Nearly half of the Bulgarians have contracted the coronavirus, a study shows

Nearly half of the Bulgarians have had COVID-19. This is shown by data from a study by a private laboratory carried out to find the true prevalence of the virus. During this and last month, samples of more than 2600 people from 38 settlements were randomly analyzed. The results show that 43% of the tested had actually been infected with COVID-19.

In Pazardzhik (Southern Bulgaria), for example, 62% of those surveyed had the infection, in Yambol 56%. In Plovdiv, Sofia and Pleven, 30 and 40% of those surveyed had contracted the virus. The data are not nationally representative and cannot be used for decision making if there is a new wave of the virus.

The Ministry of Health will study how close Bulgaria is to achieving herd immunity. In a month it will become clear what proportion of the population has not had the virus.

The lab looked for antibodies in people who had not been vaccinated against Covid-19. The study is not nationally representative, but shows that in cities such as Sofia, for example, immunization needs to be stepped up.

"This group of people who have not contracted the coronavirus is the potential place where this thing, which is currently happening in the UK or in some other countries, could develop," said laboratory manager Nedyalko Kalachev.

The data collected by the health authorities does not clearly show how many people have had the coronavirus. Therefore, the Ministry of Health will bring together information on all patients who have been vaccinated, tested for COVID-19 and antibodies.

"It will allow us to conclude how many people have had the virus, how close we are to herd immunity," said caretaker Health Minister Dr Stoycho Katsarov.

There will be no mass testing for antibodies to avoid errors.

"When you have had the virus, you form antibodies in most cases, but after a while they decrease and may disappear completely. This does not mean that you do not have immunity and does not mean that you have not had the virus," Dr. Stoycho Katsarov said.

How many people have actually had the virus - official results are expected in a month.

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