42-year-old doctor from Sofia's Emergency Aid infected with Covid-19 dies

Dr. Yulian Stamov, 42, from the Centre for Emergency Medical Aid has passed away at Pirogov Hospital in Sofia. The patient was admitted for treatment about a week ago with complaints of shortness of breath, chills and fever. He was intubated two days before he died. Dr. Stamov had a positive PCR test for coronavirus. The doctor became infected while performing a CPR procedure involving cardiac massage and artificial respiration on a coronavirus-infected patient in serious condition, the Association of Emergency Physicians announced.

This is yet another victim of the coronavirus epidemic given by the medical professionals from the Centre for Emergency Medical Aid in Sofia during the pandemic. At the beginning of May, another doctor from Sofia's Emergency Aid Centre, Dr. Nelly Pandova aged 61, died of Covid-19, the association reminds.

Bulgaria reports 161 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours

161 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 3,150 PCR tests made, latest data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal showed this morning. Highest number of new cases of coronavirus was registered in Sofia-49, followed by Varna (15 cases) and Veliko Tarnovo (15 cases). No new Covid-19 deaths were registered in the past 24 hours. 80 people have recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours. 31 Bulgarians are receiving hospital treatment in intensive care units.

More money for hospitals to treat coronavirus patients

The Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev announced that the price of the clinical pathway for the treatment of coronavirus is increased to 600 euros. An increase in the prices of all clinical pathways was also discussed.This will cover the entrance test for coronavirus of patients on admission to the hospital, so as not to be at the expense of the patient or medical institutions.

As of July 6, tourists can enter Greece only through Kulata-Promachonas checkpoint

The Greek government has come up with a final decision that only the border checkpoint at Kulata-Promachonas will remain open to tourists travelling from Bulgaria to Greece. The measure will take effect on Monday (July 6), government spokesman Stelios Petsas said.The Makaza border crossing between Bulgaria and Greece will be closed.

Pre-filled electronic declarations with QR code will be required from all incoming foreigners without exception. All Balkan land traffic of tourists to Greece will pass through Kulata-Promachonas because no foreigners will be allowed into Greece via its borders with Albania, Turkey and North Macedonia.

Traffic at Kulata-Promachonas border checkpoint remains intense

Cars formed four kilometer-long line at Kulata-Promachonas border checkpoint at the Bulgaria-Greece border. There are less cargo vehicles at the border crossing into Greece and traffic is less intense than yesterday. Teams of Bulgaria’s Traffic Police are controlling traffic in order to prevent congestion at the border control area. Traffic control at Promachonas checkpoint on Greek territory is also faster. The Greek border authorities are checking the passenger locator forms and passengers’ QR codes. Mass testing for Covid-19 of Serbian nationals continues. Traffic is expected to increase sharply in the early afternoon of the last working day of the week.

Bulgaria calls on Greece to find solution to border crossing issue

Deputy Foreign Minister Petko Doikov has invited Greek Ambassador to Bulgaria Dimitrios Chronopoulos to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the situation with border checkpoints with Greece. Doikov stressed the difficult situation at the Kulata-Promachonas border crossing due to the formation of long queues, causing great inconvenience to travellers. He demanded that separate corridors be created for EU citizens and for travellers from third countries to speed up the border crossing.

Chronopoulos expressed regret over the situation and explained that the new rules apply to all those entering Greece, regardless of their nationality, and aim to control the spread of the coronavirus after the country reopened to foreign tourists.

Balkan Holidays cancels all its summer 2020 charter flights and holidays to Bulgaria

The largest tour operator in Bulgaria, Balkan Holidays, which every year takes thousands of British tourists to Bulgaria's Black Sea and winter resorts, has decided to cancel the remainder of all its Bulgaria charter flights in the summer of 2020. The bad news was announced on the company's corporate website.

Bulgaria needs to set its priorities for recovery from Covid-19 crisis by September

Bulgaria will have access to financial resource to the tune of more than EUR 29 billion in the next programming period. For the purpose, this country has to determine the priority areas and funding mechanisms by September. The anti-crisis funds will be allocated for the next 4 years and their term is shorter than the term of the operational programes. The future measures towards energy efficiency directly related to the European Green Deal, innovation, digitalization, education and science, are among the top priorities.

China donates Covid-19 equipment to Sofia-based Military Medical Academy

A donation of protective equipment and materials against Covid -19 was received at the Military Medical Academy in Sofia from the Ministry of National Defense of China.  The shipment includes protective and surgical masks, medical respirators, safety goggles and shields, medical and waterproof aprons, infusion pumps, disinfection machines and more. Its total value is about 250,000 euros or 2 million Chinese yuan.

Since start of summer season, Bulgaria has welcomed tourists from 35 countries

We are already receiving guests from 35 countries, but the revival of the tourism sector is gradual, said Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova during a parliamentary control session. Bulgaria was one of the first countries to reopen its borders to tourists on June 1. 

Compiled by Diana Tsankova and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

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