Bulgaria ranks third in the EU in terms of Covid-19 mortality

Bulgaria ranks second in mortality from coronavirus in the Balkan Peninsula and third in the European Union. We are in the thirteenth position of the EU in terms of morbidity. This was announced by the state health inspector, associate professor Angel Kunchev during the periodic briefing of the National Operations Headquarters in the country.

We are currently in a situation in which we have to make a very definitive decision: either as a society we are aware of the seriousness of the situation and we are following the measures as they are, or we are moving towards new, much more stringent measures, which are almost All Europe. situation management “said adjunct professor Angel Kunchev.

If that doesn’t happen, the alternative is “to have more and more sick people and more lives lost”added.

How can we impose stricter measures in the face of resistance to current measures?

The Health Minister commented once again that society does not understand the need to comply with the restrictions. It was clear from his words that there is resistance even to the current soft measures, which still happen to hinder someone. “It is seen that the measures we have taken are not receiving the necessary support from the public. There are still rumors that this virus does not exist or that we are having a negative impact on the freedom and rights of people.”Angelov said. He gave the example of green shopping cartridges, which were widely discussed with the elders and businesses. At first the idea was for two brokers, but the company objected. This led to the 8-10 morning corridor, which proved inconvenient and was therefore widened and displaced in the afternoon. Although there was supposed to be a consensus on this, according to the minister, the company later withdrew and took the position of interfering.

“We are at war and in this war we must save as many citizens as possible with the measures that are possible. We must all demonstrate that these measures are necessary and important. And once they are measures, they limit. How many times do we have to stop repeat that if we now deprive ourselves of some rights and freedoms, will we soon have them in their entirety? “commented the minister.

“Where did we go wrong after we introduced a measure that was agreed with everyone so that everyone could be happy? Now again, experts are thinking about how to make the measure so that it is medically appropriate and achieves a result to control the infection. . “, he said.

If people don’t trust the state and doctors, we will get nowhere, he said.

“We have that.”

Angelov also commented that this is the system we have and it is managed in this way. He reiterated that the reason for this is the unfulfilled reforms and explained why there is sometimes a lack of coordination between the different units that comprise it:

“We are talking about GPs. They are individual merchants. This is the law. The Minister of Health is not their boss, he cannot administer them. The DCCs are municipal structures and are subordinate to the mayors of the municipalities. The Minister of Health is the owner. The Minister of Health has nothing to do with municipal hospitals and cannot get rid of them in any way. To give an example with the Karlovo hospital, we saw what is happening there, that there is no organization. The governor demanded the resignation of the hospital director, not a word, not a complaint, the Minister of Health can monitor this process, when the educational reform was carried out, many resources were delivered, a deep systematic analysis was conducted and areas, decides which ones are protected. This must also happen in health. “he commented.

Angelov pointed out that there should be several strategic multidisciplinary state hospitals and for now we see who they are: “There are 5-6 university structures in Sofia, in the country there are UMHAT” St. Georgi “- Plovdiv, University Hospital” Prof. Stoyan Kirkovich “-Stara Zagora, UMBAL-Burgas and medical facilities in Varna, Ruse, Shumen, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven and several other medical institutions that we trust. These are the strategic structures. If you ask if they are built in the right way, no, they are not. They are not like European hospitals as they should be. What we have to do The Ministry of Health has limited resources to turn them into modern medical institutions like the ones we see in the EU and on television. One building into another with ambulances and no elevator. Yes, the buildings are 140 years old, but in America there are some, but they are done. “.

Angelov explained that in hospitals on a pavilion basis like “Alexandrovka”, “St. George” – Plovdiv, “Prof. Stoyan Kirkovich” -Stara Zagora there is no communication between buildings, there are no warm connections and underground corridors and this is a great job that needs to be done. It will be completed to make Bulgarian healthcare modern and European.

“That is why I tell you that the reform is not complete and this is the result. Now, in the course of an epidemic, we cannot initiate reform or wander from one extreme to another. We must build the Bulgarian health care force where it is. weak, to create communications where they are broken. It is seen that there was a problem with the communication of GPs and pharmacies. Yesterday we sat at a table and clarified “., he said.

The system in numbers

Angelov announced that currently the beds occupied for non-intensive care are 11,492 (46%), and these are intensively 1,257 or 25%. 5,316 and 313 people were hospitalized, respectively. The most pressured are the hospitals of Blagoevgrad, where 61% of the beds are occupied for uncomplicated cases, Gabrovo (95%), Shumen (130%), where patients are already admitted to wards that are not for gocoranivirus , in Burgas. (56%), in Varna (66%).

4,330 are medical personnel infected since the beginning of the epidemic. Almost half of them are currently active: 2,313, 2,159 are in home treatment.

The number of medical personnel who have died since the beginning of the epidemic is 31, of which 22 are doctors, 4 are nurses, two are nurses, one is a paramedic and two are other medical personnel.

During a week, the cured in Bulgaria are 5 766 people, and in total for this week, from Monday to Thursday, there are 3105 people, less than the daily number registered on Thursday.

Antigen testing is not an alternative to PCR

For the time being, we will not take any action regarding the regulation of antigen testing as an alternative to PCR, Angelov said on the occasion of yesterday’s instructions from the European Commission.

“As long as there is positive antigen, a PCR test is required. My personal opinion is that when we have symptoms on the fifth and seventh day of contact, it is good to do an antigen test. When it is very sensitive, specific and positive, it is very likely the person will be positive and positive for the PCR test. Antigenic tests are purchased and distributed from RHI, they will reach medical facilities and vans will be exported. “he said.
For now, they will not be recognized as official data and will be included in the statistics.