COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Bulgaria when the country's first case was confirmed on 8 March 2020, a 27-year-old man from Pleven and a 75-year-old woman from Gabrovo. Neither of the two had traveled to areas with known coronavirus cases. The man tested positive for the virus after being hospitalized for a respiratory infection, and authorities announced plans to test several people who were in contact with the two individuals.[1] Two other samples in Pleven and Gabrovo were positive on 8 March.[2] Patient zero remains unknown.[3]

COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
Confirmed new infections per 100,000 population in a period of 14 days by provinces Total number of confirmed infections per 100,000 population by provinces Confirmed new infections in a period of 14 days by provinces Total number of confirmed infections by provinces
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Bulgaria
First outbreak	Wuhan, Hubei, China (globally)
Index case	Pleven, Gabrovo
Arrival date	8 March 2020 (5 months and 1 week ago)
Confirmed cases	14,333
Active cases	4,677
Hospitalized cases	811
Recovered	9,161
Deaths	495
Fatality rate	3.45%
Government website
Coronavirus.bg

After the number of patients in the country had reached 23, the Bulgarian Parliament voted unanimously to declare a state of emergency from 13 March until 13 April.[4] A 14-day preventive house quarantine was introduced for citizens who have been in contact with a COVID-19 patient or have returned from an overseas region with a high number of cases. For patients tested positive for the virus a 21-day house quarantine was introduced. This time span is counted from the day a subsequent test comes out negative after they have been treated in a hospital or at home. After the World Health Organization (WHO) has established that COVID-19 is more resilient than the initial data was showing, the National Crisis-management Staff increased the recovery house quarantine by a week to 28 days.[5] With the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases on a daily basis, on 1 April the Bulgarian government requested that Parliament extends the state of emergency by one month until 13 May.[6]

As of 14 August 2020, there are 14,069 officially confirmed cases spread throughout all Bulgarian provinces, with 484 recorded deaths and 8,901 recoveries. A total of 324,8512 PCR tests (or 45,947 per million citizens) had been performed by 14 August, with 4.33% being positive.[7]

Background

A National Crisis-management Staff was formed by the Bulgarian government on 5 March to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.[8] The Government has appointed Major General Professor Doctor Ventsislav Mutafchiyski as the Chairman of the Staff. MG Prof. Dr. Mutafchiyski is the Director of the Military Medical Academy and the most senior medical officer of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. The MMA combines the military medical services of the country in their entirety with several hospitals in the capital Sofia and around the country. At the same time it is one of the country's leading medical institutions and possesses large medical treatment capacity and know-how. The Staff fulfills a direct operational role in the management of the crisis and its decisions are implemented through executive orders of Bulgaria's Prime Minister and the country's Minister of Health.

On 23 March a separate Medical Council for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic was appointed by the Prime Minister. The council was chaired by Professor Kosta Kostov, a leading pulmonary disease expert. The council's mission was to provide the government with complementary analysis and action proposals and the general public with professional guidance and information. Unlike the National Crisis-management Staff, which is a formal national institution with executive power and tasks, the council had mostly a knowledge-based advisory role.[9] On 4 April the Medical Council dispersed having achieved its purpose, according to its Chairman.[10]

Timeline

March

8 March

On 8 March 2020, Bulgaria confirmed its first two cases, a 27-year-old man from Pleven and a 75-year-old woman from Gabrovo. Neither of the two reported having traveled to areas with known coronavirus cases. The man tested positive for the virus after being hospitalized for a respiratory infection, and authorities announced plans to test several people who were in contact with the two individuals.[1] Two other samples in Pleven and Gabrovo were found positive on 8 March.[2] Patient zero remains unknown.[3]

On the same day, the hospital in Gabrovo requested additional personnel from other hospitals in the country, as it only had three communicable diseases specialists. All of its internal medicine specialists have been quarantined after one of the four initial cases was confirmed to be a nurse at the hospital.[11] The government issued a nationwide ban on closed-door public events.[12] The origin of the outbreak remains unknown, and the Ministry of Interior is tracking down all individuals who have been in contact with the patients.[13] As of 8 March, 254 suspected cases were under quarantine across the country.[14]

