site.btaKindergartens, Schools for Grades 1-4 Reopen on January 4

December 31 (BTA) - Kindergartens and schools for grades 1-4 reopen on January 4, it was confirmed after a working meeting in Thursday convened by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov of representatives of the national coronavirus task force, the national vaccination task force and ministers, the government's information service said.

It transpired at the meeting that the counter-epidemic measures are producing a lasting effect so that based on 14-day covid incidence figures, Bulgaria ranks on the 24th place in the EU.

Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said that the situation in this country is improving and that there are not regions where the incidence is above 600 per 100,000 of population.

National coronavirus task force head and Director of the Military Medical Academy Ventsislav Moutafchiiski said that the number of covid patients in hospitals has dropped tangibly, which is "a breath of fresh air" for the medical teams.

Head of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Todor Kantardjiev said that arrangements are in place whereby laboratories continue to work with the same pace as now, to ensure that the data are fed regularly.

Education and Science Minister Krassimir Vulchev said that the situation will be monitored constantly to see whether in-person schooling can resume in January for the other grades as well. The current measures remain in place until January 31, but flexibility will be shown based on the latest developments.

Head of the vaccination task force Krassimir Gigiv said that inoculations with the first batch of vaccines are proceeding swiftly and are expected to be completed by the end of the day on Thursday. The second batch of vaccines: 25,000 dozes, will reach Bulgaria between January 4 and 8. RI/ZH
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