27 out of 28 districts in Bulgaria are Covid-19 “red zones”, decision on possible tightening of measures will be made on March 17

27 districts in Bulgaria are now in the Covid-19 red zone, according to a report by the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases for the week ending March 14. Only one of the 28 districts in the country, Targvishte, is not a “red zone”. It is classified as “orange zone” with infection rate of 79 per 100 000 population

The infection rate is highest in the district of Bourgas, where the number 0f cases is 676 per 100 000 population.

Four other districts have infection rates higher than 600 per 100 000 people: Pleven - 647; Sofia city – 638; Vratsa - 636 and Kyustendil – 604

On March 16, 4,637 newly-confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported in Bulgaria for the past 24 hours, which is the second highest number of daily cases since November 17, 2020 when 4,828 were reported in a single day.

A record number of patients with Covid-19 are in hospital, 7,269, including 577 in intensive care. The recoveries over the past 24 hours are 1,877. A total of 187 people who had tested positive for Covid-19 died.

A decision will be made on Wednesday, March 17, on whether to tighten the anti-epidemic measures in Sofia.

The pressure on hospitals is growing. About 75% of the beds in Sofia are occupied. The number of people in intensive care units is increasing. More and more young patients are being hospitalized with coronavirus. The authorities are preparing a lockdown for Sofia and the district.

There are about 30 children admitted with coronavirus in the hospitals in the capital city of Sofia. The health authorities have taken measures and increased the number of Covid beds in the children's wards. They also plan a lockdown in the city and the district of Sofia.

image by Dessislava Kulelieva

"Shopping Malls, restaurants, schools, kindergartens, fitness centres will be closed. Cultural events will also be banned. Cinemas, theatres will be closed," said Dr. Dancho Penchev, the Head of the Regional Health Inspectorate (RHI) in Sofia.

"Most likely, the restrictions in Sofia will take effect as of Saturday and as of Monday, possibly in the whole country, if such a decision is reached. The third Covid-19 wave affects almost the whole of Bulgaria. So my opinion is that it is time for a decision for measures across the country,” said Assoc. Prof. Angel Kuchnev - Chief State Health Inspector.

The measures are expected to take effect by the end of the week and be valid for at least 14 days. The order for the hospitals in Sofia to provide further 20% of beds for Covid-19 patients will be changed.

"The increase in Covid-19 cases fills a large part of the capacity of hospitals. In this way, there is a lack of resources for emergency care," said Dr. Slavcho Bliznakov, Head of "St.Anna" hospital in Sofia.

Therefore, each hospital will open Covid-19 beds according to its capabilities, Sofia RHI explained.

Seniors-only shopping hours remain in effect. A final decision on the restrictions in Sofia will be made tomorrow, March 17, at a meeting of the regional coronavirus task force.

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