10 March

COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria  ()      Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases Mar Mar Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Last 15 days Last 15 days
Date			# of cases	# of deaths
2020-03-08		​	4(n.a.)
2020-03-09		​	4(=)
2020-03-10		​	6(+50%)
2020-03-11		​ ​	7(+17%)	1(n.a.)
2020-03-12		​ ​	23(+229%)	1(=)
2020-03-13		​ ​	31(+35%)	1(=)
2020-03-14		​ ​	41(+32%)	2(+100%)
2020-03-15		​ ​	51(+24%)	2(=)
2020-03-16		​ ​	62(+22%)	2(=)
2020-03-17		​ ​	81(+31%)	2(=)
2020-03-18		​ ​	92(+14%)	2(=)
2020-03-19		​ ​	105(+14%)	3(+50%)
2020-03-20		​ ​ ​	127(+21%)	3(=)
2020-03-21		​ ​ ​	163(+28%)	3(=)
2020-03-22		​ ​ ​	187(+15%)	3(=)
2020-03-23		​ ​ ​	201(+7.5%)	3(=)
2020-03-24		​ ​ ​	218(+8.5%)	3(=)
2020-03-25		​ ​ ​	242(+11%)	3(=)
2020-03-26		​ ​ ​	264(+9.1%)	3(=)
2020-03-27		​ ​ ​	293(+11%)	3(=)
2020-03-28		​ ​ ​	331(+13%)	7(+133%)
2020-03-29		​ ​ ​	34(-90%)	8(+14%)
2020-03-30		​ ​ ​	359(+956%)	8(=)
2020-03-31		​ ​ ​	399(+11%)	8(=)
2020-04-01		​ ​ ​	422(+5.8%)	9(+12%)
2020-04-02		​ ​ ​	457(+8.3%)	10(+11%)
2020-04-03		​ ​ ​	485(+6.1%)	14(+40%)
2020-04-04		​ ​ ​	503(+3.7%)	17(+21%)
2020-04-05		​ ​ ​	531(+5.6%)	20(+18%)
2020-04-06		​ ​ ​	549(+3.4%)	22(+10%)
2020-04-07		​ ​ ​	577(+5.1%)	23(+4.5%)
2020-04-08		​ ​ ​	593(+2.8%)	24(+4.3%)
2020-04-09		​ ​ ​	618(+4.2%)	24(=)
2020-04-10		​ ​ ​	635(+2.8%)	25(+4.2%)
2020-04-11		​ ​ ​	661(+4.1%)	28(+12%)
2020-04-12		​ ​ ​	675(+2.1%)	29(+3.6%)
2020-04-13		​ ​ ​	685(+1.5%)	32(+10%)
2020-04-14		​ ​ ​	713(+4.1%)	35(+9.4%)
2020-04-15		​ ​ ​	747(+4.8%)	36(+2.9%)
2020-04-16		​ ​ ​	800(+7.1%)	38(+5.6%)
2020-04-17		​ ​ ​	846(+5.8%)	41(+7.9%)
2020-04-18		​ ​ ​	878(+3.8%)	41(=)
2020-04-19		​ ​ ​	894(+1.8%)	42(+2.4%)
2020-04-20		​ ​ ​	929(+3.9%)	43(+2.4%)
2020-04-21		​ ​ ​	975(+5%)	45(+4.7%)
2020-04-22		​ ​ ​	1,024(+5%)	49(+8.9%)
2020-04-23		​ ​ ​	1,097(+7.1%)	52(+6.1%)
2020-04-24		​ ​ ​	1,188(+8.3%)	54(+3.8%)
2020-04-25		​ ​ ​	1,247(+5%)	54(=)
2020-04-26		​ ​ ​	1,300(+4.3%)	56(+3.7%)
2020-04-27		​ ​ ​	1,363(+4.8%)	58(+3.6%)
2020-04-28		​ ​ ​	1,399(+2.6%)	58(=)
2020-04-29		​ ​ ​	1,447(+3.4%)	64(+10%)
2020-04-30		​ ​ ​	1,506(+4.1%)	66(+3.1%)
2020-05-01		​ ​ ​	1,555(+3.3%)	68(+3%)
2020-05-02		​ ​ ​	1,594(+2.5%)	72(+5.9%)
2020-05-03		​ ​ ​	1,618(+1.5%)	73(+1.4%)
2020-05-04		​ ​ ​	1,652(+2.1%)	78(+6.8%)
2020-05-05		​ ​ ​	1,704(+3.1%)	80(+2.6%)
2020-05-06		​ ​ ​	1,778(+4.3%)	84(+5%)
2020-05-07		​ ​ ​	1,829(+2.9%)	84(=)
2020-05-08		​ ​ ​	1,872(+2.4%)	86(+2.4%)
2020-05-09		​ ​ ​	1,921(+2.6%)	90(+4.7%)
2020-05-10		​ ​ ​	1,965(+2.3%)	91(+1.1%)
2020-05-11		​ ​ ​	1,990(+1.3%)	93(+2.2%)
2020-05-12		​ ​ ​	2,023(+1.7%)	95(+2.2%)
2020-05-13		​ ​ ​	2,069(+2.3%)	96(+1.1%)
2020-05-14		​ ​ ​	2,100(+1.5%)	99(+3.1%)
2020-05-15		​ ​ ​	2,138(+1.8%)	102(+3%)
2020-05-16		​ ​ ​	2,175(+1.7%)	105(+2.9%)
2020-05-17		​ ​ ​	2,211(+1.7%)	108(+2.9%)
2020-05-18		​ ​ ​	2,235(+1.1%)	110(+1.9%)
2020-05-19		​ ​ ​	2,259(+1.1%)	112(+1.8%)
2020-05-20		​ ​ ​	2,292(+1.5%)	116(+3.6%)
2020-05-21		​ ​ ​	2,331(+1.7%)	120(+3.4%)
2020-05-22		​ ​ ​	2,372(+1.8%)	125(+4.2%)
2020-05-23		​ ​ ​	2,408(+1.5%)	126(+0.8%)
2020-05-24		​ ​ ​	2,427(+0.79%)	130(+3.2%)
2020-05-25		​ ​ ​	2,433(+0.25%)	130(=)
2020-05-26		​ ​ ​	2,443(+0.41%)	130(=)
2020-05-27		​ ​ ​	2,460(+0.7%)	133(+2.3%)
2020-05-28		​ ​ ​	2,477(+0.69%)	134(+0.75%)
2020-05-29		​ ​ ​	2,485(+0.32%)	136(+1.5%)
2020-05-30		​ ​ ​	2,499(+0.56%)	139(+2.2%)
2020-05-31		​ ​ ​	2,513(+0.56%)	140(+0.72%)
2020-06-01		​ ​ ​	2,519(+0.24%)	140(=)
2020-06-02		​ ​ ​	2,538(+0.75%)	144(+2.9%)
2020-06-03		​ ​ ​	2,560(+0.87%)	146(+1.4%)
2020-06-04		​ ​ ​	2,585(+0.98%)	147(+0.68%)
2020-06-05		​ ​ ​	2,627(+1.6%)	159(+8.2%)
2020-06-06		​ ​ ​	2,668(+1.6%)	160(+0.63%)
2020-06-07		​ ​ ​	2,711(+1.6%)	160(=)
2020-06-08		​ ​ ​	2,727(+0.59%)	160(=)
2020-06-09		​ ​ ​	2,810(+3%)	164(+2.5%)
2020-06-10		​ ​ ​	2,889(+2.8%)	167(+1.8%)
2020-06-11		​ ​ ​	2,993(+3.6%)	167(=)
2020-06-12		​ ​ ​	3,086(+3.1%)	168(+0.6%)
2020-06-13		​ ​ ​	3,169(+2.7%)	172(+2.4%)
2020-06-14		​ ​ ​	3,266(+3.1%)	172(=)
2020-06-15		​ ​ ​	3,290(+0.73%)	174(+1.2%)
2020-06-16		​ ​ ​	3,341(+1.6%)	176(+1.1%)
2020-06-17		​ ​ ​	3,453(+3.4%)	181(+2.8%)
2020-06-18		​ ​ ​	3,542(+2.6%)	184(+1.7%)
2020-06-19		​ ​ ​	3,674(+3.7%)	190(+3.3%)
2020-06-20		​ ​ ​	3,755(+2.2%)	193(+1.6%)
2020-06-21		​ ​ ​	3,872(+3.1%)	199(+3.1%)
2020-06-22		​ ​ ​	3,905(+0.85%)	199(=)
2020-06-23		​ ​ ​	3,984(+2%)	207(+4%)
2020-06-24		​ ​ ​	4,114(+3.3%)	208(+0.48%)
2020-06-25		​ ​ ​	4,242(+3.1%)	209(+0.48%)
2020-06-26		​ ​ ​	4,408(+3.9%)	211(+0.96%)
2020-06-27		​ ​ ​	4,513(+2.4%)	215(+1.9%)
2020-06-28		​ ​ ​	4,625(+2.5%)	216(+0.47%)
2020-06-29		​ ​ ​	4,691(+1.4%)	219(+1.4%)
2020-06-30		​ ​ ​	4,831(+3%)	223(+1.8%)
2020-07-01		​ ​ ​	4,989(+3.3%)	230(+3.1%)
2020-07-02		​ ​ ​	5,154(+3.3%)	232(+0.87%)
2020-07-03		​ ​ ​	5,315(+3.1%)	232(=)
2020-07-04		​ ​ ​	5,497(+3.4%)	239(+3%)
2020-07-05		​ ​ ​	5,677(+3.3%)	241(+0.84%)
2020-07-06		​ ​ ​	5,740(+1.1%)	246(+2.1%)
2020-07-07		​ ​ ​	5,914(+3%)	250(+1.6%)
2020-07-08		​ ​ ​	6,102(+3.2%)	254(+1.6%)
2020-07-09		​ ​ ​	6,342(+3.9%)	259(+2%)
2020-07-10		​ ​ ​	6,672(+5.2%)	262(+1.2%)
2020-07-11		​ ​ ​	6,964(+4.4%)	267(+1.9%)
2020-07-12		​ ​ ​	7,175(+3%)	267(=)
2020-07-13		​ ​ ​	7,252(+1.1%)	268(+0.37%)
2020-07-14		​ ​ ​	7,411(+2.2%)	276(+3%)
2020-07-15		​ ​ ​	7,645(+3.2%)	283(+2.5%)
2020-07-16		​ ​ ​	7,877(+3%)	289(+2.1%)
2020-07-17		​ ​ ​	8,144(+3.4%)	293(+1.4%)
2020-07-18		​ ​ ​	8,442(+3.7%)	297(+1.4%)
2020-07-19		​ ​ ​	8,638(+2.3%)	299(+0.67%)
2020-07-20		​ ​ ​	8,733(+1.1%)	300(+0.33%)
2020-07-21		​ ​ ​	8,929(+2.2%)	308(+2.7%)
2020-07-22		​ ​ ​	9,254(+3.6%)	313(+1.6%)
2020-07-23		​ ​ ​	9,584(+3.6%)	321(+2.6%)
2020-07-24		​ ​ ​	9,853(+2.8%)	329(+2.5%)
2020-07-25		​ ​ ​	10,123(+2.7%)	337(+2.4%)
2020-07-26		​ ​ ​	10,312(+1.9%)	338(+0.3%)
2020-07-27		​ ​ ​	10,427(+1.1%)	340(+0.59%)
2020-07-28		​ ​ ​	10,621(+1.9%)	347(+2.1%)
2020-07-29		​ ​ ​	10,871(+2.4%)	355(+2.3%)
2020-07-30		​ ​ ​	11,155(+2.6%)	368(+3.7%)
2020-07-31		​ ​ ​	11,420(+2.4%)	374(+1.6%)
2020-08-01		​ ​ ​	11,690(+2.4%)	383(+2.4%)
2020-08-02		​ ​ ​	11,836(+1.2%)	385(+0.52%)
2020-08-03		​ ​ ​	11,955(+1%)	388(+0.78%)
2020-08-04		​ ​ ​	12,159(+1.7%)	404(+4.1%)
2020-08-05		​ ​ ​	12,414(+2.1%)	415(+2.7%)
2020-08-06		​ ​ ​	12,717(+2.4%)	424(+2.2%)
2020-08-07		​ ​ ​	13,014(+2.3%)	435(+2.6%)
2020-08-08		​ ​ ​	13,209(+1.5%)	442(+1.6%)
2020-08-09		​ ​ ​	13,343(+1%)	445(+0.68%)
2020-08-10		​ ​ ​	13,396(+0.4%)	447(+0.45%)
2020-08-11		​ ​ ​	13,512(+0.87%)	459(+2.7%)
2020-08-12		​ ​ ​	13,722(+1.6%)	471(+2.6%)
2020-08-13		​ ​ ​	13,893(+1.2%)	482(+2.3%)
Sources: Republic of Bulgaria - Ministry of Health

