Number of COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria rises to 331, deaths up to 6

The total of number of persons infected with the new coronavirus in Bulgaria by 5 pm on March 28 is 331, the head of the National Crisis Staff Prof. Ventsislav Mutafchiyski announced. During the past 24 hours, 3 more people died of coronavirus-related complications, thus raising the overall number of deaths to 6. Nine persons have been cured and discharged from hospital.

Bulgaria cited as good example in measures against pandemic

Bulgaria is given as an example of a country with qdequate and timely anti-epidemic measures, PM Borissov said at a press briefing at the Council of Ministers. “My friend Boris Johnson told me that a quarantine should not be impose, he also sad, commenting that this was not a good decision. He said there should be a common European response to the crisis because once it is over, money will be needed to assist the economic recovery. “It is most important to keep the workers so companies could start working immediately once the crisis is over”, he said.

Regarding the main question of how long the crisis will continue, Borissov commented: “The world has money for about three months, and if this situation continues longer, we have no answer about how we will use the money over time”, Borissov said, adding it was most important now to have money for those people in the frontline.

He has assigned to the Fire Safety Directorate to set up a volunteer corps which has already enlisted some 3.000 people. They will perform tasks related to disinfection and will assist elderly people and sick people in different regions. At the start of next week, a 20-km stretch of the Maritsa Highway preceding the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint with Turkey will be disinfected.

Bulgaria to compensate all employers with losses over 20% due to coronavirus crisis

The partners in the National Tripartite Cooperation Council have agreed on a compensation scheme proposed by the cabinet regarding businesses affected by the emergency measures in order to maintain employment. Businesses, trade unions and the government have agreed that the compensations will apply to all employers. Support will be given to activities that have been suspended due to the order of the Minister of Health Kiril Ananiyev, as well as to the activities with a proven decline in revenues by at least 20%. Under this scheme, the state must provide 60% of the wages of workers in the affected companies.

Economic forecasts of drop in food prices

In an interview with the Bulgarian National Television, the CEO of the Sofia Commodity Exchange Vasil Simov predicts that the wave of food hoarding since the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic will lead to a subsequent decline in demand, which will force retailers to lower prices in order to sell the goods.

It will be a difficult year for banks and their customers, predicts banker Levon Hampartzoumian. In his opinion, the recommendation of the European Central Bank to loosen loan lending rules does not mean easier lending, but flexibility and rigorous risk assessment. The banker also predicts an increase in online sales at the expense of cash payments.

New opportunities amidst pandemic

In the current state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, Sofia’s Technical University has held its entrance exam in mathematics online, for the first time in its history. The exam is divided into two modules 120 minutes each, with a 15-minute break. Each applicant was provided with a direct video connection to their exam reviewer. The next preliminary admission exam in mathematics will be held remotely again on April 11.

You can find all stories and important publications related to COVID-19 in Bulgaria at our special coverage section in English.

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