charter flights in the last five months, and companies are not able to cover their fixed costs. The Bulgarian aviation sector employs about 4,500 people, but there have been few layoffs, because the staff employed at this sector is highly qualified, Svetoslav Stanulov explained.

Compiled by Diana Tsankova and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

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