Confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria rise to 1097

The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria amounts to 1097, according to data from the National Operational Headquarters. On April 23, 16 new cases have been registered - 8 in Vidin district, 5 in Kyustendil district, 1 in Blagoevgrad district, 1 in Yambol district and 1 in Vratsa district. Currently, there are 270 infected patients in hospital under medical supervision, with 37 patients in intensive care units. 95 medical professionals are infected with Covid-19.

The number of Covid-19 related deaths has reached 52. Two persons died today - a man aged 71 and a woman aged 85 in Sofia, both treated in hospitals in Sofia.

Entry into Bulgaria for persons, vehicles coming from Turkey banned until April 26

Bulgaria's Health Minister has ordered a temporary ban on entry into Bulgaria of persons and vehicles coming from Turkey through the Lesovo-Hamzabeyli, Kapitan Andreevo-Kapikule and Malko Turnovo border checkpoints. Exemptions are made for heavy-duty vehicles, special-purpose vehicles, vehicles carrying people in need of medical treatment, and vehicles performing humanitarian missions.

"We have warned Bulgarians not to travel with their relatives in the country or abroad before the Easter holidays. Now we do it again at the beginning of Ramadan," said Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.

The ban is in effect from 00:00 on April 24 until 11:59 pm on April 26.

Donors are needed to treat Covid-19 with blood plasma

Two teams at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are looking for a cure for the novel coronavirus. One team is working on developing a therapy and the other team on developing is a vaccine, said the head of the National Crisis Headquarters. Their work is in a very early stage.

Using blood plasma to treat Covid-19 in the country is not so easy, the specialists from the National Crisis Headquarters said. In order to make a plasma pool, between 2,500-5,000 donors are needed. Given the number of currently recovered patients in Bulgaria, this is impossible, they said. Still, Bulgaria's health authorities are ready to introduce the blood plasma treatment, as well.

Prof. Mangurov: Collective immunity against coronavirus requires about 4 million infected in Bulgaria

More than 300,000 people in Bulgaria have already encountered the coronavirus. To reach a level where we can expect this epidemic to fade away, people who had been infected with the virus must be over 70 percent of the country's population, which makes about four million people. This opinion was expressed by Assoc. Prof. Atanas Mangurov, Head of the Children's Clinic at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Sofia in an interview with BNR.

"In over 90 percent of cases, infected people will carry the disease without symptoms. Very few of them will get truly sick," Assoc. Prof. Mangurov commented. According to him, there might be a second peak in the spread of the coronavirus in Bulgaria after loosening the current isolation measures.

Pediatricians demand that children be allowed walks in parks and mountains

Pediatricians are recommending the introduction of a time interval for parents to take their children out in the fresh and air and sunshine in town parks and in the mountains, while observing all restrictions connected with the coronavirus epidemic.

They say they are afraid that isolation at home over a long period and limited exercise can lead to a collapse of the immunity system and neurosis.

“Good immunity in children can be built up by means of a balanced diet, walks in the fresh air and exercise,” said pediatrician Dr. Nikolina Koleva in an interview for the BNR.

Bulgarian manufacturers adapt to new emergency conditions

In the space of less than one month more than 65 companies in Bulgaria have transformed their production, adapting it to the state of emergency over Covid-19. Once the crisis is over, this transformation could lead to production expansion and the sustainable development of these enterprises, an analysis by industryinform.com indicates.

In an interview for the BNR, Mariana Damova, who created the website for analyses of different sectors of Bulgarian industry, says that at a European level, closer markets will probably be sought and this will open up new opportunities for Bulgarian production. 

Bulgarian Foreign Minister does not expect normalization of situation by the summer

Countries are at a different stage of the crisis - some are much more affected than others. It is very important that the gradual lifting of measures is based on scientific data in order to have no counterproductive effect, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said.

This is an asymmetric crisis and it is not only about health. We hope the exit from it will be much more coordinated, Minister Zaharieva added. Each country tries to save its tourism industry. Unfortunately, we will not be able to restore normal life in the summer. The call is to stay in Bulgaria. Student brigades are also delayed until May 12. Issuing of visas has been currently stopped, the Foreign Minister added.

Bulgarian PM sees risk of another wave of Covid-19

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and chairman of the GERB party has taken part in a video conference summit of the European People's Party.

In his speech, Borissov pointed out the need to find a cure and a vaccine for coronavirus. But this process is long and it is important for all countries, as well as the EU itself, to invest in research. Only in this way we will be able to deal with the crisis, the Bulgarian Prime Minister said. According to Borissov, lifting of measures against Covid-19 too soon could lead to the emergence of a new wave of contagion.

Nursery home in village of Gara Oreshets placed under quarantine

A Covid-19 infection has been confirmed in four elderly people accommodated in the nursery home in the village of Gara Oreshets village close to Vidin. A total of 26 people are accommodated in the home, with 16 staff members. The results of the tests of their contact persons and employees are expected tomorrow. The nursery home is placed under quarantine.

WHO: Almost 50% of Covid-19 victims in Europe are in care homes

Residents in long-term care facilities account for up to half of coronavirus-related deaths in Europe, Hans Kluge, WHO director for Europe, said today, and called for more efforts to protect those housed in such facilities.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy is preparing new instructions for the directors of social services organizations in Bulgaria related to stricter prevention of Covid-19, Deputy Minister Adriana Stoimenova told BNR.

You can find all stories and important publications related to COVID-19 in Bulgaria at our special coverage section in English.

You can also follow all latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak and all measures in Bulgaria in 9 more languages at Radio Bulgaria.