site.btaHealth Act Amendments Pass on Second Reading

Sofia,May 12 (BTA) - The fines for violating anti-epidemic
measures and for non-compliance with the quarantine remain
unchanged even after the end of the state of emergency on May
13. This was decided when Parliament adopted amendments to the
Health Act on second reading Tuesday.

The legislature included patients and carriers of COVID-19 on
the list for compulsory isolation and/or hospital treatment.

Per the new amendments, an epidemic emergency situation may be
declared for a certain period of time by a decision of the
Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Health Minister and
on the basis of an assessment of existing epidemic risk
performed by the Chief State Health Inspector.

It is explicitly stated in the texts that anti-epidemic measures
 may not include a ban on entry of citizens of other countries
in Bulgaria or a temporary restriction on movement within the
country.

Orders by the Health Minister and by directors of respective
regional health inspectorates for the introduction of
anti-epidemic measures will be subject to appeal before the
respective administrative court in keeping with the
Administrative Procedure Code.

As before, violators who do not comply with the introduced
anti-epidemic measures will be fined between 300 and 1,000 leva.
 In case of repeated violation, the fine will be between 1,000
and 2,000 leva. A person suffering from a contagious disease, as
 well as a contagious carrier, who refuses or does not fulfill
the obligatory isolation and/or treatment, will be subjected to
a fine in the amount of 5,000 leva.

A contact person of a patient with a contagious disease, as well
 as a person who has entered Bulgaria from other countries, who
refuses or does not fulfill the obligatory quarantine, will also
 be subjected to a 5,000 leva fine.

The duration of most of the social and economic measures
introduced during the state of emergency will be extended by up
to two months.

Any public sales or entry-into-possession procedures launched by
 state or private enforcement agents against natural persons
will be cancelled for a period of two months after the end of
the state of emergency. Subsequently, such procedures may be
relaunched, with no fees owed by the natural persons concerned.

Distraints may not be imposed on municipal bank accounts for two
 months after the end of the state of emergency.

Over the same period of time, if a private individual who has
borrowed money or is using some other form of financing has
delayed their payments, there may be no early claim on all the
money provided to that individual, and the respective contract
may not be spoiled due to non-fulfillment. The measure does not
apply to legal entities.

Tour operators which use air carriers with a Bulgarian business
licence for charter flights to Bulgaria for the purpose of
tourism, will receive a state subsidy from the Tourism Ministry
amounting to 35 euro per plane seat. A voucher system will
encourage tourists to spend their holidays in Bulgaria.

The MPs also resolved that if any family benefits provided under
 the Family Allowances for Children Act expire at some point
between February 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020, the deadline will be
changed to June 30, 2020.

The export of medicines may be banned by order of the Health
Minister during the state of emergency and two months
afterwards.

Until the end of the 2019/2020 school year, school studies
should be carried out remotely in an electronic environment, to
the extent possible, by using information and communication
technologies.
 
RI/NV/DT/VE