site.btaBulgaria Emerging from Third COVID-19 Wave, Outgoing Health Minister Angelov Says

Sofia, April 22 (BTA) - Bulgaria is coming out of the third wave
 of COVID-19, outgoing Health Minister Kostadin Angelov told a
news briefing here Thursday. This was achieved thanks to the
reason and discipline that were the basic guidelines of action,
he added. Angelov also expressed conviction that Bulgaria would
soon become an example for the results it has achieved.

Fortnight morbidity in the country is 460 per 100,000, ranking
Bulgaria 14th in the EU and fifth in the Balkans, Chief State
Health Inspector Angel Kunchev said. Bulgaria ranks second in
mortality in the EU and third in the Balkan Peninsula, after
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of North Macedonia.

Morbidity is declining, the lowest being recorded in Razgrad and
 Vidin. The highest morbidity was observed in Rousse, Pernik,
Dobrich and Sofia region.

The head of Sofia's Military Medical Academy, General Ventsislav
 Moutafchiiski, called for people to abide by the preventive
measures, particularly around the forthcoming holidays.

Vaccination rates will go up considerably over the coming weeks
following the expected deliveries of anti-COVID-19 vaccines from
 different producers, Bulgarian Drug Agency Director Bogdan
Kirilov said.

After the meeting, Kunchev said the Janssen vaccine will remain
in storage until Monday. The vaccination taskforce will decide
whether it will be used depending on what the European Medicines
 Agency publishes about it, as well as on the basis on the
forthcoming decision of the United States Food and Drug
Administration, Kunchev said.

"Green lanes" may be opened from April 30 to May 10 for those
who want to be vaccinated, Kunchev said. Each regional health
inspectorate will announce on Monday which "green lane" will
operate.

The extraordinary measures introduced in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic will remain effective until the end of May,
Angelov said later in the day, adding that if there is a new
government, it may revise this decision, the Bulgarian National
Radio reported. Kunchev presented a report proposing the
extension of those measures on Wednesday./RY/BR