The Ministry of Health has announced that as of Thursday, February 24, the gradual easing of anti-epidemic measures in Bulgaria will begin.
The report of the Chief State Health Inspector proposed a three-step approach to alleviate anti-epidemic measures, according to which the requirement for a “green certificate” across the country should be abolished as of March 20, with a favorable trend in the epidemic situation.
In connection with the growing number of inquiries of Bulgarian citizens, who are about to travel to Bulgaria for the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Ministry of Health recalls the rules for entering the country.
Persons arriving from the “green zone” and the “orange zone” (countries where at the time of assessment, the 14-day morbidity is lower than 500 per 100,000 population) are admitted to the territory of the country upon presentation of an EU digital COVID certificate, a negative test, or a document similar to the digital certificate. The similar document has to contain the same data as the EU digital COVID certificate if the arrivals are from a non-EU country.
As of today (December 1), two orders of the Minister of Health Dr. Stoycho Katsarov enter into force. They are published on the website of the Ministry of Health.
The first order is extending the anti-epidemic measures from 1.12.2021 to 31.03.2022, the period in which the emergency epidemic situation was extended.
For the most part, the measures are the same as those currently in force. Teambuildings, visits to children’s centers, clubs and others, as well as holding congress-conference events, seminars, symposia, trainings, competitions, exams and other group events are prohibited. There are no mass events, such as music and other festivals, fairs, folklore initiatives and etc. Group visits to centers, schools and other sites for dance and music art have been suspended. Visits to libraries, museums, galleries, cinemas, theaters, circus performances, concerts and other indoor performances are prohibited. The ban also applies to the conduct of collective sports indoors, as well as visits to fitness centers, gyms and clubs, swimming pools and complexes, spa (medical SPA) centers, wellness centers and thalassotherapy centers. Visits to gambling halls, casinos and catering and entertainment establishments, as well as visits to shopping malls and shops with a net retail area of over 300 sqm, bazaars and indoor exhibitions have been suspended.
As of today, November 4th, all planned admission and operative activity in the medical establishments on the territory of the country will be temporarily suspended. Exceptions are allowed for activities related to transplantation of organs and cells, diagnosis and treatment of patients with oncological and onco hematological diseases, assisted reproduction activities and births, regardless of the method of delivery, rehabilitation activities, long-term treatment and psychiatric care. These measures are stated in an order of the Minister of Health Dr. Stoycho Katsarov, issued yesterday.
The aim is to reduce the pressure on the health system on one hand and on the other hand, it will be possible for unloaded wards to be restructured into COVID units and medical teams to be reassigned to serve patients with COVID-19.
In the Veliko Tarnovo region there is already an external office for patients with a confirmed test for COVID-19 with mild and moderate symptoms. The open outpatient COVID zone is located in the building of the Pulmonary Hospital “Dr. Treiman” in Veliko Tarnovo on the basis of a contract for joint activities with the hospital. The center employs doctors Dr. Stella Dencheva – pulmonologist and specialist in internal medicine, and Dr. Dragosh Metodiev – Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University Hospital in Pleven and an assistant in the Department of Surgery at the Medical University of Pleven.
The work of the office is coordinated with RHI and RHIF. Every working day from 16.00 to 18.00 the office will receive patients. The severity of the disease will be assessed on the spot and therapy will be prescribed. Apparatus for measuring oxygen saturation of the lungs are provided, at the discretion of doctors there will be an opportunity for X-rays and other types of tests. If necessary, doctors will prescribe referrals for hospitalization. Patients with mild or moderate coronavirus symptoms will be able to receive one antibiotic free of charge from the prescribed treatment, as provided in the plan of the Ministry of Health.