site.btaBritish Variant Blamed for Rise of COVID-19 Cases, Hospitals Not Under Pressure

Sofia, March 3 (BTA) - Despite a rise of COVID-19 cases in
Bulgaria due to the spread of the British variant, hospitals are
 not under pressure as they have enough beds for coronavirus
patients, it emerged at a working meeting called by Bulgarian
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Wednesday. Health Minister
Kostadin Angelov, National Coronavirus Task Force
representatives and Bulgarian Medical Association Vice President
 Nikolay Branzalov attended the meeting, the Government
Information Service reported.

"We are now in the third decisive battle and wave of the
coronavirus. The health system is prepared for the gradual
increase of cases that we record. But we also count on
Bulgarians' good faith, personal choice and sense of freedom. It
 is personal responsibility that will protect people," the PM
said.

He was adamant that the measures applied in Bulgaria are right,
which is why this country ranks 18th in infection rate in
Europe.

Borissov added that when the expected large quantities of
vaccines arrive after March 9, daily vaccinations can be back to
 between 20,000 and 21,000.

Angelov reported that the hospital beds for COVID-19 patients
are being increased, so that the health system is prepared to
respond to the current rise of cases. "For the time being, the
situation is under control," the Health Minister stressed.

Dr Branzalov insisted that general practitioners are ready to
join the vaccination process more actively.

The Chief Health State Inspector, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev,
noted that the infection rate in Bulgaria is growing slowly and
gradually. "Cases will be increasing over the next couple of
weeks: this is the third wave, triggered by the British variant
of then coronavirus. I appeal to Bulgarian citizens to continue
observing the measures so that we could maximize control of the
wave that we are going to experience and keep it as low as
possible," he emphasized.

Regarding the option to procure vaccines other than those
authorized by the European Commission so far, Bulgarian Drug
Agency Executive Director Bogdan Kirilov stressed that Bulgarian
 legislation is fully aligned with EU law and, under it, every
new medicinal product must be assessed by the European Medicines
 Agency (EMA). "At this stage Bulgaria cannot launch a national
assessment procedure for any vaccine other than those holding a
marketing authorization," Kirilov explained, adding that once
EMA's assessment is completed, Bulgaria is fully prepared to
create conditions for the fast administration of the vaccines
that will be approved in future.

Borissov ordered Angelov to start a discussion on the rules and
measures under which foreign tourists will be admitted to
Bulgaria. NV/LG