Bulgaria reports 232 new cases of Covid-19 out of 5,393 PCR tests performed

233 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 5,393 PCR tests performed. The total number of Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic reached 7, 877. A total of 189,953 PCR tests were made. There are 3,747 active cases of Covid-19. Six people infected with Covid-19 died in the past 24 hours, data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal show. Thus, the total Covid-19 death toll rose to 289 people, or 3,67% of all confirmed cases of coronavirus infection.

575 people are receiving hospital treatment, 28 of whom in intensive care units. 3,841 people have recovered from the virus. 178 Bulgarians were cured in the past 24 hours.

Fermented milk may be helping keep Covid-19 death-rate low

“Although it is difficult to compare health systems and death reporting across European countries, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania have very low death rates. This might also be associated with diet since cabbage (Romania) and fermented milk (Bulgaria and Greece) are common foods. The latter food is a known ACE natural inhibitor,” writes Clinical and Translational Allergy journal in an article entitled “Is diet partly responsible for differences in Covid-19 death rates between and within countries?

“Nutrition may therefore play a role in the immune defense against COVID-19 and may explain some of the differences seen in Covid-19 across Europe,” the article reads.

Testing points for Covid-19 outside hospitals would protect the health of medics

In an interview with the BNR, Assoc. Prof. Lyubomir Kirov, Chairman of the National Association of General Practitioners, stressed that the samples taken at these points would be sent for testing in laboratories, so potentially infected people would not enter the hospital or laboratory. "The person taking the sample does not have to be a specialist. Trained people can work there, the training is easy," said Assoc. Prof. Kirov. According to him, the testing points should be mobile, and in Sofia it is good to have one in each district.

A second wave of Covid-19 will cause more damage to the economy

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, warned about this, quoted by Reuters. According to her, in order to ensure stability, constant coordination between central banks and the support of international financial institutions is essential. The regulation should also support the flexible use of capital to keep credit lines open to businesses. "We are not out of danger yet," Georgieva said in a message posted ahead of Saturday's virtual meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors.

Good news about Oxford-developed vaccine for Covid-19

Researchers at the University of Oxford have reported great progress in human trials of the coronavirus vaccine they are developing. It reportedly provides double protection. Blood samples from volunteers in the first phase of the trial show that the vaccine not only stimulates the body to produce antibodies, but also the so-called "T cells", also known as lymphocytes, which play a key role in the body's immune response. There are also good reviews for another vaccine developed at Imperial College London.

Compiled by Joan Kolev

The news about Covid-19 today gave way to the public discontent going on for the 7th consecutive day across the country as well as the demonstrations for and against the government, and rallies in support of the prime minister and the president. You will find the major headlines related to these developments in the News section on our website.

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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