New Covid-19 measures in Sofia as of October 14

New anti-epidemic measures will be introduced in Sofia-city as of October 14.

The new measures will come into effect by an order of Regional Health Inspectorate’s director.

Sofia is in the Covid-19 dark red zone with an infection rate of 509 cases per 100 000 people.

From Thursday, all in-person classes at language and education centres will be suspended. In-person activities in the centers for personal development support will be suspended as well.

Students will attend shcool in person but the headmasters are required to monitor the infection rate and change to class rotation if it increases.

Cinemas and theatres can operate at up to 30% of their seating capacity. The same applies for all cultural events in Sofia.

Dance schools will also be closed. As for museums and galleries, a new rule that allows one visitor per 8 square metres will be introduced.

Group tourist trips will be banned.

Children under 18 can visit mall centre only if accompanied by an adult.

Teambuilding events are suspended. Festivals and fairs will not be permitted.

Weddings and christenings can take place with up to 15 people indoors and up to 25 people outdoors.

Restaurants, bars, and cafés will be open from 7.00 to 23.00, with up to 6 people at a table, at a physical distance of one and a half metres.

Fitness centres will operate at 30% of their capacity. The personnel is required to wear protective masks, while visitors must keep the obligatory distance.

One-way passage is introduced in the markets. Protective masks for both vendors and customers are obligatory.

The director of Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate recommends distance working wherever possible. Masks in all indoor public places are obligatory.

Visiting patients in hospitals will not be permitted.

The restrictions for restaurants, cinemas, theatres, fitness centres, and museums can be lifted if all personnel have certificates showing that they are fully vaccinated or had recovered after infection, or a negative rapid test conducted within the prevous 72 hours.

The other requirement for the above mentioned places is to allow only visitors with certificates for vaccination, recovery or a negative test result. According to the order of the director of the Regional Health Inspectorate, Dancho Penchev, any future change to the measures will depend on the situation in Sofia.