The measures are yielding “extremely positive data”: Weekly coronavirus briefing

PM Boyko Borissov described the anti-epidemic measures as "the mildest and most sparing of people’s mental state" and at the same time "enabling the economy to work well and to cover the huge costs of the coronavirus crisis."
According to Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov, the measures have led to extremely positive data and in 3 districts - Kardzhali, Razgrad and Gabrovo - the number of coronavirus infections is now below 120 per 100,000 people.
Bulgaria ranks 24th in terms of infection rate in the EU and third in mortality rate, chief health inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev on his part stated.

More from the briefing

There have been no data of any side effects of the vaccines so far: National Vaccination Task Force chairman

“7,900 people have so far been vaccinated against coronavirus,” Prof. Krasimir Gigov chairman of the National Vaccination Task Force said at the weekly coronavirus briefing. So far there have been no data of any side effects.
“Another 70,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are expected by the end of the month. The organization necessary has been put in place for the delivery and administering of the vaccine Moderna,” said Health Minister Prof. Kostadin Angelov.  
Another 500,000 doses of Moderna have been ordered, and the first shipment of 2,000 is to arrive in the country on 11 January. The inoculation of senior citizens from care homes and of teachers is to begin as of next week, Minister Angelov stated.

Public Council of Central Election Commission proposes measures for safe elections

The Public Council of Bulgaria's Central Election Commission (CEC) believes that holding elections in pandemic conditions is possible, but requires careful planning, BTA reports.
In order to gain the trust of the political entities, voters and members of election commissions that their rights will be guaranteed, and participation in elections will be safe, the Council recommends: 
Minimum physical contact between people; the use of online options; the use of mobile polling stations; pilot use of voting by post; the use of online cameras instead of observers in the polling sections for live broadcasting of the process.

9.93% new infections out of 10,088 tests in a day

Over the past 24 hours, Bulgaria has registered 1,002 new cases of coronavirus infection out of 10,088 tests, according to the National Coronavirus Information Portal. A total of 5,541 of the tests were by PCR and 4,547 were antigen tests. The positive results are 659 and 343, respectively, which is 9.93% of all samples.
The total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic has reached 206,392. The active cases in Bulgaria are now 69,642. Currently, there are 4,262 patients in hospital, as 379 of them are in intensive care.
In the past 24 hours, 2,023 people have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 128,789.
The new deaths from coronavirus are 59. The total number of deaths from the virus in Bulgaria is now 7,961.

Bulgaria to receive 1.5 million doses of vaccines by August

The Ministry of Health has published a list of the expected shipments of Covid-19 vaccines by the two companies whose products have been approved for use in the EU - Pfizer/BioNTech’s Comirnaty and the Moderna vaccine. 1.5 million doses of the two vaccines are expected to be delivered in Bulgaria by August, the sum total of all expected shipments  shows. They should suffice for the inoculation of 750,000 Bulgarian citizens, as each vaccine requires two doses administered within an interval of no less than 21 days, Dnevnik reports. 

Slow vaccination rates could lead to mutation of coronavirus, says immunology professor

The total amounts of vaccines that will be produced for the developed world is absolutely insufficient for containing the spread of the coronavirus globally. This is what Prof. Soren Hayrabedyan, MD, from the Institute of Biology and Immunology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said for BNR's Horizont program. 
"Manufacturers’ orders are not enough to fully vaccinate the world's population, and we live in a connected world. This could be the bigger problem", the scientist said. If mass vaccination is carried out too slowly in global terms, the virus could mutate and choose another path of development, Hayrabedyan said.

Encouraging data regarding flight reservations to Varna and Burgas

In Varna, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mariana Nikolova held a working meeting with Frank Quante, CEO of Fraport Twin Star Airport Management. The company is concessionaire of the airports in Varna and Burgas. The talks focused on the unprecedented decline in international travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and on the new tourist season.
Minister Nikolova said that in compliance with all health protocols, travel should be made as easy as possible and only as a last resort a negative PCR test should be required. Quante said that so far for 2021 there have been positive trends in flight reservations from some destinations, and in Varna and Burgas measures for testing passengers have been taken.

“Surva" Festival in Pernik cancelled, small-scale celebrations in surrounding villages allowed

By introducing flexible and adequate anti-epidemic measures, it will be possible for rituals observed by Bulgarian citizens to be carried out, such as the upcoming traditional masquerade games in Pernik. This has been decided at a meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
Together with the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov, representatives of the National Operational Headquarters and the Mayor of Pernik Stanislav Vladimirov, it was decided that the international festival "Surva" will be canceled. Instead, small celebrations will be held in individual villages and participants wearing masks will keep their distance. “Surva” is recognized by UNESCO as part of the world cultural heritage.

Compiled by Diana Tsankova

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