Bulgarian biologists to study 48 strains of Covid-19 from 48 patients

Bulgarian scholars will start work in reading the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, announced Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev, director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. He explained that reading the virus's RNA would shed light on hypotheses about how severe the disease went in persons infected with the different strains of the virus.

The different course of the disease, the different possibility of infection, are very important for the measures taken in different countries. This will also explain the low number of Covid-19 infections and fatalities in Bulgaria, Kantardzhiev expects.

Festive prayer on occasion of Ramadan Bayram to be held outdoors

At a meeting with Chief Mufti Mustafa Hadji, Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov sent greetings to all Muslims on the eve of the Ramadan Bayram feast. Premier Borissov and Mustafa Hadji emphasized the anti-epidemic measures amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The festive collective prayer will be held outdoors in front of the mosques, Premier Borissov and Chief Mufti Mustafa Hadji agreed. The people attending the service will keep a physical distance of 1.5 meters and wear face masks.

For 3^rd consecutive day, number of recovered patients exceeds number of new infections

A total of 1,912 tests were made in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours and 39 new cases of Covid-19 were registered. 15 people were admitted to hospital in the past 24 hours. 14 people in Sofia, 10 in Pazardzhik, 5 in Yambol, 3 in Vidin, 2 in Blagoevgrad, 2 in Razgrad, 1 in Veliko Tarnovo, 1 in Kyustendil and 1 in Lovech tested positive for Covid-19. The total number of Covid-19 cases confirmed in Bulgaria until now reached 2,331. 2 medics were infected with the virus in the past 24 hours. The number of medical professionals diagnosed with Covid-19 until now is 248.

The Covid-19 death toll reached 120 people. 287 Bulgarians are in hospitals, of whom 31 are in intensive care units.

43 patients recovered in the past 24 hours. The number of recovered patients exceeds the number of newly-infected people for the third consecutive day. 727 people, or 31% of all Bulgarians diagnosed with Covid-19 recovered so far.

Tourist season likely to start on 1 June

This is what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said at a meeting with tourist businesses. Boyko Borissov stated that, in practice, everything in the country is already functioning but that the disinfection measures have to be strictly observed.

“We have to live with the virus, one way or another, just as we live with many other diseases. It all depends on the businesses themselves and most of all that we give them the chance to work. We stand a chance of pulling through, especially if we are smart, wise and disciplined,” PM Borissov added.

Deadline for applying for state support to keep employment extended

The deadline for employers until which they can apply for compensation for maintaining employment and their employees has been extended until June 30, the Tripartite Council for Social Cooperation has decided. The state aid known as the 60/40 scheme will be paid for the whole period or for a part of the period between March 13 - June 30, but for no longer than 3 months.

The 11th consecutive list of the National Social Security Institute with approved employers includes 1,020 companies from various industries. Among them are football and sports clubs, theatres and even the national spiritual emblem, the Rila Monastery. So far, 19 million euros have been transferred to 6,500 companies for nearly 100,000 jobs.

Three options discussed for start of new school year in autumn

There are three options for the beginning of the new school year. The choice will depend on the epidemic situation, Bulgaria's Education Minister Krassimir Valchev said. If everything is normal, schools will open doors on September 15 as every year and this is the best option.

The second option is for only partial classes taking place in schools. It will be applied as a last resort, because the benefits and additional results of the option are controversial and the risk is high.

The third option is to use e-learning as in the current situation but with better organization. There is time to create learning platforms so that most children can learn synchronously, in virtual classrooms, Valchev explained.

With legal changes, e-learning will continue to be used during the period of the so-called "flu vacation". We must continue to upgrade e-learning. To a much greater extent, it should use a single platform for each class by all teachers, said Education Minister Krassimir Valchev.

The goal is that by 2028 over 90% of the educational content will be digitized, visualized and free.

Compiled by Darina Grigorova and Radio Bulgaria's News Team

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