Bulgaria’s Ministry of Health has reopened the indoor discos, night clubs and night bars after the ban introduced several days ago as an anti-epidemic measure. These facilities must provide 1 square meter of space for every client. The resumption of group events such as weddings, christenings and family gatherings in compliance with the already adopted anti-epidemic measures, including physical distance between people of at least 1.5 meters, has also been discussed. The new order of Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev which allows the reopening of night clubs is to enter into force on July 13, Monday. More than 80,000 people from this industry have lost their jobs since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, representatives of the Restaurant Association in Bulgaria contend.

According to the new rules introduced in Hungary aimed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Hungarian nationals returning from high-risk “yellow category” and “red category” countries must undergo a medical check at the border and are placed under mandatory fourteen-day quarantine, even if they are not infected with Covid-19. Bulgaria, together with Serbia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom was placed in the yellow group. 

The drastic increase in the number of newly-registered cases of coronavirus is due to the fact that people started thinking that the problem was already solved or view the problem as insignificant. On the other hand, the problem has been politicized recently, Bulgaria’s Chief Health Inspector Dr. Angel Kunchev told the Bulgarian National Radio. In his words, political intervention in the epidemic danger will not yield good results. “Everyone looks at the problem according to their interests”, Angel Kunchev commented and called on the political leaders: “Let us do our job and if we don’t cope with the situation, change the National Operational Headquarters and do whatever you want”. Dr. Angel Kunchev underlined that at the moment he is more worried about the number of people admitted to hospitals and about who will work and take care of these people in the hospitals.

211 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 2,806 PCR tests made, data of the National Coronavirus Information Portal shows. Thus, the total number of Covid-19 cases rose to 7,175 people. There are 3,597 active cases in this country. Most new cases were confirmed in Sofia- 94, followed by 23 cases in Plovdiv and 13 in Blagoevgrad. Three people recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours. No new Covid-19 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours. A total of 532 patients are receiving hospital treatment, 33 of whom are in intensive care units.

Bulgarians who are planning to travel to Greece should postpone their trip until next Wednesday, because the electronic form for entry into Greece via Kulata-Promachonas border crossing will not be available until July 14. Travelers who have already issued their forms are still able to cross the border checkpoint, but citizens without this document will not be allowed in Greece. The new rules enter into force at 6 am on July 15, instead of July 14 as announced earlier. Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs remind that citizens travelling to Greece through Kulata-Promachonas border crossing for non-essential reasons are required to present a negative PCR test translated in English and made up to 72 hours prior to entering Greece.

The setter of Bulgaria's National Volleyball Team Georgi Seganov tested positive for Covid-19. PCR tests have been taken from all athletes and contact persons. "There is nothing to worry about. All other PCRs are negative and Georgi Seganov is feeling well", the manager of the national voleeyball team Sfetan Cholakov said. On Monday, Bulgaria's National Volleyball Team  continues trainings on schedule under compliance with all safety and anti-epidemic measures.

Compiled by: Diana Tsankova