Covid 19: State of epidemic emergency ends, no requirement for wearing masks indoors as of 1 April

In Bulgaria, after a series of easing of anti-epidemic measures, it is time to take the next step towards the life we know from before March 13, 2020, Minister of Health Prof. Asena Serbezova told a briefing on March 30.

After nearly two years, Bulgaria will not be in a situation of epidemic emergency from 1 April. This means that the existing anti-epidemic measures will be lifted, she said.

As of April 1, the following measures will be lifted:

• the compulsory wearing of masks in indoor public places;
• keeping physical distance;
• the restriction on the number of people who can visit indoor premises at the same time;
• the restriction on attending classes in higher education institutions;
• Prohibition on visiting patients in hospitals, nursing homes;
• the requirement for employers to have no more than 50% of staff in attendance.

The measures would not be mandatory but recommended, the Health Minister clarified.

The following measures related to the functioning of the health care system remain in place for a period of 3 months:

• the possibility for the NHIF to pay medical and dental aids for working under adverse conditions;
• the continuation of the Territorial Expert Medical Commissions and National Expert Medical Commissions.

"Life after the pandemic will never be the same, the return to normality is relative. One in five suffers from post-Covid symptoms for months. Many industries have been affected. In the world, about 100 million people lost their jobs. The effects in education are long term, and their negative aspect will take years to overcome. Many suffer from depression and anxiety," said Prof. Serbezova.

"Saying the pandemic is over would be premature. Bulgaria is among the 4 countries that have kept for a long time the lowest morbidity rates in the European Union - these are Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Poland", said Assoc.prof. Angel Kunchev.

He said that wearing masks is highly recommended in public transport, in medical institutions, in rooms with poor ventilation, when there is crowding of many people outdoors and for elderly people, wherever they are, especially for people with chronic diseases.

"If you don't wear a mask, you put yourself at higher risk," he clarified.

Assoc. Angel Kunchev recommended continuing the physical distance. Personal hygiene will also remain in effect - hand washing, and the use of disinfectants or disinfectant wipes, especially where there is no access to hot water and soap.

As of 1 April, border health checks will be required for persons entering the country.

Bulgaria lifts the requirement for colour codes of foreign countires for arrivals in the country. From April 1, everybody arriving into Bulgaria regardless of where they come from, will be required to present a valid EU COVID certificate of vaccination, or recovery from COVID, or a COVID test.

From April 1, vaccination is not lifted, clarified the chairman of the Supervisory Board of the NHIF, Assoc. Prof. Vassil Pandov.

The so-called Covid wards will remain in the structure of hospital care, as well as the readiness of medical institutions for restructuring.

"The aim is to move to the mode of normality in medical institutions," said Assoc. Prof. Pandov.

The Covid zones stop functioning from April 1.

The health ministry will continue its campaign to promote the benefits of vaccination. Minister Serbezova said that more than 94.5% of those who died from COVID-19 had not been vaccinated. Everything about vaccines and vaccination can be seen on the Plus Me campaign website.

"COVID -19 will stay with us, but we must learn to live with it and have the ability to treat it without it being tied to an epidemic emergency," the health minister said.

The re-introduction of measures, she said, should only be done on epidemiological criteria.

The evolution of the disease will be monitored for at least a month after April 1 to ascertain the action after the change of measures. It is also possible that the anti-epidemic measures in different districts may differ, Serbezova said.

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