Measures extended until January 31, return youth to class after New Year

The current anti-epidemic measures, introduced on November 27, 2020, will continue to operate until January 31, 2021, with exceptions for students in grades 1-4, kindergartens and hotel canteens. This was proposed by Health Minister Kostadin Angelov and members of the national operational staff in a working meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Wednesday.

Already last week, the prime minister asked headquarters to prepare a report on the effectiveness of the anti-epidemic measures and an expert opinion on their action, given the current situation with Covid-19. “Society hopes that in the coming days we will be informed in a timely manner about what we intend to do based solely on medical experience, according to the number of infected, cured, etc.”Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said at the beginning of the meeting.

The Minister of Health reports that in one week the number of Bulgarians cured of the new virus is 18,907. “The other positive aspect of the implementation of the measures is that the incidence in the country has dropped and is now below 600 per 100,000 inhabitants. We do not have areas colored black, where it is higher than 1,000 per 100,000 inhabitants.”Angelov commented.

However, despite these trends, Bulgaria maintains its place in terms of morbidity in the EU, it continues to rank 10th and 11th, and in terms of mortality, our country ranks first.

In this context, and after a series of meetings with professional organizations and competent structures, the Minister of Health proposed to the Prime Minister that all prescribed measures, which will cease to operate on December 21, 2020, continue to apply until January 31 2021, except for the follow-up:

Allow 1st to 4th grade students to start school on January 4 of next year, as well as open kindergartens and day care centers.

From January 1 to open galleries, museums, cinemas and theaters that are not closed, operating at a capacity of 30% and by seating.

Allow hotel dining rooms to function with up to 50% occupancy only for hotel guests with night hours entered until 10:00 p.m.

The Minister of Health stressed that due to the continuous strong pressure on the health system, it is unthinkable to speak of an even greater relaxation of restrictions in our country.

Therefore, we propose that all the other measures that are currently in force continue to apply until January 31, 2021 and that their next review be on January 21, covering the period after February 1 ”.said the Minister of Health.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov commented that he always relied on expert opinion when making decisions. He said that in the context of strict measures in Europe and the world, Bulgaria continues to apply the most liberal regime, which protects people’s psyches and allows them to move freely.

“In the current situation and with this burden on the health system, we can maintain current measures and hope that new cases will continue to decline after the holidays.”stressed Prime Minister Borissov.

The Prime Minister noted that the extension of the measures until January 31, 2021 requires the state to provide new 250 million BGN to compensate for temporarily closed businesses or those with limited activity.

“We have to go through these days. The pandemic is unpredictable, so as much as we can protect ourselves with discipline, distance, disinfection.”Borisov added.

It demanded that strict monitoring of the implementation of anti-epidemic measures be applied daily and that sanctions be imposed on offenders. “The proposal to extend the measures is very balanced, so we will strengthen the fragile trend to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases, and after the holidays we will discuss the possibility of further mitigating the measures.”said the state’s chief health inspector, Angel Kunchev.

The president of NOCHE and director of the Military Medical Academy Ventsislav Mutafchiiski added that given the morbidity at this time there can be no further relaxation of the restrictions. The details with the final clarification of the proposed measures and the respective deadlines will be announced tomorrow at the periodic briefing of the Minister of Health and the representatives of NSS.