Health Minister cancels order for wearing masks until consensus is reached

Bulgaria’s Health Minister Kiril Ananiyev told a briefing at the Council of Ministers on March 31 that the compulsory wearing of protective masks in outdoor and indoor public spaces is now cancelled. The measure was introduced a day earlier on March 30 as a means to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He said that all measures taken by the task force and the Government are aimed at protecting the health of Bulgarian citizens and limiting the spread of the coronavirus on the territory of Bulgaria.

The EC strongly supported the measures taken by the Bulgarian state, emphasizing that they are preventive and set an example for all other countries. Ananiyev also found support among his EU couterparts.

The government supports the measure for the use of protective masks, Ananiyev added.

"However, since there is no full public agreement in our society, I would like to inform you that I have just signed an order cancelling point 9 of my order until consensus is reached in our society. Instead, the Bulgarian state will buy 1 million protective face masks that we will give out through the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy to low-income earners and people who cannot afford to buy such masks," Ananiyev said.

"The use of masks gives an opportunity to move away from those measures that will significantly limit the civil rights of the Bulgarians. That is why we are deeply convinced that this measure leads to staying away from the moment when we will have to proceed to tougher and more restrictive measures for the Bulgarian citizens," he said.

The masks will be purchased within a week or two and will be distributed. They will be FFP2/3 type, which are the best protection for citizens and will be certified.

Within a week, 2 million masks are expected from China - both plain and enhanced.

First of all, priority will be given to providing masks for the Ministry of Interior staff and medical emergency aid teams.

The Imports of masks will seek the lowest possible price.

The debate is that these masks should be worn by sick people in order not to transmit the disease. But we do not know who are sick, thousands of people are moving between us, who may have been carriers but have not been examined. Because of this, we decided that it was good for everyone to wear masks because it was not known where the infection would come from, the health minister added.

"I will address people with the recommendation to use masks daily after leaving their home and in accordance with the Health Act, which specifically states which are public places," Ananiyev said.

He urged those unable to wear masks to follow social distance recommendations and not to gather in groups.

A reduction in the fine of BGN 5,000 for not wearing applying is being considered.

The ministry has come into contact with about ten Bulgarian companies that have diverted their production to protective mask manufacturing. After a certain period Bulgarian production will be predominantly on the territory of Bulgaria, so we will not be dependent on other countries, Ananiev assured.

Interior Minister Mladen Marinov also specified that the new order would be advisable, but believes that people should comply with it and wear masks. He hopes people will gradually get masks and use them when they are with other people, indoors and in shops.

In his words, in public transport, masks are an additional means of prevention for the transmission of the infection. "Masks raise the percentage of protection," Marinov said.

He added that personal hygiene is important, that people should disinfect heir hands, be careful about where they eat and how the food is prepared.

Minister Marinov said no fines were imposed so far for not wearing masks, but there were 402 protocols for breach of the ban for walking in parks.

Around 400 quarantine violators were identified.

He confirmed the words of the general Mutafchiyski that the most risky group is not over 60 years old but between 40-49 years old because they are carriers.