Virologist: Covid variant from India knocking at the door

The British strain of the Covid-19 has been circulating in Bulgaria, but the variant from India is knocking at the door, Assoc. Prof. Lyubomira Nikolaeva - Glomb of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases said in an interview with BNT. "We are living in a global world. We have a large Bulgarian diaspora in England, where a large Indian diaspora is present," the virologist said. According to her, there are several positive factors in dealing with the epidemic - many people overcome the illness easily, measures and vaccines have been showing results, and medics were prepared. Assoc. Prof. Lyubomira Nikolaeva pointed out that a positive attitude and confidence in a good outcome also have effect on immunity. "If we keep our guard up, we can expect a good summer," she added.

148 new coronavirus cases registered for a day

148 new coronavirus cases were registered after 5,976 tests in the past day, according to data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal. The share of positive samples is over 2%. Most of the newly infected are in Varna - 22, followed by Sofia - 19 and in Plovdiv - 18. A total of 3,817 patients are in hospital as 410 are in intensive care wards. 234 people recovered and 13 people died in the past day. There are 25,876 active cases. There have been no new cases reported in Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin and Stara Zagora. Yesterday, 6,348 doses of vaccines were administered and with them the total number has reached nearly 1.3 million. 498,665 people have already been vaccinated with both doses.

More liberal regime planned for tourists this summer

Easing the PCR test regime for tourists entering this country is being considered as a measure aimed at increasing the interest in local tourism, Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Stela Baltova has told bTV. An order from the Minister of Health is expected to raise the age of children who can arrive in Bulgaria without PCR test. Currently no test is required for children under 5. Another possible measure is to lift restrictions on tourists coming from Romania. It is also to be decided whether the price of umbrellas and sunbeds on the Black Sea coast will be reduced and talks with concessionaires are going to take place. Because of the coronavirus epidemic this summer, tourism will rely mainly on the so-called last minute offers, the minister added.

Compiled by: Diana Tsankova

English: Radio Bulgaria English Service

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