site.btaPresident Radev Holds Meeting with Caretaker Cabinet regarding COVID-19 Crisis
SC 14:29:31 24-10-2021
DT1427.107
107 POLITICS - COVID-19 - PRESIDENT - MINISTERS - MEETING
President Radev Holds Meeting
with Caretaker Cabinet
regarding COVID-19 Crisis
Sofia, October 24 (BTA) - On Sunday, President Rumen Radev held a meeting with ministers from the caretaker government in connection with the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Iliana Iotova, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Galab Donev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Boyko Rashkov, Minister of Health Stoycho Katsarov, Minister of Education and Science Nikolay Denkov, Minister of Finance Valeri Belchev, National Health Insurance Fund Manager Petko Salchev
President Radev stressed the seriousness of the situation, the high numbers of infected and the high death toll, and defended the caretaker government measures taken so far, including the introduction of a Green Certificate requirement, as they allow the preserving social and economic activity, while the alternative would call for a full lockodwn of the country. However, the Head of State agreed with criticism about the way the measures were introduced, asp people were not been given enough time to adapt and this has caused stress and outrage.
The President outlined the topics that caretaker government needs to clarify, including returning children to in-person classes, providing free coronavirus tests to the public, issuing Green Certificates to people with antibodies who have recovered from COVOD-19 but are not in the system, clear instructions to GPs and hospitals for vaccinations or other solutions to people with specific illnesses who hear conflicting advice, control of compliance with the measures, etc.
Measures Aimed at Children Returning to In-person Classes
On the matter of children returning safely to school, Health Minister Dr. Stoycho Katsarov and Education Minister Prof. Nikolay Denkov explained that in a matter of 10 days child-friendly coronaviris testes in the shape of lollypops can be provided, if the money is allocated by the Finance Ministry and this solution is approved by parents. That way, if a test shows a positive result, the child will not enter class and the whole class will not have to be quarantined. Teachers should also guarantee that they are not carriers of the virus.
Between September 15 and October 10, the number of quarantined teachers increased three times, and the number of quarantined children - five times, said Prof. Denkov. According to him, at the moment there are 12,000 students and 2,000 children from kindergartens under quarantine. Around September 15, only 6 per cent of patients were in the age group 0-19 years, and currently this number is at 10-12 per cent. Minister Denkov pointed out that the new measures were imposed quickly and that people were not prepared. ''We are to blame for this, but the decision is the right one,'' he stressed.
Regarding parental attitudes for this type of testing for children, Prof. Denkov expressed hope that reason will prevail and the majority of parents will accept it. ''This type of testing is widely used in Europe, it is safe and I expect that it can be realized,'' he added.
''Every lev that can help keep children healthy and help them go to school will be reliably secured,'' assured Finance Minister Valeri Belchev.
Minister of Labour and Social Policy Galab Donev said that the government will immediately analyze available data and, based on the analysis and concrete results, take measures that will gradually return students to class.
Donev explained that necessary funds have been provided for parents who are currently on leave to raise and care for children up to 14 years of age, who are studying remotely from home, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Social Assistance Agency and the respective regional directorates. All parents of families with one child will receive support of 650 leva per month, and parents with two or more children will receive 975 leva for the time the children do not attend school.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Donev, the imposed measures give enough freedom to choice.
DT//
/DT/
DT1427.107
107 POLITICS - COVID-19 - PRESIDENT - MINISTERS - MEETING
President Radev Holds Meeting
with Caretaker Cabinet
regarding COVID-19 Crisis
Sofia, October 24 (BTA) - On Sunday, President Rumen Radev held a meeting with ministers from the caretaker government in connection with the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Iliana Iotova, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Galab Donev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Boyko Rashkov, Minister of Health Stoycho Katsarov, Minister of Education and Science Nikolay Denkov, Minister of Finance Valeri Belchev, National Health Insurance Fund Manager Petko Salchev
President Radev stressed the seriousness of the situation, the high numbers of infected and the high death toll, and defended the caretaker government measures taken so far, including the introduction of a Green Certificate requirement, as they allow the preserving social and economic activity, while the alternative would call for a full lockodwn of the country. However, the Head of State agreed with criticism about the way the measures were introduced, asp people were not been given enough time to adapt and this has caused stress and outrage.
The President outlined the topics that caretaker government needs to clarify, including returning children to in-person classes, providing free coronavirus tests to the public, issuing Green Certificates to people with antibodies who have recovered from COVOD-19 but are not in the system, clear instructions to GPs and hospitals for vaccinations or other solutions to people with specific illnesses who hear conflicting advice, control of compliance with the measures, etc.
Measures Aimed at Children Returning to In-person Classes
On the matter of children returning safely to school, Health Minister Dr. Stoycho Katsarov and Education Minister Prof. Nikolay Denkov explained that in a matter of 10 days child-friendly coronaviris testes in the shape of lollypops can be provided, if the money is allocated by the Finance Ministry and this solution is approved by parents. That way, if a test shows a positive result, the child will not enter class and the whole class will not have to be quarantined. Teachers should also guarantee that they are not carriers of the virus.
Between September 15 and October 10, the number of quarantined teachers increased three times, and the number of quarantined children - five times, said Prof. Denkov. According to him, at the moment there are 12,000 students and 2,000 children from kindergartens under quarantine. Around September 15, only 6 per cent of patients were in the age group 0-19 years, and currently this number is at 10-12 per cent. Minister Denkov pointed out that the new measures were imposed quickly and that people were not prepared. ''We are to blame for this, but the decision is the right one,'' he stressed.
Regarding parental attitudes for this type of testing for children, Prof. Denkov expressed hope that reason will prevail and the majority of parents will accept it. ''This type of testing is widely used in Europe, it is safe and I expect that it can be realized,'' he added.
''Every lev that can help keep children healthy and help them go to school will be reliably secured,'' assured Finance Minister Valeri Belchev.
Minister of Labour and Social Policy Galab Donev said that the government will immediately analyze available data and, based on the analysis and concrete results, take measures that will gradually return students to class.
Donev explained that necessary funds have been provided for parents who are currently on leave to raise and care for children up to 14 years of age, who are studying remotely from home, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Social Assistance Agency and the respective regional directorates. All parents of families with one child will receive support of 650 leva per month, and parents with two or more children will receive 975 leva for the time the children do not attend school.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Donev, the imposed measures give enough freedom to choice.
DT//
/DT/
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