site.btaEleven More Infected with COVID-19, Cases in Bulgaria Reach 92

March 18 (BTA) - Eleven more persons have tested positive
 for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in
 Bulgaria to 92 as at Wednesday afternoon, Major General Prof.
Ventsislav Moutafchiiski MD, who heads the national coronavirus
task force, told a news briefing. The regional cities of Smolyan
 (Southern Bulgaria) and Veliko Turnovo (North Central Bulgaria)
 have recorded their first coronavirus cases, one in each city.
   
Prof. Moutafchiiski also said that Turkey has closed its border
with Bulgaria.

At an earlier briefing on Wednesday, he said it is early days to
 say whether or not the measures being taken to prevent the
spread of the disease, are producing a result "but the system is
 managing".

He said that the rules for social distancing are being observed
and people understand that this is necessary.

An entire skiing resort, Bansko has been put under lockdown and
nobody is allowed to enter or leave. Prof. Moutafchiiski
believes
 there is no need to do the same with other settlements.

He said that Bulgaria does not have capacity to do wide-scale
testing for coronavirus and specified that the reason for that
is the lack of qualified personnel to do that. 

He also commented a crisis at Sofia's Second City Hospital which
 has been designated as a backup facility for treating COVID-19
patients and where the medical staff threatened to resign due to
 the lack of preparedness of the hospital. He said they have no
reason to resign. "I am sure they have treated hundreds of even
thousands of patients with similar symptoms," he commented. 

Prof. Moutafchiiski also showed new protective coveralls that
are made in Bulgaria and are up to the standards for the novel
coronavirus. They are for multiple use and can be used after up
to 50 washes. They will be produced in sufficient quantities to
meet all domestic demand.  RY, RI/LN, DS