Covid-19: Bulgaria temporarily bans arrivals from the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Bulgaria’s Health Minister on December 20 issued an Order stipulating that from 00:01 on December 21, 2020, until January 1, 2021, a temporary ban on entry into the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is introduced, for all persons arriving from the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, through all border crossing points, by air, sea, rail and road transport.

The ban does not apply to Bulgarian citizens and persons with the status of permanent or long-term residence in Bulgaria and members of their families. Upon arrival in Bulgaria, they will be subject to a mandatory 10-day quarantine in the home or other accommodation specified by the person.

The measure is introduced because of a new strain of Covid-19, reported to be spreading in the UK and Northern Ireland, the Health Ministry said.

Earlier on December 20, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov convened a meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, Transport Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov and Health Minister Kostadin Angelov. A decision was made to suspend all flights between Bulgaria and the UK from December 21 until January 31.