Vaccination against Covid-19 has started in Bulgaria

Today, the first stage of mass vaccination started in major Bulgarian cities, the Ministry of Health has reported. The Minister of Health was the first to undergo the manipulation. "I am confident that this is how we will defeat this pandemic and return to our normal lives," Minister Angelov said in St. Anna University Hospital in Sofia. The campaign started simultaneously in two other cities - Plovdiv and Burgas. Today, the first dose of the vaccine was given to 163 medics at 12 hospitals. Another 440 medics will receive the vaccine in the coming days. Many of those vaccinated today said that this was the way to deal with the pandemic and restore normal relations. Transportation of vaccines to municipal towns continues.

Representative of Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church has supported vaccination

On the Feast of St. Stephen, the Tiveriopolski Bishop Tikhon hasbecome the second vaccinated person in Bulgaria after the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov, the Ministry of Health reported. Before dedicating himself to the church, the bishop himself worked as a paramedic in a hospital in Stuttgart. "During these bright holidays, with this act I want to show light in the tunnel for all who care for the sick, as well as for all Christians in Bulgaria. Finally, we will be able to see our beloved ones, whom we have been long separated from.” This is how Bishop Tikhon explained his decision to be among the first vaccinated in our country.

469 newly infected in Bulgaria

The new cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria are 469, as 17 of them are among medical staff. 16 percent of the 2973 samples taken tested positive. This is shown by data of the Single Information Portal for the past 24 hours. More than 5,500 patients with Covid-19 are in hospital as 523 of them are in intensive care wards. 876 people have recovered from coronavirus and 50 patients passed away.

Youngest patient with Covid-19 in Bulgaria has recovered

A two-month-old baby who needed 11 days of oxygen therapy in the intensive care ward at the hospital in Pazardzhik, has recovered. The boy was admitted in serious condition, high fever, respiratory failure and in septic shock. For 20 days, little Lubomir was isolated from his parents, who were being informed about his condition only by phone. His severe condition necessitated the infusion of plasma and bio-products combined with antibiotic therapy. The child has completely recovered and is now with his parents.

Japan closes its borders for 152 countries on December 28

In the period December 28 to 31, Japan will not allow foreign nationals who had resided in one of 152 countries including Bulgaria 14 days before their trip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. An exception will be made for temporary or permanent residents of Japan, as well as for holders of valid visas. Arrivals from countries affected by the new strain of SARS - nCOV 2 must present a negative result from a PCR test performed 72 hours before entering the country. In the absence of a negative test, they are subject to a 14-day quarantine at places designated by the authorities and cannot use public transport.

No more Bulgarian trucks stranded at Dover

Bulgarian drivers had been subjected to mandatory tests for Covid-19 after which they passed through Dover and left the UK, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. According to the Bulgarian embassy in London, there are no trucks waiting in the makeshift parking lot at Manston Airport in Kent, including Bulgarian ones. We recall that on December 22, the French government reopened its borders to those entering from Britain. Because of the emergence of the new strain of SARS - nCOV 2, all travelers needed to present a negative PCR or antigen test. Manston Airport had to be turned into a parking lot for foreign trucks waiting to cross the border. There were only 36 positive cases out of a total of 15,526 tests for the virus performed until yesterday (December 26), or only 0.23%.

Compiled by: Darina Grigorova

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