Detected active cases (blue), hospitalized patients, incl. ICU (red) and patients in ICU (yellow). The horizontal dashed red and yellow lines are the beds reserved for CoViD-19 patients in the municipal hospitals.[15] The graphs are smoothed by 3-day central moving average and plotted in semi-logarithmic scale.

Two additional cases were confirmed in Sofia on 10 March 2020: a 74-year-old man and his 66-year-old wife. Both have arrived from Lom two weeks prior to admission.[16][17] The woman died on the next day, becoming the first COVID-19 victim in the country.[18]

11 March

A suspected case of a 33-year-old man was reported by the Saint George Hospital in Plovdiv on 11 March.[19] The same day, a 40-year-old woman in Varna showed COVID-19 symptoms on CT scan, although regional health authorities have not yet confirmed the case.[20]

12 March

By 12 March, the number of cases had increased to 23, most of them in Sofia. Many of these had been in contact with the elderly couple admitted to the Pirogov Hospital on 10 March.[21]

13 March

On 13 March, after 16 reported cases in one day, Bulgaria declared a state of emergency for one month until 13 April. Schools, shopping centres, cinemas, restaurants, and other places of business were closed. All sports events were suspended. Only supermarkets, food markets, pharmacies, banks and gas stations remain open.[22] Additionally, all arrivals from Italy, Spain, Iran, South Korea and China were placed under a mandatory 14-day quarantine.[23] There were 13 breaches of quarantine; patients involved were returned to treatment facilities and warned of repercussions, including fines and prison sentences.[24]

14 March

On 14 March, a second death and a third case in Pleven were reported. The second victim of the virus was the 74-year old husband of the first victim.[25][26] Late in the evening on 31 March a Member of Parliament was tested positive for the virus. All MPs were urgently tested on the following day. If some of them are also tested positive, the Parliament will be adjourned. Options for the MPs to continue their legislative work (including voting) online from home under isolation are being explored.[27]

15 March

The number of confirmed cases in Bulgaria rose to 51 on 15 March. A total of 83 tests were done at the Military Medical Academy, of which six were positive, and 51 were processed at the National Reference Laboratory, of which two were positive. In Varna, one test out of 12 samples proved positive.[28]

16 March

The Ministry of Health announced that citizens from a number of countries would be prohibited from entering Bulgaria starting 00:00 on 18 March. These are China, Iran, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Spain, Italy, South Korea, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Additionally, sanitary control units will be established on some border crossings with Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece and Romania.[29] The number of total cases rose to 62, including two British citizens vacationing in Bansko.

