Covid-19 in Bulgaria: Day 316

published on 1/17/21 5:35 PM

Photo: BTA

18,332 people already vaccinated against coronavirus in Bulgaria

233 new cases of coronavirus have been identified in the last 24 hours with 4,628 tests, data from the National Coronavirus Information Portal show. This means that 150 samples taken by PCR and 83 by antigen tests returned positive.

The highest number of newly infected people is in Sofia - 55, followed by Silistra - 23 and Pazardzhik - 20. There are six infected medics and with them the total number of infections among medical staff reaches 9,262.

296 people have been cured and 17 people have died in the past 24 hours.

There are currently 3,485 patients in hospital, with 340 of them in intensive care units.

So far, 18,332 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, of which 206 in the last 24 hours.

2 million Bulgarians have already had the coronavirus

By June, Bulgaria should receive 1.5 million doses of Covid vaccines Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna which will suffice for 750,000 people, said for bTV Assoc. Prof. Svetlana Velizarova, head of the Children's Clinic in the Saint Sophia lung hospital. According to her, the amount is not encouraging, because we will not be able to meet the autumn-winter season vaccinated.

According to her, 2 million people have already been exposed to the virus, so the next wave will be weaker.

"We can't stay closed forever," the doctor said, explaining that even with the measures loosened, the incidence of Covid-19 would increase as the infection was transmitted by airborne droplets. "But this does not mean extending the lockdown," Assoc. Prof. Svetlana Velizarova concluded.

Covid-19 vaccines provide 6 to 7 months of immunity

Covid-19 survivors have immunity for between three and five months, while vaccines protect for at least 6-7 months, Prof. Ilko Getov, representative of the European Medicines Agency in Sofia, told the BNR.

He voiced a hope that it would be possible to have a medicine against coronavirus this year.

He added Bulgaria had ordered the highest number of the AstraZeneca vaccines because the company was the first to start developing the product.

The expert recommended a gradual loosening of the restrictive measures.

Those immunized against Covid-19 will receive the second dose of the vaccine in time

Instead of the initially promised 35,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, 18,720 will arrive in Bulgaria, Bogdan Kirilov, executive director of the Medicines Agency, told BNT. He added that at the end of February the originally planned amount will be restored and even an increase is expected.

According to Bogdan Kirilov, the smaller number of doses will create difficulties, as the people who need to be vaccinated are predetermined. The important thing, however, is that the second dose will be given to those who have already been immunized in time.

"We decided to keep half of the quantities we receive, precisely because of such situations," he commented.

Compiled by Diana Tsankova

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