Wearing of Protective Masks in Commercial Facilities Made Compulsory Again

As of June 23, it is once again compulsory to wear a protective face mask in commercial facilities, Health Minister Kiril Ananiev told a news briefing on Monday after a working meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov over the current COVID-19 situation in Bulgaria. A decision on the possible extension of the emergency epidemic situation in the country will be taken by this week's end, Ananiev said.

It is being considered whether to make masks compulsory in all indoor public places or have people wear them only in commercial facilities, public transport, health facilities, and pharmacies. Those working in commercial facilities are obliged to wear protective masks, Ananiev specified.

Football matches have to be played in front of an audience of 1,000 persons per sector, and the other outdoor sports can have an audience of up to 50 per cent of the corresponding venue's capacity.

Addressing the news briefing, Bulgaria's Chief Health Inspector Dr Angel Kounchev said that the control over the compliance with all anti-epidemic measures will be increased. Statements of violation of the measures will be issued to GERB, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and the leadership of the Vassil Levski National Stadium, he said.

Shortly afterwards, the press centre of the Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate said that the statements of violation in question have been issued to the maximum amount of 3,000 leva.

Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova told the news briefing that she will issue an order making compulsory the wearing of protective masks in all indoor public places in the capital. The testing for COVID-19 of Sofia's kindergarten personnel continues and no one has tested positive yet, she added.

The testing of everyone who took part in the BSP's plenum on June 13 also continues, after it transpired on Sunday that Socialist Yanaki Stoilov has been hospitalized with COVID-19.

Earlier on Monday, the Regional Governor of Haskovo (Southeastern Bulgaria) said that all contacts of persons who met with Bulgaria's top tennis player Grigor Dimitrov during his recent visit to Haskovo, will be placed under quarantine. On Sunday, Dimitrov announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Source: BTA