17 March

81 cases were reported, several linked to an outbreak in Bansko. None of the patients were in critical condition.[30]

18 March

The total number of cases increased to 94 by 18 March, with new cases appearing in Smolyan, Veliko Tarnovo and Pernik among recent arrivals from outside the country. The previous day, Bansko became the first town in the country to be put under quarantine.[31][32]

19 March

On 19 March the cases rose to 105 and an 80-year-old woman, who recently had a stroke, died from COVID-19 on the same day, making her the third victim from the disease in Bulgaria. Elsewhere, a 78-year-old Bulgarian citizen died from COVID-19 while visiting family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The woman, a choir conductor in Sofia, was uninsured and refused to seek medical attention.[33]

20 March

The total number of cases increased to 127 and the first recovery occurred.[34]

21 March

The number of cases increased to 142 by noon, and three patients had recovered. Two cities, Dobrich and Shumen, confirmed their first cases, the latter related to the Bansko cluster. There are 84 male and 58 female patients, the youngest being 4 years old, and the oldest 81 years old. More than 5,000 tests had been carried out, and an additional 10,000 tests would be made available at short notice.[35]

24 March

The cases increased to 218 and the first case in Stara Zagora province was confirmed. A man from the town of Kazanlak was admitted in the Infectious unit in the hospital in Stara Zagora. He is believed to be 60 years old and returned from France on the 14th of March.[36]

25 March

The number of cases increased to 242 by the end of the day, with the city of Sliven reporting its first confirmed case. 16 new cases with no relation between them were registered in Sofia, with some being medical staff from a local hospital. Two new cases were confirmed in Blagoevgrad, two in Plovdiv and one in Pleven. Two of the patients who were in critical condition were stabilized but remain "in stable but severe condition". One recovered completely, bringing the number of total recoveries to 5.

26 March

A total of 22 new cases were reported, bringing the overall number to 264. The coronavirus was registered for the first time in Kardzhali and Haskovo. 15 of the newly confirmed cases were in Sofia, 2 in Smolyan, one in Pleven, one in Veliko Tarnovo and one in Varna. Two people were admitted to hospital in critical condition, while three new patients recovered, bringing the number of recovered to 8. Three soldiers were confirmed to be infected – two were stationed in Kosovo and were immediately brought back to Sofia, and the other contracted the virus in Romania, where he was hospitalized.[37]

27 March

29 new cases were registered, with the total number reaching 293. From these, 17 were in Sofia, 5 in Plovdiv, 3 in Burgas, and one each in Varna, Kyustendil, Sliven and Pazardzhik. At least 93 people remained hospitalized, with 53 in Sofia alone.[38]

28 March

The total number of cases reached 331, an increase of 38 from the previous day. The new cases included 19 in Sofia, 5 in Blagoevgrad, 4 in Burgas, 3 in Varna, 2 each in Kardzhali, Plovdiv and Shumen, and 1 in Smolyan. Four new deaths were also reported, with two occurring in Blagoevgrad and one each in Kyustendil and Sofia.[39] The cases in Blagoevgrad, a mother and her daughter, were initially refused admission to the local hospital despite visible symptoms and had to request testing at a private lab; by the time the results came out as positive, the patients' condition had deteriorated significantly. They were eventually admitted and sent to intensive care, but both died shortly after.[40]

29 March

A total of 15 new cases were reported, with 8 in Sofia, 3 in Plovdiv, and one each in Kardzhali, Sliven, Smolyan and Varna. Three new recoveries were also announced, while the number of deaths rose to 8 after a 51-year-old woman died in the Blagoevgrad hospital, one day after her mother had succumbed to the virus. The Ministry of Health announced that 125 out of 324 active cases remain hospitalized, with 13 of those in serious condition. The total number of tests performed exceeded 7,000, with 276 done on 29 March alone.[41]

30 March

Thirteen new cases were reported, with seven in Sofia and one each in Blagoevgrad, Kardzhali, Montana, Pleven, Plovdiv and Sliven, for a total of 359 cases. 113 patients remained hospitalized, with 13 in serious condition. Around 56% of all those infected so far were male versus 44% female, with a median age of 45. The total number of recoveries rose to 17.[42]

31 March

The total number of confirmed infections increased by 40 to 399, and the first two cases were reported from the province of Silistra. 20 of the new cases were registered in Sofia, four each in Burgas and Kyustendil, three each in Plovdiv and Varna, two in Silistra, and one each in Kardzhali, Pernik, Shumen and Stara Zagora. The number of hospitalized patients increased to 146, with 14 in serious condition, while 20 medical workers were announced to have contracted the disease so far. No new deaths or recoveries were announced. From the total of 399 confirmed cases, just under 57% (227) were male, versus 43% (172) who were female.[43]

April

1 April

The province of Ruse reported its first case as part of 23 new infections across the country, bringing the total to 422. In addition to Ruse, 10 new cases were reported in Sofia, two each in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich and Plovdiv, and one each in Haskovo, Kardzhali, Sliven and Stara Zagora. Two deaths were registered - a 57-year-old man in Kyustendil and a 40-year-old man in Sofia.[44] Hassan Ademov from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms became the first Bulgarian member of parliament to contract the virus, forcing the announcement of a mass test on 2 April that would cover government staff and all 240 MPs.[45]

2 April

The total number of infections increased by 35 to 457, with the first case being reported from the province of Vidin. The new cases included 20 in Sofia, four in Smolyan, three in Varna, two in Dobrich, and one each in Blagoevgrad, Montana, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and Vidin. No new deaths were reported, while the number of recoveries reached 25. 179 patients were currently hospitalized, with 18 in intensive care.[46] A further two MPs were among the new cases, both from the ruling GERB party, including their parliamentary group speaker Daniela Daritkova.[47]

3 April

The National Assembly approved the government's proposal to extend the state of emergency by one month until 13 May.[48] The confirmed case count reached 487, after 28 new infections were registered - 18 in Sofia, two each in Plovdiv and Smolyan, and one each in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Veliko Tarnovo and Vidin. Four deaths were also announced, with one occurring late on the previous evening in Stara Zagora.[49] Male patients continued to account for just under 57% of all cases (versus 43% female), with a median age of 47.[50]

5 April

The Ministry of Health announced that the total number of COVID-19 tests had reached 15,899, with 8 laboratories performing the procedure across the country.[51]

14 April

The village of Panicherovo in Stara Zagora Province was placed under quarantine, after a COVID–19 positive man escaped from a hospital where he was being treated and returned to the village.[52]

15 April

The Ministry of Interior established checkpoints limiting movement in and out of the predominantly Roma-populated Sofia neighborhoods of Filipovtsi and Fakulteta.[53] The neighborhoods were categorized as COVID-19 clusters by the National Crisis Management center.[54]

16 April

In a late night emergency joint press conference of the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Health, and the Chairman of the National Crisis Management center, it was announced that entering and exiting Sofia would be severely limited until further notice following increased traffic out of the city before the Easter holidays.[55] Following numerous imported cases from Britain (e.g. a 78-years old Briton whose sister was known to have been infected by the coronavirus[56][57] and a Bulgarian repatriate from Varna[58]) the Civil Aviation Authority put a ban on all flights between Britain and Bulgaria.[59] The decree refers to the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in that country for the last weeks surpassing the level in other concerned countries. Three days before the measure was implemented the Governor of Varna Oblast had expressed his apprehension regarding the flights between Varna and London.[60]

20 April

The ministry of Health announced the renewal of planned surgeries and hospitalizations, immunizations, child and prenatal care. These will be conducted under strict schedule on Tuesday and Thursday of each week.[61]

21 April

The hour limitations on entering and exiting Sofia were lifted.[62]

