Covid-19 in Bulgaria: Day 366 -

One year since the first recorded case of Covid-19 in Bulgaria

Today marks one year since the first registered case of coronavirus in Bulgaria. Since then, more than 260,000 infected people have been registered in the country, and nearly 213,000 have been cured. There are more than 10,600 deaths from coronavirus in Bulgaria.

Planned admission to hospitals suspended in many cities and towns

As of today in Sofia and other cities in the country the scheduled admissions and visits to medical establishments have been suspended. Only planned activities related to transplants, oncological diseases, assisted reproduction and childbirth, rehabilitation, long-term treatment and psychiatric care are allowed. Visits are prohibited, except for patients in the terminal stage.

British variant of the coronavirus found in 15 regions in Bulgaria

The spread of the British variant of the coronavirus, which causes Covid-19, has been proven in 15 regions in Bulgaria. This was announced by the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. The samples were tested in Bulgaria and in Germany.

The South-African, Brazilian and Nigerian Covid-19 strains are not circulating in Bulgaria yet

More than 85% of the new cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria are due to the British coronavirus variant, announced for BNT Professor Todor Kantardzhiev, Director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. We have not registered any South-African, Brazilian or Nigerian Covid-19 strains yet, said Todor Kantardzhiev.

The vaccines against Covid-19 are effective against the new coronavirus variants, except for the Nigerian strain, Professor Kntardzhiev went on to say. In the autumn of 2021 we may have to receive a new Covid-19 vaccine, if the existing vaccines do not provide protection against the newly emerging strains of Covid-19, added Todor Kantardzhiev. In his view, for people who have had Covid-19, a single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is enough to provide protection from the coronavirus.

The coronavirus is expected to become seasonal, Prof. Kantardzhiev

On March 8 a year ago in Bulgaria, the first cases of coronavirus infection were registered and they are already over 260,000. Covid-19 is likely to become seasonal, said Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev, director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, in an interview for BNR-Horizont.

"There is currently no circulation of a variant of the coronavirus that has reached epidemic distribution and requires a new vaccine. If necessary, companies producing current vaccines can prepare a vaccine against the 'mutation' within a week," the professor said.

According to Kantardzhiev, when a new variant emerges, which has an epidemic size, a third vaccination may be necessary in the autumn.

Bulgaria reports 497 new cases of Covid-19 out of 2,971 tests performed

497 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 2,971 tests performed, indicate data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal. Nearly 17% of the tests have returned positive. The highest number of new coronavirus infections was reported in Sofia-160, followed by Plovdiv- 30 and Pleven-29.

There are 5,776 people in hospitals, as 456 of them are intensive care units. 21 patients have died and 385 people have recovered in the past 24 hours. 9 medics have tested positive or Covid-19. The total number of medics diagnosed with Covid-19 has reached 10,455 since the beginning of the pandemic. 1,513 vaccines have been administered in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours. 50,056 people have already received their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Bulgaria receives new shipment of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine

21,060 doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine have arrived in Bulgaria on Monday morning. Bulgaria has received the second shipment of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine since the beginning of March. A total of five deliveries are expected to arrive in this country this month, announced Bogdan Kirilov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Drug Agency.

The vaccine manufacturer has already confirmed that Bulgaria will receive the promised quantities of Covid-19 vaccines this month. A total of 105,300 doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine are expected to arrive in this country in March.

Dangerous products and scams related to Covid-19

Denaturated alcohol sold as disinfectant and hypnosis against coronavirus are some of the dangerous products that have been offered on the Bulgarian market since the beginning of the epidemic, Dimitar Margaritov, chairman of the Bulgarian Commission for Consumer Protection, has told BNR.

According to the EU's Rapid Alert System, the list of the most dangerous products during the past year included masks and disinfectants and 9% of signals received were over products related to Covid-19. "During the crisis, very serious attention is paid to products related to personal protection," Dimitar Margaritov said. He added there were cases when after a signal to the Customs Agency, imports of dangerous personal protective equipment was stopped.

Compiled by Joan Kolev and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

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

You can also follow all latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak and all measures in Bulgaria in 9 more languages at Radio Bulgaria.

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Covid-19 in Bulgaria: Day 366

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