Bulgaria’s Chief Health Inspector: Possible New COVID Measures from Monday

"Today, the Council of Ministers is expected to approve the new national plan, in which the possible measures are listed. They may be implemented as early as Monday". This was said by the chief state health inspector Angel Kunchev at a briefing.

The measures that are expected to be proposed are quite "elementary and light" - wearing masks will be mandatory only in certain places - medical facilities, social homes, places where more people gather, where there are sick people who have come to seek help or diagnostics.

"If the plan is accepted, I am in a position to make a proposal by the end of the week, so that it will take the form of an order of the Minister of Health and we will send it to all institutions for implementation. At this stage, masks in public transport and shops will remain recommended for the most affected areas," said Kunchev.

If the rate of increase in the incidence of COVID-19 goes like this, as soon as next week the circle of places where masks must be worn may be expanded. Both options are possible - to do this on a national level and on a local basis, explained Prof. Kunchev.

"One option is to introduce them now for 5-6 districts that are already ahead of the others, but the situation is very dynamic and I expect next week that other districts will also enter this group. So it is possible that a decision will be made and they will be directly national," said the chief state health inspector.

According to him, this will not cause any difficulties neither for the economy, nor for social life, nor for tourism.

"What will happen in the future is difficult for me to say because the number of sick people is growing, but there is not such a growth in the number of...