Molecular biology

469 are the new cases according to the Unified Information Portal. 2,973 tests were performed, of which 1,759 PCR and 1,214 antigenic. Of these, 15.77% are positive - 316 PCR and 153 antigenic.

There are 95 new cases in the capital, 56 in Plovdiv and 47 in Varna. There are no new cases in Kardzhali district, and in 12 other districts there are less than 10 cases.

Ljubljana – Slovenia logged 1,783 coronavirus cases on Thursday from 12,423 PCR and antigen tests combined. The combined positivity rate remained level on the day before, standing at 14.3%. So did the positivity rate for PCR tests alone, at 26.3% – 5,187 PCR tests were performed, resulting in 1,363 new confirmed infections. 28 Covid-19 patients died.

Turkey will require all international passengers arriving by air starting from Dec. 28, and all travelers arriving by air, land, and sea routes starting from Dec. 30 to submit negative PCR virus test results obtained within the last 72 hours before their departure, the country's health minister said on Dec. 25. 

A member of the Crisis Staff, epidemiologist Predrag Kon, said that the potential of the coronavirus was slowly declining, but also warned that "we should not allow the situation to get worse."

However, as he said, "reality is as it is" and that "they will consider this decision again".
He said on RTS that he did not even know why the application of the measure that one can enter Serbia only with a negative PCR test was postponed for two days and is valid only from midnight.

2,042 are the new cases of COVID-19 for the last 24 hours in Bulgaria. 6 825 PCR tests were performed. Nearly 30 percent of them are positive. This is shown by the data on the Unified Information Portal.

FINAL: Strict measures remain until January 31

Most new cases are in Sofia - 361, followed by Varna - with 207 and Burgas - 202 new cases.

Prof. Iva Hristova, Deputy Director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases commented on the different type of tests.

PCR and antigen tests are by no means the same. PCR tests are much more sensitive and specific, which is why they have been used as the "gold standard" so far and were the only ones that we could rely on.

This will be followed by a new session to discuss the introduction of new or modification of existing measures.
"The measures taken so far have had effects," said Kisic Tepavcevic, adding:
"You can see the fall of the newly infected."

Bulgaria: 1287 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. 4407 PCR tests were performed. This is indicated by the data in the Unified Information Portal. 2235 are cured.

595 patients are in the intensive care unit. 64 people died in the last 24 hours.

Most new cases of infection are in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv.

At today's session, the Crisis Staff discussed the epidemic situation and the possible introduction of new measures, considering that St. Nicholas, New Year's and Christmas holidays are imminent.
The measure of introducing mandatory quarantine and PCR test for Serbian citizens who would come from abroad was discussed, but the decision on that has not been made yet, RTS reports.