site.btaIn New Wave, COVID-19 Response Will Be Zone-Specific Based on Infection Rate

July 8 (BTA) - In the event of a new wave of COVID-19,
Bulgaria will be divided into four zones on the basis of the
14-day infection rate and the number of bedridden patients, with
 restrictions varying by zone, caretaker Health Minister Stoycho
 Katsarov told journalists here on Thursday, presenting an
Action Plan for this purpose.

Green zones will have under 100 infected per 100,000 population,
 yellow zones will have between 100 and 200 infected, red zones
will have between 200 and 500 infected, and dark red zones over
500 infected.

The action plans of emergency medical services, off-hospital and
 hospital care and the medicines supply plan will be prepared on
 this basis. The national action plan will be circulated to all
ministries, to the President and the Council of Ministers, so
that they could take it into consideration in planning their
response to a new wave, the Health Minister added.

"Such a plan is drawn up for the first time, but it should have
been in place back last year," Katsarov said, adding that if it
was available, the death toll would have been far lower.

"Experts cannot rule out yet another COVID-19 infection wave,
which is why we attach paramount importance to having such a
plan, so that all entities countrywide and people could be
prepared to rise to the challenge and tackle a wave if it
comes," he went on to say.

"In the worst case scenario, managing COVID-19 will cost 500-600
 million leva," the Health Minister said. In his words, 126
million leva will come from Operational Programme Regions in
Growth, which will help 132 medical-treatment facilities cope
with a new wave.

The plan envisages a phased opening of COVID wards depending on
the morbidity rate and clearly identifies the hospitals that
will handle the patients, said Deputy Health Minister Toma
Tomov. "COVID patients will be hospitalized stage by stage
rather than chaotically," he added. RY/LG


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