27 April

The prohibition of the passenger air traffic between Bulgaria and Britain was revoked after 11 days.[63]

May

1 May

Compulsory mask-wearing in open public spaces was rescinded with a new decree by the Minister of Health.[64] National parks outside municipal boundaries, closed to the public on 20 March, were reopened, with local authorities commissioned to provide the organization for visitors.[65][66]

2 May

The first case in the province of Razgrad was confirmed, meaning that now 27 out of 28 provinces have proven cases of COVID-19. On this day also, was recorded the first death of a medic. A 43-years-old female doctor from Sliven died after contracting the disease. She worked in the Infectious Diseases Department in the city of Sliven.[67]

4 May

Dr Andrea Ammon, Director of ECDC, listed Bulgaria as the only country monitored by the Centre still seeing an increase in newly registered cases.[68]

6 May

Checkpoints outside provincial centres were removed and restrictions limiting inter-city travel lifted.[69]

9 May

Targovishte, the last Bulgarian province without any registered cases yet, had its first COVID-19 case confirmed.[70]

14 May

As of 14 May at 00:00, the national emergency was lifted, and in its place was declared a state of an emergency epidemic situation. Organ transplantations are allowed again after a 2-month ban. Parks are open for the use of all. Most of the anti-epidemic measures are still valid. The 14-day quarantine for everyone who enters the country remains. Schools and daycares remain closed, as well as shopping centers and indoor restaurants.[71]

June

21 June

Bulgaria's best tennis player, Grigor Dimitrov announced on his Instagram account that he has tested positive for COVID-19 which lead to the cancellation of Adria Tour where he had participated the weeks before. Multiple other tennis players tested positive the following days.[72]

August

1 August

It was announced that Bulgarian tennis player Viktoriya Tomova has tested positive for COVID-19 on site of a tournament in Palermo, Italy which happened to be the first official pro tennis event after the pandemic began.

Statistics

Cases and tests

Cases of coronavirus in Bulgaria

Confirmed cases by gender (as of 04 June)

Number of confirmed cases on a logarithmic scale
Growth of confirmed cases. The idea is to "flatten the curve" and prolong the pandemic as much as possible, with the logarithmic scale ideally becoming parallel to the x axis, meaning no new cases have been discovered.

