site.bta9,946 PCR Tests Confirm 2,760 New COVID-19 Cases, Bringing Bulgaria's Total to 45,461

October 29 (BTA) - The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria reached 45,461 after PCR tests identified 2,760 new infections in the 24 hours until Wednesday midnight, according to data posted on www.coronavirus.bg. The test positivity rate now stands at 27.74 per cent.

Sofia City Region tops the list of new cases with 1,075 positive tests, followed by Plovdiv Region with 206, Blagoevgrad Region with 160, and Varna Region with 146.

A total of 690,690 PCR tests have been performed since the first infections were diagnosed on March 8.

The active cases are 25,105. The infected medical staff now totals 2,087 (770 doctors, 691 nurses, 287 orderlies, 46 feldshers and 293 other).

Currently, the hospitalized patients number 2,316, including 162 in intensive care.

Another 216 COVID-19 patients have recovered over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 19,159.

Thirty-six more fatalities were reported, and the death toll now totals 1,197.

Deputy Health Minister Boyko Penkov told the weekly news
briefing of the National Coronavirus Task Force here on Friday
that Bulgaria ranks 21st in the EU and 2nd in the Balkans in
COVID-19 morbidity and 10th in the EU and 4th in the Balkans in
COVID-19 mortality. The number of new infections has topped 120
per 100,000 population over the last six days, and it is
climbing daily. Most new cases are diagnosed in the 20-60 age
group. Among schoolchildren, the number of infected 5th to 12th
graders is increasing. Of the medical staff who have tested
positive for the virus, 37 per cent are doctors and 33 per cent
nurses.

Another alarming trend is the growing number of hospitalized
patients and of those in intensive care, who account for 7 per
cent of the total admitted to hospital with this diagnosis, Dr
Penkov said.

The death toll is rising, too, and it has increased by 50 per
cent over the last week alone. The largest proportion of victims
 (32 per cent) is in the 70-79 age group.

National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Director
Todor Kantardjiev advised against the excessive use of
immunostimulants. "The over-mediatized subject has led to fear
and mistrust in society," he said.

RI/LG
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