Covid-19: Wearing masks might be optional as of April 1 in Bulgaria

Parliament's health committee on March 29 discussed the new rules that will come into force after the end of the epidemic emergency on 31 March.

MPs from the ruling coalition are proposing that the Minister of Health and district health inspectorates should have the right to impose basic restrictive measures such as wearing protective masks and keeping physical distance even without a declared epidemic emergency.

The proposal is part of changes to the Health Act.

Before the start of the meeting, the chairman of the health committee in Parliament, Assoc. Anton Tonev announced that as of April 1 wearing masks will be optional.

Before the start of the meeting, the chairman of the health committee in Parliament, Assoc. Anton Tonev announced that wearing masks will be optional as of April 1.

The reason - the amendments to the Health Act, which give the health minister the right to impose measures after the end of the epidemic emergency, if adopted, will come into force probably the first week of April.

According to Petko Salchev, manager of the National Health Insurance Fund, the decision is up to the legislature, but the bill includes activities that are not envisaged in the health fund's budget. The health insurance fund will be obliged, for example, in the event of an influenza epidemic, under certain conditions, to sign contracts for additional beds.

The bill was passed at first reading.