Day	New cases	Total cases	Total deaths	Total recoveries	Total active	Tested[73]
8 March 2020	4	4	0	0	4	99
9 March 2020	0	4	0	0	4	158
10 March 2020	2	6	0	0	6	199
11 March 2020	1	7	1	0	6	231
12 March 2020	16	23	1	0	22	99
13 March 2020	8	31	1	0	30	?
14 March 2020	10	41	2	0	39	183
15 March 2020	10	51	2	0	49	?
16 March 2020	11	62	2	0	60	240
17 March 2020	19	81	2	0	79	?
18 March 2020	13	94	2	0	92	332
19 March 2020	18	112	3	0	109	?
20 March 2020	15	127	3	1	123	129
21 March 2020	36	163	3	3	157	?
22 March 2020	24	187	3	3	181	?
23 March 2020	14	201	3	3	195	?
24 March 2020	17	218	3	3	212	?
25 March 2020	24	242	3	4	235	350
26 March 2020	22	264	3	8	253	276[lower-alpha 1]
27 March 2020	29	293	3	9	281	?
28 March 2020	38	331	7	11	313	?
29 March 2020	15	346	8	14	324	276[lower-alpha 2]
30 March 2020	13	359	8	17	334	?
31 March 2020	40	399	8	17	374	?
1 April 2020	23	422	9	20	392	566
2 April 2020	35	457	10	25	421	390
3 April 2020	28	485	14	30	440	350
4 April 2020	18	503	17	34	451	400
5 April 2020	28	531	20	37	474	252[lower-alpha 3]
6 April 2020	18	549	22	39	488	299
7 April 2020	28	577	23	42	512	496
8 April 2020	16	593	24	42	527	498[74]
9 April 2020	25	618	24	48	545	494[75]
10 April 2020	17	635	25	54	555	? [76]
11 April 2020	26	661	28	62	571	376 [77]
12 April 2020	14	675	29	68	577	219 [78]
13 April 2020	10	685	32	71	582	?
14 April 2020	28	713	35	81	597	?
15 April 2020	34	747	36	105	606	?
16 April 2020	53	800	38	122	640	?
17 April 2020	46	846	41	141	664	?
18 April 2020	32	878	41	153	684	?
19 April 2020	16	894	42	161	691	500
20 April 2020	35	929	43	167	719	424
21 April 2020	46	975	45	170	760	345
22 April 2020	49	1,024	49	174	801	743
23 April 2020	73	1,097	52	190	855	788
24 April 2020	91	1,188	54	193	941	1,238
25 April 2020	59	1,247	55	197	995	1,105
26 April 2020	53	1,300	56	205	1,039	778
27 April 2020	63	1,363	58	206	1,099	1,128
28 April 2020	36	1,399	58	222	1,119	859
29 April 2020	48	1,447	64	243	1,140	1,156
30 April 2020	59	1,506	66	266	1,174	1,302
1 May 2020	49	1,555	68	276	1,211	1,126
2 May 2020	39	1,594	72	287	1,235	982
3 May 2020	24	1,618	73	308	1,237	527
4 May 2020	34	1,652	78	321	1,253	1,158
5 May 2020	52	1,704	80	342	1,282	1,465
6 May 2020	74	1,778	84	360	1,334	1,163
7 May 2020	51	1,829	84	384	1,361	1,397
8 May 2020	43	1,872	86	401	1,385	1,777
9 May 2020	49	1,921	90	422	1,409	1,126
10 May 2020	44	1,965	91	444	1,430	403
11 May 2020	25	1,990	93	461	1,436	1,079
12 May 2020	33	2,023	95	476	1,452	1,387
13 May 2020	46	2,069	96	499	1,474	1,388
14 May 2020	31	2,100	99	521	1,480	1,611
15 May 2020	38	2,138	102	545	1,491	1,608
16 May 2020	37	2,175	105	573	1,497	1,161
17 May 2020	36	2,211	108	598	1,505	1,094
18 May 2020	24	2,235	110	612	1,513	362
19 May 2020	24	2,259	112	646	1,501	874
20 May 2020	33	2,292	116	684	1,492	1,432
21 May 2020	39	2,331	120	727	1,484	1,912
22 May 2020	41	2,372	125	769	1,478	1,450
23 May 2020	36	2,408	126	808	1,474	1,605
24 May 2020	19	2,427	130	840	1,457	886
25 May 2020	6	2,433	130	862	1,441	443
26 May 2020	10	2,443	130	880	1,433	295
27 May 2020	17	2,460	133	912	1,415	1,557
28 May 2020	17	2,477	134	965	1,378	1,273
29 May 2020	8	2,485	136	1,015	1,334	1,725
30 May 2020	14	2,499	139	1,064	1,296	1,353
31 May 2020	14	2,513	140	1,074	1,299	606
1 June 2020	6	2,519	140	1,090	1,289	346
2 June 2020	19	2,538	144	1,123	1,271	1,220
3 June 2020	22	2,560	146	1,206	1,208	1,347
4 June 2020	25	2,585	147	1,322	1,116	1,174
5 June 2020	42	2,627	159	1,390	1,078	1,276
6 June 2020	41	2,668	160	1,528	980	1,196
7 June 2020	43	2,711	160	1,545	1,006	816
8 June 2020	16	2,727	160	1,548	1,019	427
9 June 2020	83	2,810	164	1,587	1,059	1,406
10 June 2020	79	2,889	167	1,623	1,099	1,777
11 June 2020	104	2,993	167	1,664	1,162	2,308
12 June 2020	93	3,086	168	1,688	1,230	2,640
13 June 2020	105	3,191	172	1,716	1,303	2,642
14 June 2020	75	3,266	172	1,723	1,371	1,975
15 June 2020	24	3,290	174	1,730	1,386	1,409
16 June 2020	51	3,341	176	1,784	1,381	1,794
17 June 2020	112	3,453	181	1,817	1,455	2,045
18 June 2020	89	3,542	184	1,880	1,478	2,054
19 June 2020	132	3,674	190	1,941	1,543	2,104
20 June 2020	81	3,755	193	2,008	1,554	2,371
21 June 2020	117	3,872	199	2,027	1,646	1,360
22 June 2020	33	3,905	199	2,074	1,632	566
23 June 2020	79	3,984	207	2,171	1,606	2,776
24 June 2020	130	4,114	208	2,217	1,689	2,946
25 June 2020	128	4,242	209	2,263	1,770	3,016
26 June 2020	166	4,408	211	2,370	1,827	2,775
27 June 2020	105	4,513	215	2,457	1,841	2,750
28 June 2020	112	4,625	216	2,475	1,934	1,528
29 June 2020	66	4,691	219	2,508	1,964	1,034
30 June 2020	140	4,831	223	2,582	2,026	4,525
1 July 2020	158	4,989	230	2,676	2,083	3,343
2 July 2020	165	5,154	232	2,722	2,200	2,896
3 July 2020	161	5,315	232	2,802	2,281	3,155
4 July 2020	182	5,497	239	2,892	2,366	2,538
5 July 2020	180	5,677	241	2,898	2,538	2,591
6 July 2020	63	5,740	246	2,915	2,579	923
7 July 2020	174	5,914	250	3,000	2,664	2,775
8 July 2020	188	6,102	254	3,037	2,811	3,467
9 July 2020	240	6,342	259	3,166	2,917	4,286
10 July 2020	330	6,672	262	3,229	3,181	3,686
11 July 2020	292	6,964	267	3,308	3,389	4,540
12 July 2020	211	7,175	267	3,311	3,597	2,806
13 July 2020	77	7,252	268	3,319	3,665	1,198
14 July 2020	159	7,411	276	3,517	3,618	3,341
15 July 2020	234	7,645	283	3,663	3,699	4,885
16 July 2020	232	7,877	289	3,841	3,747	5,393
17 July 2020	267	8,144	293	3,927	3,924	6,526
18 July 2020	298	8,442	297	4,033	4,112	4,884
19 July 2020	196	8,638	299	4,081	4,258	2,003
20 July 2020	95	8,733	300	4,106	4,327	3,155
21 July 2020	196	8,929	308	4,205	4,416	3,686
22 July 2020	325	9,254	313	4,521	4,420	5,365
23 July 2020	330	9,584	321	4,643	4,620	6,183
24 July 2020	269	9,853	329	5,031	4,493	5,913
25 July 2020	270	10,123	337	5,252	4,534	5,963
26 July 2020	189	10,312	338	5,306	4,668	2,161
27 July 2020	115	10,427	340	5,355	4,732	3,502
28 July 2020	194	10,621	347	5,585	4,689	3,832
29 July 2020	250	10,871	355	5,766	4,750	5,303
30 July 2020	284	11,155	368	5,971	4,816	6,395
31 July 2020	265	11,420	374	6,173	4,873	6,639
1 August 2020	270	11,690	383	6,319	4,988	5,582
2 August 2020	146	11,836	385	6,396	5,055	3,955
3 August 2020	119	11,955	388	6,420	5,147	1,491
4 August 2020	204	12,159	404	6,684	5,071	4,137
5 August 2020	255	12,414	415	6,964	5,035	5,325
6 August 2020	303	12,717	424	7,154	5,139	5,701
7 August 2020	297	13,014	435	7,374	5,205	6,433
8 August 2020	195	13,209	442	7,622	5,145	5,837
9 August 2020	134	13,343	445	7,718	5,180	3,612
10 August 2020	53	13,396	447	7,772	5,177	1,275
11 August 2020	116	13,512	459	7,980	5,073	3,667
12 August 2020	210	13,722	471	8,154	5,097	5,388
13 August 2020	171	13,893	482	8,479	4,932	5,108
14 August 2020	176	14,069	484	8,901	4,684	5,877
15 August 2020	174	14,243	492	9,114	4,637	5,934
16 August 2020	90	14,333	495	9,161	4,677	2,745

Total number of cases

Cases by age

New cases per day

New cases per week

Cases by month

Medical Staff Cases

Growth factor per day

Growth factor is defined as today's new cases / total cases on the previous day. It is indicative of the epidemic's evolution.

Active cases per day

Active cases in hospital per day (incl. ICU)

Tests per day

0 = No data

Tests per week

Tests per month

Positive cases per number of tests performed

|}

Percentage of new cases from all tested

0 = No data

By province

Animated map of the total detected cases of COVID-19 per 100000 inhabitants in the Bulgarian provinces

Animated map of the detected cases of COVID-19 in two weeks per 100000 inhabitants in the Bulgarian provinces

COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria by province [lower-alpha 4] ()

