Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov has refuted the allegations circulating in Internet that the authorities are planning to reintroduce heavy restrictive measures against the coronavirus pandemic. “We have never intended to close towns and set up Police checkpoints at the entrances of the cities”, Professor Angelov said and specified that his decisions are motivated by publicly available data. Currently, the situation is critical in the city of Dobrich due to the lack of infectious disease specialists, Minister Angelov said and confirmed that all medics working at the frontline against Covid-19 are to receive an extra EUR 500 each month until the end of 2020. “The state has enough resources and can immediately react to any shortage of personal protective equipment”, Kostadin Angelov went on to say.

As of today, foreign nationals arriving from Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia and Romania are required to present negative PCR tests performed up to 48 hours prior to entering Serbia. As of August 17 drivers of cargo vehicles crossing Kulata-Promachonas border checkpoint will not be required by the Greek authorities to present a negative PCR tests performed in advance. However, drivers crossing Makaza-Nymphaea and Kapitan Petko Voyvoda- Ormenio border checkpoints will still be required to present negative PCR tests performed up to 72 hours prior to entering Greece. 

174 news cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 5,934 PCR tests performed. 2.9% of all PCR tests returned positive for coronavirus infection, data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal show. The biggest number of newly confirmed cases was in Dobrich- 27 followed by Varna-24, Plovdiv-22 and Blagoevgrad-20. Eight people died of Covid-19 and 213 patients recovered from the infection in the past 24 hours. 811 people are receiving medical treatment in hospitals, 58 of whom in intensive care units. The total number of Covid-19 cases reached 14,243.

The national celebrations on occasion of the 143rd anniversary of the Battle of Shipka Pass are canceled due to the epidemic situation in Bulgaria. The decision was taken at the recommendation of the District Coronavirus Headquarters in Gabrovo. Traditionally, the festivities, which are part of the Events Calendar, take place between August 21 and 26. The organizers voiced hopes that each Bulgarian will find a way to commemorate the heroes who participated at the defense of the historic peak.

The first groups of Israeli tourists is expected to arrive on Varna Airport on August 20. They will be required to present a negtive PCR tests. Quarantine of Israeli citizens residing in Bulgaria and returning to their home country is to be lifted on August 16. In one day only more than 100 people boked holidays in Bulgaria, Orlin Mandov, honorary consul of Israel says. 

Compiled by: Diana Tsankova