Bulgarian Health Minister Insists Disbanding COVID-19 Task Force “Makes Sense”

Bulgarian Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov announced that decision to disband the Task Force is "logical".

The Task Force begun managing the situation with COVID-19 in Bulgaria at the end of February last year. Angelov expressed his opinion at a press briefing after the Council of Ministers issued a statement about the end of the Task Force.

In his assessment regarding the logic of the disbanded Task Force with Chairman Gen. Ventsislav Mutafchiiski (he was not present today) Angelov argued:

"The Task Force is an inter-institutional structure that coordinates different government bodies."

According to him, given that the government resigned, the next cabinet could appoint such an "advisory body".

Vague motives

Angelov also read the grounds for the establishment of the former National Operational Task Force, recalling that almost nothing was known about the coronavirus at the beginning of last year:

 "Organizing and coordinating the actions of the competent state authorities in connection with the emergency announced by the World Health Organization for public health of international importance in relation to COVID-19 ".

 The minister was asked by journalists, if it is assumed that the Task Force is disbanded now because the prime minister Borisov, who appointed the advisory body has resigned, then why the other task force for vaccination continues to operate.

Angelov did not give a clear answer:

"Vaccination Task Force includes only and mainly experts dealing with the vaccination process, so this is an operational body, formed with a decision of the Council of Ministers, while the other Task Force is a consultative body to the Prime Minister."...