site.bta25 New COVID-19 Cases Bring Bulgaria's Total to 2,585

June 4 (BTA) - The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria reached 2,585 on Thursday after 25 new infections were confirmed over the last 24 hours, the chief of the national coronavirus task force, Prof. Ventsislav Moutafchiiski, told a weekly news briefing at the Council of Ministers.

The active cases are 1,116. The newly infected cases include 2 doctors (the medical staff thus totals 270).

The hospitalized patients number 147, including 8 in intensive care.

Another 116 COVID-19 patients have recovered, bringing the total to 1,322 (51 per cent of all confirmed cases).

One more fatality (a 69-year-old man in Blagoevgrad) was reported, bringing the total death toll to 147.

Moutafchiiski noted that the number of new infections has been decreasing while the number of recoveries has been increasing since May 24. The death rate now is within low limits, at about 10 weekly, he said.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, who opened Thursday's Q&A session, said that this was the last regular news briefing of the task force, which was formed by his order exactly 100 days ago and will continue to operate until the end of the year. Up-to-date information will be published daily on www.coronavirus.bg.

Borissov argued that "the softest measures, with the least restrictions, imposed in the most correct way for the shortest time, produced the best results in Bulgaria." "We must get used to the thought that this virus exists, there is no vaccine and no cure, and we must continue to maintain social distance, disinfection and discipline," the PM said. He specified that mask wearing in enclosed public spaces is optional. For the time being, arrivals from third countries will continue to be placed under a 14-day quarantine.

Borissov hopes that quarantine-free travel between Bulgaria and Greece will be possible as from June 15. He said that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit Bulgaria on June 24.

Pressed by a reporter to apologize for his "panic-causing statements," Moutafchiiski sarcastically "apologized" for the lack of a huge number of infections and deaths in Bulgaria, in contrast to other countries. The task force chief thanked all Bulgarian citizens for their self-discipline, all medical personnel for their diligent work and success in reorganizing hospitals, the law-enforcement authorities for making sure that the restrictions were observed, and the media for an objective coverage of the developments and the variety of opinions on the pandemic. RI/LG

/СН/