site.bta5,898 PCR Tests Confirm New Daily Record of 819 COVID-19 Cases, Bringing Bulgaria's Total to 26,593

October 15 (BTA) - A total of 819 infections were confirmed in the 24 hours until Wednesday midnight through 5,898 PCR tests, bringing Bulgaria's total to 26,593 cases, according to data posted on www.coronavirus.bg on Thursday. The active cases are 9,175. For the first time, the newly confirmed daily cases have reached and exceeded 800. The test positivity rate now stands at 13.88 per cent.

Currently, the hospitalized patients number 1,380, including 67 in intensive care.

The infected medical staff total 1,440.

Recoveries in the last 24 hours number 350, bringing the total to 16,489.

Six more fatalities were reported, bringing the total death toll to 929.

The capital Sofia tops the list with 265 newly confirmed cases,
followed by Plovdiv with 95 cases, Blagoevgrad with 53 and
Turgovishte 43.

Health Minister Kostadin Angelov told the regular weekly
briefing that travel to Blagoevgrad and Turgovishte should be
avoided. There are enough beds designated for COVID-19 patients
at national level but some regions are starting to be
overwhelmed.

To date, there are 7,307 beds available for milder cases and
1,108 beds for ICU patients. The bed occupancy rate for patients
 who do not require ventilation is 19 per cent. Six per cent of
ICU beds are being used.

Flouting of COVID-19 rules calls for tighter control by the
regional health inspectorates and the police, as well as by all
institutions which can exercise control, said Angelov. This will
 also be done in the nighttime in pubs, restaurants, shopping
malls and shops. RI/DD
 

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