Date	Province																												Confirmed cases		Deaths		Recoveries		Active cases	S
	BLA	BUR	VAR	VTA	VID	VRA	GAB	DOB	KAR	KYU	LOV	MON	PAZ	PER	PLE	PLO	RAZ	RUS	SIL	SLI	SMO	SOF	SOF-P	STZ	TAR	HAS	SHU	YAM	New	Total	New	Total	New	Total	Total
March 2020	11	18	20	2	—	—	2	6	6	6	1	17	7	6	9	24	—	—	2	4	7	244		2	—	1	4	—	399		8		17		374[lower-alpha 5]	[79]
April 2020	32	29	6	20	103	7	4	7	7	61	1	1	19	7	137	49	—	13	3	41	27	469		35	—	16	—	13	1107		58		249		1174[lower-alpha 6]	[80]
May 2020	87	5	2	7	86	9	3	—	2	25	3	5	100	14	72	20	19	5	1	45	9	338		3	1	12	6	128	1007		74		808		1299[lower-alpha 7]	[81]
June 2020	56	61	60	12	27	14	9	8	44	153	12	4	181	32	70	101	50	9	—	172	236	739		77	10	12	126	46	2318		83		1508		2026[lower-alpha 8]	[lower-alpha 9]
July 2020	493	210	588	199	16	38	104	287	70	248	18	18	174	75	95	683	45	173	31	130	173	2131	275	151	19	48	35	62	6589		151		3591		4873[lower-alpha 10]
1 Aug	55	9	27	1	—	7	10	11	6	8	2	—	5	5	2	24	—	34	5	3	8	29	8	4	1	2	1	3	270	11690	9	383	146	6319	4988	[82]
2 Aug	11	1	29	2	—	—	1	12	—	4	—	4	7	4	5	15	—	1	4	2	6	29	4	3	—	1	1	—	146	11836	2	385	77	6396	5055	[83]
3 Aug	1	1	61	—	3	2	2	13	—	4	—	—	1	—	2	8	—	3	—	3	4	8	—	1	—	1	—	1	119	11955	3	388	24	6420	5147	[84]
4 Aug	10	1	42	3	1	6	—	19	4	—	2	1	8	—	2	13	3	3	2	4	2	51	8	14	1	—	—	4	204	12159	16	404	264	6684	5071	[85]
5 Aug	43	9	31	7	1	—	11	10	1	2	1	—	8	13	6	32	2	3	4	1	14	34	5	5	1	2	1	8	255	12414	11	415	280	6964	5035	[86]
6 Aug	97	3	54	3	—	1	2	8	1	—	1	2	9	—	6	45	—	3	3	4	13	28	3	3	3	4	6	1	303	12717	9	424	190	7154	5139	[87]
7 Aug	13	10	25	1	2	4	5	28	1	4	—	1	12	4	10	35	16	2	4	1	8	80	5	9	2	3	4	8	297	13014	11	435	220	7374	5205	[88]
8 Aug	23	6	27	—	—	—	2	15	4	1	—	—	5	3	6	17	1	1	3	4	5	53	3	9	—	4	3	—	195	13209	7	442	248	7622	5145	[89]
9 Aug	15	1	12	4	2	1	4	32	1	1	—	—	4	1	4	21	1	3	3	3	1	17	—	—	—	1	2	—	134	13343	3	445	96	7718	5180	[90]
10 Aug	5	—	2	—	—	—	—	7	—	1	—	2	7	—	—	14	—	—	—	—	3	8	—	—	—	—	3	1	53	13396	2	447	54	7772	5177	[91]
11 Aug	11	3	15	2	—	6	—	12	—	2	3	—	7	1	—	12	3	4	—	4	—	17	2	9	—	3	—	—	116	13512	12	459	208	7980	5073	[92]
12 Aug	24	5	14	4	—	—	1	17	—	3	2	—	9	4	5	31	1	—	3	2	1	59	2	11	2	2	4	4	210	13722	12	471	174	8154	5097	[93]
13 Aug	23	1	33	3	—	—	6	12	—	1	1	—	8	1	—	13	1	6	12	2	6	31	1	3	1	2	4	—	171	13893	11	482	325	8479	4932	[94]
14 Aug	35	4	14	1	—	1	—	10	2	2	4	—	8	1	7	24	1	1	3	—	3	30	5	5	2	—	10	3	176	14069	2	484	422	8901	4684	[95]
Total	1045	377	1060	270	241	97	166	514	149	526	51	55	579	171	438	1181	143	264	82	425	526	4116	600	344	43	114	210	282	14069		484		8901		4684	[96]
	BLA	BUR	VAR	VTA	VID	VRA	GAB	DOB	KAR	KYU	LOV	MON	PAZ	PER	PLE	PLO	RAZ	RUS	SIL	SLI	SMO	SOF[lower-alpha 11]	SOF-P	STZ	TAR	HAS	SHU	YAM	New	Total	New	Total	New	Total	Total	S

1. The total number of tests reached 6,454.
2. The total number of tests exceeded 7,000.
3. The total number of tests reached 15,899.
4. Day-to-day data as released by the Ministry of Health. Cumulative data as per Government-run portal coronavirus.bg. Discrepancies after 5 June 2020.
5. As of 31 March 2020
6. As of 30 April 2020
7. As of 31 May 2020
8. As of 30 June 2020
9. Discrepancies after new data released on 5 June 2020
10. As of 31 July 2020
11. Number of cases for Sofia City Province and Sofia Province were reported as a summary until June 2020.

Deaths

Total number of deaths

Number of deaths per day

Number of deaths per week

Number of deaths per month

Weekly deaths in Bulgaria (2019 - 2020)

Data Source [97]

Recoveries

Total number of recoveries

Number of recoveries per day

Number of recoveries per week

Number of recoveries per month

Response

At the time of the announcement, schools had already been closed until March 11 due to an influenza B epidemic.[98] A massive increase in influenza B cases prompted suspensions of routine medical examinations, and a recommendation by the government for suspension of lectures at universities.[99] According to the latest Ministry of Health data, there were 2063 intensive care and 740 infectious disease hospital beds in the country, with a total of 1605 ventilators across the health system.[100] However, Chief Health Inspector Angel Kunchev stated on 5 March that there is a shortage of medical personnel.[101]

Following the announcement of positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, the Bulgarian government immediately banned the exports of protective equipment and placed orders for masks and protective suits to local manufacturers. In addition, 30,000 masks and 50,000 protective suits will be delivered by Turkey.[102] Some 111,000 suits and masks are required every month and the government plans to distribute them to health workers, social assistants, law enforcement personnel and border guards.[103] Sofia Municipality has increased disinfections to four times daily at public institutions and in public transport.[104] Personnel in all hospitals was reportedly being screened for the disease,[105] but in April a nurse in Vidin reported that she was refused a test after caring for a positive patient, as the hospital in the city had no testing kits.[106]

By mid-March, large-scale imports of protective equipment from Vietnam, China and India had begun. Many volunteers were also signing up to join the handling of the crisis, including Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy cadets.[107]

On 30 March, the Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev decreed wearing masks in public mandatory, both outdoors and indoors, despite nationwide protective equipment shortages and soaring prices.[108][109][110] The policy seemed to contradict Ananiev's earlier statement from 9 March that producing the needed gear "will take months".[111] Under article 209a of the Health Law, which was passed on 13 March and does not discriminate between offenses, failing to wear a mask in public would result in a fine of BGN 5,000 (EUR 2,555).[112] On 31 March Ananiev rescinded the decree, citing "a lack of public consensus" on the measure.[113] On 6 April 2020 the National Assembly passed amendments to the State of Emergency law from 13 March.[114] The fines for breaking the measures against the pandemic were reduced. As of 6 April, there were 1340 fines worth approximately EUR 3,500,000 imposed, mostly for walking in the park.[115] On 11 April, the Minister of Health reinstated the mask-wearing measure for the period 12–26 April 2020. The new decree included "towels, scarves, et al," despite reports that "[t]here is only limited indirect evidence that non-medical face masks are effective as a means of source control."[116][117] On 24 April 2020, compulsory mask-wearing in public was extended to 13 May 2020, excluding open public spaces after 1 May 2020.[118][119]

