New relaxation of anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria and what remains in place

Bulgaria’s Minister of Health issued orders for relaxation of some of the measures related to the limitation of the spread of the coronavirus. The orders are effective as of June 15.

The epidemic emergency situation remains in place until the end of June.

Which measures are relaxed and which remain in place?

Wearing face masks remains compulsory only for the public transport, healthcare facilities and pharmacies. It is recommended for all other public places.

Discotheques, piano bars, night bars and clubs can re-open as of June 15.

There is a change in the period of the quarantine for people diagnosed with COVID-19: after discharge from hospital they are required to remain in home isolation for 14 days instead of 28.

However, all persons arriving in Bulgaria from Sweden, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, as well as from all third countries, except the Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, are subject to 14-day quarantine.

For Bulgarians travelling to Greece, the country opened its border without mandatory quarantine. Before entering Greece, PCR tests are conducted at random and questionnaires are handed out at random, in which tourists are required to fill in their names and the place where they going for a holiday.

Mass events are now allowed to take place in closed places with the requirement for using 50% of the capacity of the halls, i.e. very second seat to remain empty.

Shopping malls have introduce a one way system of movement of clients. Shops in them have rules for the number of customer allowed in them at a time in order to maintain physical distance between people.

The anti-epidemic measures related to physical distance, hand hygiene and disinfection remain in place.

The Ministry of Health and the task force continue to very closely monitor clusters, or outbreaks, in order to take appropriate action as necessary.

Monitoring and testing of nursing homes continues because of the high risk of infection in such places. The processes in the hospitals where there are patients diagnosed with Covid-19 will also be monitored.