site.btaState of Emergency to Not Be Extended beyond May 13

Sofia, May 4 (BTA) - The state of emergency in Bulgaria will not
 be extended beyond May 13, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov
told a briefing on Monday. The briefing, which was given after
an extraordinary sitting of the Cabinet, presented to the media
details about draft changes to the Health Act and the Act on the
 Measures and Actions during the State of Emergency that the
Government has elaborated.
   
Goranov specified that the Cabinet will review a bill to amend
the Health Act so that part of the measures under the state of
emergency would remain in effect after May 13, when the national
 emergency is set to be lifted.

Also, part of the measures under the Act on the Measures and
Actions during the State of Emergency will remain in force for
two months after its completion, Goranov explained. There will
be a gradual return to the normal socio-economic life, he noted.
 

Addressing the briefing, Health Minister Kiril Ananiev specified
 that Art. 61 of the Health Act will be amended to allow the
Health Minister to decree the conditions and order for the
compulsory quarantining of: persons with infectious diseases;
infection carriers and their contacts; persons arriving in
Bulgaria from another country.

Ananiev added that Art.63 of the Health Act authorizes the
Health Minister, acting on a proposal of the chief health
inspector, to declare an emergency epidemic situation. In that
case, the Health Minister can determine the corresponding
emergency anti-epidemic measures on the country's entire
territory or in separate regions as a means to protect citizens'
 life and health.

Justice Minister Danail Kirilov told the briefing that after May
 13, the justice system will resume its work in its full volume
and scope.

The norms currently in force concerning the so-called social
protection package will be amended and made more specific,
Kirilov said, adding that the proposals of the Labour and Social
 Policy Ministry have been taken into view. Some of the measures
 will not be limited to two months after the lift of the
national emergency; some will remain in effect until the end of
2020, he noted.

It also transpired during the briefing that the there will be no
 external examination for fourth- and tenth-graders at the end
of the 2019/2020 school year, as proposed by the Education and
Science Ministry. By decision of the Education Minister, those
exams could be held after the start of the 2020/2021 school
year.