site.btaBulgaria Has World's Second-Highest COVID-19 Mortality Growth

Sofia, March 25 (BTA) - The pace at which COVID-19 deaths in
Bulgaria are growing is still fast, the second-fastest in the
world after Hungary, the head of the National Coronavirus Task
Force, Major General Ventsislav Moutafchiiski, told a news
briefing at the government headquarters on Thursday. He added
that the number of persons infected with coronavirus per 100,000
 population in Bulgaria has increased by 23 per cent over the
last week and by 73 per cent over the last 14 days.

Health Minister Kostadin Angelov commented that mortality in
this country was among the highest in the world even before the
coronavirus pandemic, the main causes of death being
cardiovascular diseases and cancer. A large-scale project is
being implemented to provide all Bulgarian hospitals with cancer
 diagnosis and treatment equipment, Angelov said. He reported
improvements in early cancer diagnosis, but noted that the
effect will not be felt perhaps until years from now.

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Later in the day, Economy Minister Luchezar Borissov told the
media that non-food stores with a floor area of more than 300
square metres will be allowed to operate on certain conditions.
In such outlets, an area of up to 300 sq m may be marked with
barrier tape or surrounded by counters, or designated in some
other way to limit customers' access. Sales may also be
conducted outdoors, in front of the shops.

Stand-alone non-food stores in large retail centres which are
accessible via a separate entrance may stay operational,
provided that they observe the anti-epidemic restrictions. NV/VE