Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Professor Kostadin Angelov: Third wave of Covid-19 begins in Bulgaria

Mass vaccination is expected to start at the beginning of March

Photo: BGNES

The number of new cases of Covid-19 has been rising steadily in the past weeks, Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Professor Kostadin Angelov announced at the regular weekly briefing. We are now witnessing the beginning of the third wave of Covid-19, contends Minister Angelov. Although anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria are less stringent, the morbidity and mortality rates in this country are comparable to those in Europe.

The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has exceeded the number of Covid-19 recoveries, Minister Angelov went on to say. Bulgaria has registered 143 cases per 100,000 people since the beginning of this week. In other words, morbidity has increased by 32% as compared to the previous week, informed General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, head of the National Operational Headquarters. Meanwhile, mortality increased by 4% and the number of patients admitted to hospital saw 15% increase. Twelve Bulgarian districts are classified as Covid-19 red zones with more than 120 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people.

Bulgaria offers voluntary antigen testing for students. Parents are to express their agreement or disagreement in a written declaration, underlined this country’s Chief Health State Inspector Associate Professor Angel Kunchev. He made it clear that testing for Covid-19 will take place in schools only, not in nurseries and kindergartens. Meanwhile, more than 29,000 teachers and non-teaching staff underwent testing with rapid antigen tests and only 74 people tested positive for coronavirus infection. 

Members of election commissions will be inoculated against Covid-19  until March 5 at the latest. They will get their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and achieve immunity before the Parliamentary elections, announced Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov.

Bulgaria ranks 26th in the EU in terms of Covid-19 morbidity and 15th in terms of coronavirus mortality. 25% of all hospital beds for patients with moderate symptoms of Covid-19 have been occupied. The intensive care units are operating at 38% of their total capacity. 9,764 medics have been diagnosed with Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Currently, 690 medics are positive for coronavirus infection.

The third phase of the vaccination in Bulgaria will end at the beginning of March and then mass vaccination will begin, Minister Angelov announced. Bulgaria may consider introducing stricter anti-epidemic measures if the number of Covid-19 cases exceeds 200 per 100,000 people, added Minister Angelov.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Most young people see future in Bulgaria

A clear majority of young Bulgarians - 89% - see their next five years not abroad, but in Bulgaria, according to a new study by consumer analysis agency JTN and the Bulgaria Wants You platform. Many young, highly qualified professionals with experience..

published on 6/18/24 12:26 PM

Bulgaria has traditions in higher education in French

With a desire to open up to the world after the long years of isolation in the former socialist camp, Bulgaria and Romania joined the International Organization of La Francophonie in 1994. One of the main values of the Francophone..

published on 6/18/24 6:30 AM

30 Years of Teaching Economics in French at Sofia University

Philanthropy and the vision for the progress of Bulgarian science and education define the development of higher education in the country. One of the greatest and most significant benefactors in Bulgaria's history was Evlogy Georgiev, a man with an..

published on 6/17/24 2:02 PM