Nearly BGN 14,000,000 (EUR 7,160,000) had been donated by 3 April, with 48% coming from private companies, 26% from public campaigns, 19% from individual donors and 7% from foundations.[49]

On 10 April, Sofia City Prosecutor's Office indicted Prof. Asena Stoimenova, chairwoman of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union, under article 326 of the Penal Code following "a series of statements inciting fear in the population during the state of emergency."[120] In an interview for Bulgarian National Television, Stoimenova had stated that the market for protective gear appears to be normalizing following the shortages the country experienced at the outbreak of the pandemic, but disruptions in the international pharmaceutical trade might lead to shortages of other medical supplies in Bulgaria.[121]

Testing

As of 24 March, there are 5 laboratories testing for COVID-19 in the country with a capacity of 300 tests per day. The total number of tests done by March 26 was 6,454, with 264 confirmed cases and a rate of infection around 4.1%.[122]

On 27 March, the Ministry of Health announced that the country now has the capacity to process between 1,000 and 1,200 tests per day, at an estimated cost of BGN 930,000 (EUR 475,000) per month. Two additional methods of testing would be introduced at later stages of the pandemic - fluorescence immunochromatographic tests (up to 20,000 per day) and the so-called 'quick' tests (up to 40,000 per day). Major General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski called all three types "equally important", as the PCR ones provided reliable data, while the fluorescence tests could speed up the process before quick ones are applied to establish how many people have acquired immunity.[123] However, Mutafchiyski later added that rapid tests are considered "unreliable" and therefore mass screening would be "meaningless".[124]

Conversely, Prof. Radka Argirova, chairman of the National Expert Board in Virology at the Bulgarian Doctors' Union, urged increased rapid testing in order to discover asymptomatic cases, avoiding the chance of a future second peak and terminating the epidemic progression.[125] "Aggressive, complete screening" of the population was also advocated by Dr. Rumen Hichev, a Bulgarian medical profession based in the United States and part of a medical advisor team to the White House. According to Hichev, the Bulgarian government had reacted quickly, but without mass screening to establish asymptomatic spreaders, any effort would be behind the course of events.[126][127]

On 5 April, the Ministry of Health announced a total of 15,599 tests had been performed to date in eight laboratories across the country.[51] The government announced that by 18 April, 26 417 test have been performed.[128]

Medication

After testing positive for COVID-19, business magnate Kiril Domuschiev announced that his company will procure chloroquine from foreign sources and donate it to the national coronavirus task force. Chloroquine, a quinine drug, has shown positive effects on COVID-19 patients in China and France. The Bulgarian government is looking into import opportunities from China and domestic production by local pharmaceutical companies.[129] Exports of all quinine-based drugs were prohibited until further notice, and 35,000 doses of quinine-based Analgin for export have been diverted for domestic consumption. Another 250,000 doses of the drug can reportedly be produced on a short notice by local pharmaceutical companies.[130] On 3 April, the government negotiated the delivery of 171,429 packs of hydroxychloroquine sulfate and 30,000 packs of azithromycin from the China National Pharmaceutical Group.[131] The shipment was delivered using a NATO Boeing C-17 Globemaster piloted by a Bulgarian Air Force captain; the cargo also included more than 1,600,000 masks and 50 ventilators.[132]

Bulgarian biotechnology company Micar21 has been developing a general coronavirus vaccine in the past four years, and announced that it will begin clinical trials of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine based on this research in mid-2020.[133] The company announced that with government support in funding and shorter clinical trial protocols, the drug could be synthesised in two months.[134]

Projections

According to a research conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, the pandemic was expected to reach its peak in Bulgaria in the end of April. The projections are assuming full social distancing through May 2020. The research lists 856 ICU beds in the country and projects no shortage of medical resources.[135]

Criticism

Georgi Todorov, a Bulgarian doctor with experience in viral breakouts in Ghana, criticised the handling of the COVID-19 threat. In particular, Todorov stated that Bulgaria's health administration is so rife with nepotism that it cannot come up with any coherent response; as a result, infectious disease specialists were not taken into account when formulating response policies, and no specific locations were designated for potential COVID-19 cases. Todorov further assumed that infected individuals may have not been identified because of improper application of testing procedures.[136]

Economy

The Bulgarian government has enacted a series of measures aimed at reducing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to businesses and individuals.[137]

60/40 measure

The so-called "60/40 measure" is a short-term instrument to help businesses retain their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The state will cover 60% of employees' insurable earnings, as well as the social insurance contributions owed by the employer. The measure is in effect for the duration of the State of Emergency announced on March 13, 2020, but for no longer than 3 months.

State-backed interest-free loans program for individuals

The program provides state-backed, interest-free, zero-fee loans to individuals, deprived of the opportunity to work as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is implemented by the Bulgarian Development Bank in partnership with a number of banks from the private sector.

Self-employed individuals and individuals under an employment contract are eligible for an interest-free loan of up to 4,500 BGN (2,300 EUR), with a grace period between six and twenty-four months, paid out in three monthly installments of 1,500 BGN.

Working capital loans for SMEs

The program, financed by the Bulgarian Development Bank, provides working capital loans of up to 300,000 BGN, aiming to provide liquidity to SMEs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grants for small and micro-enterprises

Small and micro-enterprises are eligible for state grants between 3,000 and 10,000 BGN, provided they have reported at least 20% drop in monthly revenue compared to the same month in 2019.

Moratorium on loan repayments

The board of directors of the Bulgarian National Bank established a private moratorium on loans repayments, as presented by The Association of Banks in Bulgaria, which allows for payments deferral of up to six months.

Impact

Bulgaria recorded 31,643 newly registered unemployed for the period between 13 March to 1 April. From these, 17,793 claimants stated that job losses were a direct consequence of the pandemic, and 12,661 registered in the week 23–27 March alone, compared to 4,561 for the same period in 2019.[138] The number of unemployed continued to rise throughout April. According to a statistic released by the Agency of Employment, as of 28 April 2020, there were 291,426 registered unemployed, a rise of 90,405 since the introduction of the national emergency.[139] A survey conducted by the Bulgarian Industrial Association showed that initially only 8% of the companies were willing to use the government stimulus package, which quickly became colloquially known as 'the 60/40 measure'.[140] The proposal envisions the government paying 60% of the impacted businesses' employee wages for up to three months, as long as the companies refrain from lay-offs.[141]

See also

• COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory
• COVID-19 pandemic in Europe

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