Part of anti-epidemic measures eased, some students return to class

Today, the big non-commercial stores opened their doors, but under the condition for distance between the customers in them. Cultural and entertainment events are also allowed when using up to 30% of the capacity of the premises, as those present must wear face masks and observe a physical distance of 1.5 meters. Catering and entertainment establishments also work with not more than 50% of their capacity and with working hours between 6.00 and 23.00. The youngest students from 1st to 4th grade have returned to the classrooms. Children from 7th, 8th and 10th grade also started face-to-face classes for a period of two weeks. On April 26, the 5th, 9th and 12th- graders will go back to school. The 6th and 11th grade students go back to school on May 17.

In case of no interest in AstraZeneca vaccine, it would be withdrawn

Expert advice from immunologists, virologists, cardiologists and other specialists, will provide an opinion on vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19. This was what Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov said at an extraordinary briefing, quoted by BGNES. He added that interest in these vaccines has dropped significantly. If it dropped completely, these vaccines would be withdrawn, Angelov said.

AstraZeneca vaccines are available at vaccination centers. Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are only targeted at the first, second and third phases of the vaccination plan. The lack of vaccines has caused chaos in the electronic vaccination schedule system, but authorities are looking for a solution. According to Minister Angelov, a greater choice of vaccines is expected in May.

Today, a delivery of 62,010 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arrived in Bulgaria. 14,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are expected on April 16, and another 24,000 doses on April 26.

Digital Green Certificate is not a universal pass

"The Digital Green Certificate is not a document that opens all doors," lawyer Maria Petrova, expert in medical law, has told BNR. It contains information on whether a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has had Covid-19 or has antibodies against the novel coronavirus. According to Maria Petrova, the purpose of the certificate was not to divide people into vaccinated and non-vaccinated, but to identify a uniform standard to prevent abuse and document fraud. "The European Commission already said that The Digital Green Certificate is of a recommendatory nature and that each country must decide what weight should be given to it," Maria Petrova added.

Bulgaria reports 462 new cases of Covid-19 and 459 recoveries in past day

462 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 3,658 tests performed, data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal show. Almost 13% of the tests have returned positive result. The highest number of new infections was reported in Sofia-143, followed by Plovdiv-33 and Varna-27. 459 people have recovered and 67 patients passed away in the past 24 hours. 10,382 patients are in hospital, as 797 of them are in intensive care.

1,600 vaccines have been administered in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of vaccinations to 572,662. A total of 113,253 people (1.5% of the population) have received their second vaccine dose.

Tourism calls on government for clear measures aimed at saving the sector

The Varna Chamber of Tourism has called on the government to take urgent measures to save the tourism sector on the eve of the Easter holidays. "It is important to vaccinate the workers in the sector, because all the countries around us do it and only we are lagging behind,“ head of the chamber Ilin Dimitrov has told Radio Bulgaria. Expect more information about the worries of Bulgarian tourism tommorow - April 13.

NSI: Investment activity in industry fells 8.7% in 2020

Investment activity in industry shrank by 8.7% in 2020 as compared to the previous year, a survey conducted by the National Statistical Institute shows. In 2021, investments in industry are expected to decrease by 15.5% due to the negative impact of the coronavirus crisis. Managers in the private sector forecast a 17.5% decline in their investment programs. Investments in production of intermediate goods is expected to decrease by 13.8%. Investments in energy and water-related industries are expected to increase by 4.7% and investments in production of non-durable goods is expected to decrease by 30.8%.

Editor: Darina Grigorova

English: Radio Bulgaria English Service

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