Bulgaria's Health Minister allows re-opening of shopping centres on May 18

Bulgaria's Minister of Health has issued an order for the opening of shopping centres and shopping malls on May 18. The ban on work in the malls of the entertainment and gaming halls, bars, indoor commercial areas for food and entertainment, children's and sports facilities indoors remains in force. An exception is made for restaurants with open-air sitting areas and a private entrance.

With the same order, gyms can resume their operation on May 18 if no more than 10 people take part in the group activities and there is no more than 1 person per 4 sq. m.

Total number of Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria reaches 2,138

A total of 1,608 tests for Covid-19 were made in the past 24 hours. 38 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed and 12 people were admitted to hospital in the past 24 hours. 7 people in Sofia, 10 in Blagoevgrad, 6 in Yambol, 5 in Razgrad, 2 in Vidin, 2 in Kyustendil, 1 in Veliko Tarnovo, 1 in Pernik, 1 in Pleven, 1 in Ruse, 1in Sliven and 1 in Smolyan districts were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. The ten cases in Blagoevgrad are from a separate outbreak which is localized.

Three people became victims of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The total Covid-19 death toll rose to 102 people.

Mass testing for Covid-19 began today in Bulgaria’s second-largest city Plovdiv.

Bulgaria is negotiating with EU countries to resume travel

We are working for a gradual resumption of travel in the EU, said Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova. We are working to open the borders with the countries with which we have the same epidemic situation and healthcare measures. We are talking to Romania, Greece, North Macedonia, Turkey, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and the Scandinavian countries, the minister said. Angelkova pointed out that the main principle is that there should be no discrimination and noted that if the epidemic situation allows, Bulgaria can welcome tourists from July 1.

The airports in Burgas, Varna and the major tour operators have not cancelled the booked charter flights after June 15, Angelkova added.

Bulgarians from Western Outlands will be able to enter Bulgaria without being placed under quarantine

Bulgaria and Serbia have partially opened their border crossings for citizens living in the border areas. These people will be able to work in the other country without being placed under mandatory quarantine, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Nearly 600 Bulgarians citizens living in the Western Outlands and working on the territory of Bulgaria will benefit from this measure. These people were not able to work in Bulgaria until now, because they had to be placed under 14-day quarantine.

The proposal was made by Bulgaria’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva and was approved at a sitting of the Serbian cabinet.

9% VAT on catering establishments and books as of July 1

The ruling coalition in Bulgaria has introduced a bill in parliament to reduce VAT for restaurateurs from 20% to 9%. It is proposed to raise the insurance threshold in tourism from 305 to 400 euros. VAT on books is also reduced. The missed annual revenues for the budget will be 137 million euros.

The reduction of VAT is for a period from July 1 to the end of 2021.

Measures for subsidizing jobs will continue after July 1

Unemployment at the beginning of the crisis was growing rapidly as there were  9,000 newly registered unemployed persons on a single day. Now, as a result of the measures, the growth of the registered unemployed citizens in Bulgaria keeps its levels. For May 13, the data show 1,538 persons registered as unemployed as just over half of the 833 unemployed have said they are registering because of the coronavirus crisis, Social Affairs Minister Denitsa Sacheva said.

The measure to cover salaries under the 60/40 scheme will continue to operate after July 1, but with a new design. When the state of emergency was lifted, the measure was extended until June 30.

Trust is the most important resource for dealing with any crisis: President Radev

Trust in the institutions is the most important resource for dealing with any crisis. A government enjoys trust only when funds are spent transparently and when it takes decisions in the interest of the citizens, not under public pressure or as a result of PR maneuvers, Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev said during the expert discussion themed “Social and Economic Dimensions of the Covid-19 Crisis. The European Experience and Bulgaria”. In President Radev’s words, poverty and inequality in Bulgaria may deepen due to the lack of adequate measures.

Bulgaria is one of the few countries in the EU with economic growth

The economies of the 27 EU countries contracted at a record high in the first quarter of 2020 by 3.3%. Only 9 countries show a small growth. Among them is Bulgaria with a 2.4% increase in GDP compared to the sme period in 2019, Eurostat reported.

Compared to December 2019, only the economies of Finland, Bulgaria and Romania have a growth of 0.3 percent.

Village of Yasenovets near Razgrad placed under quarantine

As of May 16, strict anti-epidemic measures are being introduced in the village of Yasenovets in the region of Razgrad, Northeastern Bulgaria, the Regional Crisis Headquarters for Combating Covid-19 announced. The reason is the increased number of positive tests of residents in the village.

In order to limit the spread of the virus and not to spread it to other villages and towns in the district, the movement in and out of the village is restricted. There will be checkpoints at all entrances and exits, including dirt roads. The term of the measures is 14 days. 

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

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