News briefing on Covid-19: Currently, 8 districts in Bulgaria are in the Covid-19 red zone

Europe is preparing for a third wave of coronavirus. We should not be frivolous and I want us to be ready if this third wave reaches us, the Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov, said on February 4 at the regular weekly briefing on the spread of coronavirus in the country. The authorities are satisfied with the results of the measures taken in our country, he added.

He called on Bulgarian citizens to reason and calm.

"The results so far do not give us the right to show a dose of frivolity, because what has been achieved is very fragile. Europe is once again in a stalemate and is preparing for a third wave. I do not want to be frivolous, but ready, if this third wave comes to us at all with the force with which it is in Europe. You see what is happening in Portugal. The situation is so dire that Germany has sent aid. There are already 14,000 victims of the coronavirus there," the minister said.

"I call on Bulgarian citizens to reason and calm. We all think and realize the responsibility we have taken. There is some increase in the number of cases in the capital – we monitor the situation and every single figure and trend, and we are ready to take the necessary actions if necessary," said Prof. Angelov.

The number of recoveries is twice higher than the number of the new cases, he added. Some 5,981 people have recovered from Covid-19 since the beginning of the week. The average age of the newly diagnosed is 52. 24 people are under the age of 19, he reported. 719 are the new cases of COVID-19 for the past 24 hours according to the data of the National Information Portal. 9,876 tests were conducted, of which 2,380 were PCR and 5,496 were antigen tests.

The highest occupancy of beds in hospitals is observed in Silistra, Sofia region and Shoumen, the minister said.

In terms of morbidity, Bulgaria ranks 26th in Europe and 6th in the Balkans. The country is in 13th place in the European Union in terms of mortality, Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev told the briefing.

8 districts in the country are currently the Covid-19 red zone. The morbidity is highest in Kyustendil and lowest in Targovishte, he added. Currently, Bulgaria continues to be among the Euroepan countries in the lighter zone, but the trend has reversed and we will have a gradual rise in the incidence rate in February, said the state health inspector. Currently the situation is still good. Five countries in Europe are in the lightest zone – Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, Norway and Spain. But trends are possible to change, he said.

To date, 94,920 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been delivered to the country. 50,124 doses have been administered so far, Assoc. Prof. Kunchev said. More than 1,400 teachers have been immunised, he reported.

On Monday alone, 13 people with Covid-19 were admitted to the Military Medical Academy. Previously, this was the number of Covid-19 cases admitted for a week, the Head of the national task force and Director of the Military Medical Academy, Prof. Ventsislav Mutafchyiski said.

"There is a concern. The figures prove that there is an awakening of the coronavirus in the capital. In Kyustendil and some other areas it is definite," said Gen. Mutafchyski. "Protective equipment must be worn properly to have an effect," he reiterated.

Currently, 10 people infect 12, the Head of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev, said. If the measures are relaxed, 10 people could infect 29 others, he said, calling for wearing protection means.