Sofia hospitals open more beds to handle Covid-19 surge

It is planned to transform Lozenets Hospital in Sofia into an intensive care cenre for Covid-19 treatment, it became clear after an extraordinary meeting of the Bulgarian health authorities on October 28.

Lozenets Hospital will open 10 beds tomorrow. By Monday, they will be 40. The trend is for the hospital to become one of Covid-19 major intensive care centres, Deputy Health Minister Dimitar Petrov said.

Another decision taken at the meeting is to open between 40-60 beds in one wing of St. Sophia Lung Treatment Hospital, which will be re-equipped. In a few days, the Covid backup will be re-equipped there.

This will be a backup base for intensive treatment of Covid-19, possibly other infections if they occur. During the rest of the time it will function as a therapeutic ward at St. Ivan Rilski Hospital.

The number of intensive care beds in most hospitals in Sofia is gradually increasing, Deputy Minister Petrov confirmed today.

The largest reserves are in large private hospitals and municipal ones.

The intentions of the health authorities are to open 30 new beds every 3-4 days in the next two weeks. Thus, according to Petrov, the system will be secured.

On Monday, students will not return to in-person attendance classes, said Dr. Petrov.

The situation is likely to remain as it is throughout the coming week. Before the children return to the schools, it is necessary to first take measures for their safety, Petrov explained.

In addition, an organisation of their testing in the classroom must be established, which will require the consent of teachers and parents.

Health authorities plan to return the primary school pupils, first to fourth grade, to the classrooms from November 8th.