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© The Council of Ministers
After meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and part of the coronavirus headquarters, the Health Minister announced six proposals for restrictions in various sectors since Friday at an unknown time. The final decision will be made after a government meeting. In the speech, it was clear that the purpose of the stricter measures is to relieve pressure on the health system.
The seventh point, mentioned by the Minister of Health, is that the extraordinary epidemic situation, as announced in Bulgaria until the end of November, should be extended until the end of March next year (then the regular parliamentary elections are near). By itself, the prolongation of an epidemic emergency does not change the measures against the spread of the coronavirus, but it does expand the possibility of introducing and lifting restrictions quickly (the so-called anti-epidemic measures – author’s note.) only by order of the Minister of Health.
The Minister’s proposals
With the summary that “we do not impose a blockade” Prof. Kostadin Angelov expressed confidence that the restrictions due to the coronavirus would be imposed by humans.. The minister’s ideas, which are expected to improve the situation with the coronavirus in up to 21 days, are:
– all for studying online and without extracurricular activities
– no “collective sporting events”, congresses, seminars, cultural and entertainment events, private celebrations
– the discotheques remain closed
– close other establishments (except deliveries), gaming halls
– close non-food stores, including shopping centers (except pharmacies, drug stores, post offices, banks, insurance companies)
– do not organize excursions
If all the proposals of Professor Kostadin Angelov are accepted by the government (whose next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday – author’s note), it can mean that – unlike spring – from Friday you have to close hairdressers, hardware stores and more. similar non-food stores.
Sports restrictions are not discussed in detail, but p. Eg gymnasiums and swimming pools are theoretically not included in the definition of “collective sporting events”. The work of hotels and guest houses is also not thematic by Prof. Kostadin Angelov. “We have not discussed details about the work of each sector. I have told them what our basic proposals are,” said the minister.
Later, in the words of Professor Kostadin Angelov, “we never reached a consensus” in discussions with the business organization and the elders, The so-called green trade corridor is expected to change again, when only people over 65 can enter shops and pharmacies, according to the Minister of Health, the shopping time for them will be only in the morning, but that has not yet been decided exactly. The current rules are:
– Between 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM, only people over 65 can enter the shops
– between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., as well as between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., only people over 65 years of age can enter pharmacies
Minutes before the extraordinary briefing of the Minister of Health and part of the coronavirus headquarters, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced on his Facebook account that “we must not exaggerate and worry people with any measure” (More – here) . It is unclear from the video of his speech and status if the Prime Minister supports the strict measures proposed, talks about balance and the need for a functioning economy. For the first time, Borissov says that he has had COVID-19 “very bad” and that he still cannot recover and feels very affected.
Because immobility, staying home affects your psyche. And we need to be able to explain to the healthy why they need to continue again, because they are carriers. That’s what you have to do: explain it.
Prime Minister
According to Borissov’s summary, about 50% of the people are against tightening the measures because they slightly eliminated the virus.
In response to a question from Dnevnik The health minister says he hopes the ministers will support his proposals, but that “all the details” should be discussed with them..
New version of the measurement criteria
Why are the authorities introducing or lifting restrictions on the coronavirus? It is a question that has a dynamic answer throughout the months. Initially, the thesis was that it was essential to be proposed by the headquarters, then it was presented that 23 indicators were monitored simultaneously and therefore no criteria could be derived.
For the first time since the start of the coronavirus epidemic the health minister said the decision to propose strict restrictions was part of his plan. It is not public, and so far in his speeches Prof. Kostadin Angelov presented only the part that affects the change in the organization of the health system, but not the hardening of measures.
This framework of measures is part of the plan we are following. This measure, according to our plan, should be taken when we take the incidence of 800 people per 100,000 inhabitants in fourteen days.
Health Minister
According to the data presented by the Chief of State Health Inspectors, Prof. Angel Kunchev, this value is exceeded in three districts and there the number of new coronavirus infections exceeds 1,000 people per 100,000 inhabitants. These are:
– Sofia city
– Gabrovo
– Kyustendil
Professor Kostadin Angelov also said that the set of measures is measured as a “severity index” and should “preferably be greater than 70%” to influence the curve of new registered patients.
According to the data cited in the briefing, the 14-day morbidity in Bulgaria is 666.5 per 100,000 people (this is currently the 11th position among EU countries). Patients who need intensive care are 6.4% of those admitted to hospital, but their number is constantly growing.
No checkpoints, but unknown to travel from abroad
Once again, the Minister of Health announced that the movement of people will not be restricted by the installation of checkpoints, although the measures will be toughened. According to him, this measure would have no effect, especially when the coronavirus spreads everywhere and not in individual outbreaks.
At the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic in Bulgaria, there were a number of restrictions for those arriving from abroad, from entry bans for foreigners to mandatory quarantine for all, and currently an alternative to isolation is negative PCR tests up to three days before enter the country.
According to the current order, there are no restrictions for the entry of Bulgarians from anywhere in Bulgaria, there are few countries from which foreigners cannot arrive. Few travelers require a negative PCR test or mandatory quarantine.
In response to a question from Dnevnik, Prof. Kostadin Angelov said that this aspect of the restrictions will be discussed and he hopes to “share experiences with other European countries.” Even at the beginning of the epidemic, when the restrictions were strict, there was no prohibition on the entry of Bulgarians into Bulgaria and therefore most likely now there is not.
Hope for christmas
The Minister of Health refused to specify a deadline when stricter restrictions would apply, But announced that the indicators are monitored daily. According to him, the measures can give results at least eight days, it is possible that the days are fourteen, but science has shown that you have to wait 21 days, which will almost coincide with the Christmas holidays.
If the measures work, we will do our best, based on the analysis, to consider easing these measures by Christmas.
Health Minister
“We believe that together we will impose it. In this way, each of you will become a doctor and a nurse. Then they will become heroes in their homes. It is time to unite in the name of life … Because only living and healthy people can lift a country in any crisis. A few weeks of discipline will equal thousands of lives saved, “said the Health Minister, who read the statement from a statement. The minister also said that his mind and heart told him that these measures must be imposed.
This time the president of the National Operations Staff, General, also participated in the briefing. Ventsislav Mutafchiiski, as well as the directors of Pirogov and Alexandrovska Hospital.
Shortly after the proposals of the Minister of Health, companies and sector organizations – restaurants, the hoteliers reacted against the measures and hinted at protests if there is no compensation. Nothing was said about it in Monday’s briefing. (More here)
© Nadezhda Chipeva, Capital
