Bulgaria under Total Lockdown from Monday, National Operative Headquarters to Come out with New Restrictions Tomorrow

For the moment, there is no need to impose a curfew in Sofia, Director of Regional Health Inspectorate - Sofia Dr. Pancho Penchev told BNT after it became clear yesterday that a tightening of measures is being considered due to the spike in infections and the mounting pressure on the Sofia hospitals.

Since the beginning of the year on the territory of Sofia-region there have been 21,018 positive cases, with 9,730 new casesfrom March 1 alone. Since 1 January,385 coronavirus patients have died, with 97 in the last 15 days. Infected medical staff in the last 15 days are 163. The number of children in contact with infected in kindergartens and nurseries is 2,957 and among the school students they are 4,131.

Breaking News! Sofia Under Total Lockdown from Friday - Schools, Malls, Gyms, Restaurants, Kindergartens Shut Doors

"We are faced with the situation we had in late October and early November last year, but now things are developing faster. The situation is very serious," Dr. Penchev is adamant.

Careful assessment of each hospital's capacity should be made, such as their bed base, structure, staff, therefore RHI-Sofia evaluates each medical institution individually. The pressure over hospitals is mounting, the dynamics are very high because both people brought in by ambulances to emergency services and persons who come on their own or are sent by general practitioners are hospitalized, Dr. Penchev added.

What will be the new measures?

What the Sofia RHI proposes as measures to curb the spread of the infection is: closing malls, shopping centers, gyms, restaurants for 14 days, starting from Saturday morning (March 20). In addition - kindergartens and nurseries, schools, extracurricular activities to be closed as well as all...