site.btaPrime Minister Urges Better Mobilization in Coping with Covid-19 Surge

Sofia, November 2 (BTA) - During an online working meeting of
the government  Monday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov called for
 better mobilization in coping with the pandemic. He said, as
quoted by the government information service, that each minister
 should be on the frontline in their area of work "unfailingly,
so that the government, together with the Bulgarian people, act
together like a fist against the pandemic".

Borissov also said that the coordinated steps of the state
institutions "must continue working with the strictest
organization, order and total mobilization". "This is what we
are doing at the moment, with money, with care for the economy,
with measures. No wavering," he said.

The Prime Minister asked the Health Minister to make sure that
each hospital, public or private, set up stand-alone testing
facilities outside the hospital where patients are quickly
diagnosed and triaged to the necessary medical aid. "You can use
 whatever is needed: fire engines, police, protective clothing.
The Finance Minister has provided everything that is necessary
by way of funding. Medicines: any type of medicines for any type
 of patient. All this must be done with immediate effect"
Borissov said.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of people
self-isolating after being in contact with Covid-19 positive
people.

Borissov further reminded that institutions such as the National
 Social Security Institute and the Health Ministry have hotels
and sanatorium facilities across the country that can be used as
 well. This could relieve the pressure on hospitals.

Borissov noted the importance for hospitals to be flexible and
continue performing emergency surgery.

By a ministerial order, all scheduled hospital admissions and
surgeries have been cancelled.

"Life must go on. I am convinced that vaccines will be available
 towards March and April, we will have something that will save
the world and move forward," the Prime Minister said.

He further stressed that court proceedings must not stop and
that the state  institutions should continue to function on-line
 where possible. "The State should not shut down. In many
countries this is an easy approach. Lockdown is put in place and
 this is the easiest and the cleanest approach. We must persuade
 the people [to observe the COVID restrictions] using reason,"
he said.

He also said that the government's decision not to resign -
despite months of street protests demanding the government
resignation - is in the best interest of Bulgarian people. "The
government will do the hard work in these hardest of times but
we must save the people and lead them out of the healthcare
crisis, the financial crisis and the economic crisis," Borissov
said.

The Prime Minister said that the social and economic measures
should continue and generate budget revenue. "With its IT sector
 and everything that is done in it and in the economy, we should
 move forward faster than the others. But we must save the
people, this is what I want from you," Borissov said as he
turned to his ministers.

He also stressed the importance of interaction with the local
authorities. "You must help the mayors any way  you can," he
said, once again stressing that "there will be no lockdown but
people must act responsibly, wear masks, keep their distance, so
 that life is not shut down," Borissov said. NV/ZH