The state of emergency in Bulgaria due to the novel coronavirus will be extended until the end of June, announced PM Boyko Borissov during a meeting of the Council of Ministers. The news comes after the country accounted for an increase in new COVID cases for two consecutive days.
The extended state of emergency should not be perceived as a concern, stressed Borissov, adding:
“The increase in new cases we believe is due to the newly discovered infection clusters which are handled accordingly – without city quarantines, panic, and without hurting the business. Discipline, social distance and disinfection remain our closest allies.”
“We were debating for more than an hour. The increase in new COVID cases we believe is due to the clusters in the towns of Dospat, Surnitsa, and Yasenets. The clusters are handled without panic fear and consequences for the business. We should continue relying on discipline, social distance, and disinfection. Nothing has really changed over the past month or two, the pandemic continues to unfold. We should celebrate the fact that the number of recovered COVID patients is increasing and the social, economic, and cultural life in the country continues in an almost normal way”, added PM Borissov according to the local news hub “DarikNews”.
Despite the ongoing state of emergency, theaters will reopen on June 15 at a maximum capacity of 50%. Social distance measures and wearing of masks in public transportation remain mandatory but not in other enclosed spaces, where they remain advisable.
Nursing homes remain under strict monitoring given the high risk factor of their residents. PM Borissov highlighted that people would have to learn living with the virus until a vaccine is developed.
