News briefing on coronavirus in Bulgaria: Doctors are exhausted, health minister warns

We are entering a very serious phase of the COVID epidemic in Bulgaria. The recoveries are more than the active cases so far. It is noteworthy that there are people who died at a young age, the minister of health, Prof. Kostadin Angelov, on October 22 told the regular weekly briefing on the situation with the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The meeting was also attended by the Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev, the Director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD) Prof. Dr. Todor Kantardzhiev and the Director of the Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate, Dr. Dancho Penchev.

The most serious problem at the moment is with the doctors. The doctors in the medical establishments work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are already exhausted, the Minister of Health noted.

"The biggest problem we are facing at the moment is related to the medical professionals who are on the front line. Most of them are infected, sick, some are in intensive care. We need help. We see the solution in the active participation of doctors in pre-hospital care. We will hold a conference call with the rectors of the medical universities to discuss the possibility for the students, who are in the 6th year of their study of medicine and are doing their state practices, to help the doctors in the medical establishments and this work to be considered as work experience", the minister explained.

The five districts with the most newly infected cases for the last 24 hours are Sofia - 425 cases, Plovdiv - 208, Blagoevgrad - 197, Bourgas - 97, Shumen - 82, the Minister summed up and added that the anti-epidemic measures should be observed and solutions should be sought to reduce the number of people who get sick.

Official: Masks are mandatory outdoors from October 22

Bulgaria ranks 22nd in terms of morbidity in Europe and 4th in the Balkans. This was announced by the Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev. In terms of mortality, we are in 9th place in the EU and again in 4th place in the Balkans.

Nothing we have warned about is different from what is currently happening, said Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev at the briefing. The health system is doing everything it can possibly do, he assured, stressing that "if there is understanding from people, things will be better."

Masks do not protect 100%, but reduce the possibility of infection, the professor explained. He recommended taking vitamin D and clarified the dose: 4 drops for an adult, about 1 or 2 drops for children. "In the spring we talked about the three Ds - discipline, disinfection and distance, now we are adding a fourth D - vitamin D."

As of today, October 22, an order of the Minister of Health is in force, which introduces an anti-epidemic measure for wearing a mask or other means covering the nose and mouth in open public places.

The measures are changing: What new rules against COVID-19 come into force in Bulgaria?

In case of crowding and inability to observe a physical distance of 1.5 m, citizens must wear a mask or other means covering the nose and mouth (including a scarf, shield, etc.).