site.btaHealth Minister: Starting May 1 Entering Bulgaria Will Require Vaccination Certificate, Negative Test or Proof of Recovering from COVID-19

April 23 (BTA) - Starting May 1, entering Bulgaria will
require either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, a negative
PCR or antigen test or a document proving recovery from the
virus during the previous six months, outgoing Health Minister
Kostadin Angelov told journalists here on Friday. The
vaccination certificates are issued after receiving the second
dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"We are trying to make these measures similar to the ones in the
 neighbouring countries and almost identical to the ones the
European Commission will likely make mandatory at the end of May
 by introducing an EU regulation," said Chief State Health
Inspector Angel Kounchev. He explained that recovery from
COVID-19 will be proven with a PCR or antigen test result and
not with a document issued by a health care establishment. This
test result will be valid for no more than six months.

In-person attendance of group activities at educational and
language study centres will be allowed starting April 24, given
that people keep a distance of no less than 1.5 metres, wear
protective masks, the premises are disinfected and aired out
every hour, Angelov said.

In-person school attendance is expected to be increased after
May 10, while the measures for organizing tourist trips are
expected to be changed by the end of the month.

Church attendance will be allowed during the upcoming Easter
holidays, Angelov added. People will have to wear masks, except
for the priests, he said. Churches will be obliged to provide
disinfectants at their doors, disinfect surfaces, air out the
premises regularly, regulating the flow of worshippers, ensuring
 a separate entry and exit point and reducing the length of the
service, if possible, Angelov noted. Worshippers should not
touch the relics or kiss the icons. The willow branches handed
out on Palm Sunday should be distributed outside the church.
RY/MY


/DT/