Bulgaria’s government extends Covid-19 epidemic emergency situation until September 30

At its regular weekly meeting on August 26, Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers adopted a decision to extend the term of the declared emergency epidemic situation, as of September 1 until September 30, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a severe public health emergency nationally and globally. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, as at August 23, 2020, 23,243,621 cases of COVID-19 were registered worldwide, of which 805,740 died.

Of these, 2,037,588 cases or 8.76% were in the European Union (EU) / European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with a total death toll of 180,642 or 22.42% of all reported deaths from the new coronavirus.

As at August 24, 2020, 15,287 patients and 545 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Bulgaria. The number of confirmed cases on a weekly basis reports an increasing trend.

As regards the week of 29.06-05.07.2020, the increase of cases is almost twice compared to the calculated average weekly number. A significant decrease in the number of infected people was registered in the weeks 10-23.08.2020.

The extension of the epidemic situation related to curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country will allow to continue the implementation of anti-epidemic measures in society in order to prevent overloading of the health system and the public health system before the upcoming flu season.

The district task force units against the coronavirus are recommended to strengthen the control on the territory of their district, if necessary to introduce new measures, taking into account the situation in their region and their competence.

To be considered a patient with coronavirus, a person need to have a positive test result confirmed in laboratory and a doctor's diagnosis based on epidemic indications and clinical data. To be discharged from hospital or discharged from home treatment, a patient must have two negative PCR tests.

The anti-epidemic measures remain in force in several main areas - the temporary restriction of the entry of third-country nationals in Bulgaria. The list of these countries is periodically updated. The second area is related to anti-epidemic measures - distance, hand hygiene, disinfection and wearing face masks indoors. The extraordinary rules for organizing mass events also remain in force.