All districts in Bulgaria are now Covid-19 dark red zones

A very high number of newly infected with Covid-19 was reported in Bulgaria on February 1. Every fourth test was positive.

As of today, the changed validity of the green certificate when traveling in the European Union comes into force. It will be valid for 9 months after the last dose of the vaccine, but remains indefinite for those who have a booster dose.

More than 10,000 new cases were registered in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours. Test positivity rate is over 24%. The number of hospitalisations over the past 24 hours was also high – more than 1000 people. Such a high number of hospitalisations was last registered at the end of November, 2021.

There is also an increase in the number of deaths - 158 people. 74 people were admitted to intensive care units - again there were so many people in serious condition per day in November. Less than 8,000 vaccines have been administered in the past 24 hours. 60% of them are a third dose.

According to the Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, all areas in Bulgaria are now classified as dark red in terms of Covid-19 morbidity. The highest incidence is in the capital.

The new European requirements for green certificates come into force on February 1 - so when travelling in the European Union, the validity of the certificate becomes 270 days with a completed course of vaccination with single-dose or two-dose vaccine. With a booster dose, the certificate is indefinite.

The change affects about 90,000 Bulgarians. The Ministry of Health announced that it should apply to the territory of Bulgaria.

Today, another change comes into force - the red zone already includes countries with a morbidity between 500 and 5,000 per 100,000 population. Accordingly, those entering Bulgaria from such countries can enter only with a green certificate or a negative PCR test results. Arrivals from dark red areas, where the incidence is over 5,000 per 100,000 population, are required to have both a certificate and a PCR done within 72 hours prior to entering the country. If they have a booster dose, only a certificate is enough.

Hospital associations are demanding urgent help from the state due to high electricity prices. In an open letter, they also set out their demands for increase in the value of clinical paths.