PM Borissov Holds Working Meeting of National Coronavirus Task Force with Health Minister Ananiev

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Tuesday convened a working meeting of the National Coronavirus Task Force with Health Minister Kiril Ananiev, the Government Information Service reported. At the meeting, the PM was briefed on the current situation with the spread of COVID-19 and the increase of hospitals' intensive-care beds capacity in case of need.

Borissov instructed Ananiev to hold additional talks with the National Health Insurance Fund and with the Bulgarian Medical Association regarding the payment of COVID-19 tests and clinical pathway, so that hospitals would be sufficiently financed. "Overstock on protective clothing, masks and spectacles. Everything must be enough and more than enough," the Prime Minister said. He noted that there are millions of infections worldwide while the European Union does not yet have a common policy, including on the reopening of borders for tourism. "There is no specialist who can say that this scourge of our times will go away," Borissov said. In his words, under the circumstances it is important to follow the infection rate in the clusters and keep enforcing the precautions.

The head of the National Task Force, Prof. Ventsislav Moutafchiiski, agreed that strengthening hospitals' capacity is crucial. The Chief State Health Inspector, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev, stressed that the virus wave is growing in Europe and in the Balkans and that Bulgaria concentrates on the epidemic-control measures. The Director of the National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Prof. Todor Kantardjiev, recalled that the laboratories now have a substantially larger testing capacity then when the epidemic broke out. In his words, large workforces should be closely watched for first cases. The members of the National Task Force were adamant that COVID-19 is also spreading from festive celebrations and religious ceremonies.
 

Source: BTA