Young students are also likely to go to distance education

The authorities will wait 2 weeks for the new stricter anti-epidemic measures to take effect and, if they do not reduce the pressure on the health system, more stringent measures could be introduced. Among them is the transition of young students to distance education. This was clear from the explanations of Health Minister Kostadin Angelov and Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev on Wednesday. One day ago, surprisingly and in total contradiction with all the previous guarantees of the government, the Minister of Health issued an order by which starting on Thursday for a period of 2 weeks, secondary school students and high school students go to education remotely, nightclubs close and restrictions on congresses and sports activities.

Angelov assured BNT on Wednesday that “We do not intend to change the measures over the next two weeks, but we hope they will work.”. However, it is not clear how true this is, given that only until Tuesday morning the Minister of Education, Krassimir Valchev, claimed in media appearances that distance education is not planned at the national level, and few hours later the Health Minister ordered the exact opposite. students older than 8th to 12th grade. For now, students from primary and lower secondary school up to and including seventh grade will continue with the current learning process, with the exception of schools to which the Minister of Education and Science has granted an electronic distance learning permit to grades 1-7.

Angelov: Measurements are not delayed, we will not change them for 2 weeks

The sharp turn in the government’s position on the measures was explained by the Health Minister with the diffuse spread of the virus and the fact that if the chain of transmission is not interrupted now, it may be too late. According to Angelov, the measures introduced are not late, as there are reproaches in public space.

“It is very important that Bulgarians understand that the measures pursue purely medical objectives. The first objective is to reduce the number of infected. And the second objective is to reduce the pressure on the health system. If the Bulgarian citizens do not believe in these measures, they will not will work “Angelov said.

He reiterated that the system is now better prepared for the epidemic than in the spring, but the main problem is the fatigue of the people and the increasing pressure on the health system. “It won’t last if the pressure increases.”said the Minister of Health.

“Our forces are limited. For a person to receive effective medical care, people must work in a normal environment, not under pressure. Many RHIs in the country need help, volunteers are needed. We send NHIF employees, we work together, they mobilize the entire health system “Angelov said.

State Chief Health Inspector Angel Kunchev told bTV that the epidemic situation is worsening, some hospitals are already experiencing difficulties and measures will be tightened, especially if people continue to disobey government regulations.

Kunchev: Even young students can go to distance education

According to him, it is very likely that younger students study at a distance, despite the position of the Ministry of Education and Science that they are least efficient in this way and have the most difficulties. “If the data shows that it is necessary, they will move to distance education”Kunchev said. Kunchev rejected the assumption that due to the beginning of the school year, the increase in morbidity has begun.

“The incubation period for the virus is 4-5 days. It’s been a long time since September 15, so we can’t blame them.”Kunchev specified.

According to him, it is possible to further toughen existing measures without reaching a settlement blockade, as this measure was not very effective.

“In my opinion, the night class is not the most effective, it creates difficulties for citizens, but in municipalities where morbidity is too high, the authorities do it.”Kunchev commented. He added that outside of the measures at the national level is the possibility of making decisions at the local level.

“The problem of mixing medicine and politics is one of the most damaging things in this case. The establishments think they are deliberate and someone hates them; the schools think we are restricting them.”he commented.

According to him, there is a high probability that the epidemic situation is prolonged, but it does not compromise with specific morbidity thresholds: “In other respiratory diseases, there is a 2-3-4 week peak and a decline follows. I hope, but I don’t think, that it will happen, it doesn’t behave like a typical respiratory virus.”, he said.

The epidemic is accelerating: 2,569 infected per day

Meanwhile, the epidemic continues to accelerate. A total of 2,569 people were infected with the coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, which were detected by 11,226 PCR tests. The percentage of positive samples is still high, despite many tests: 22.9%.

The confirmed cases in our country since the beginning of the pandemic are 42,701, of these, 22,597 are active and 18,943 have recovered.

The number of hospitalized patients continues to rise to 2,217, 145 of them in intensive care units or clinics.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2020 medical workers have been infected, but there is no daily information yet on how many of them are active cases.

A total of 25 people died from the coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours. The total number of deaths in our country increased to 1,161.