“In the last 14 days there has been a marked increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases, we are now at the highest point of the morbidity peak, the third in a row for the country. However, already there are one million people in Bulgaria - vaccinated or healed who have immunity, this gives us grounds to gradually ease the restrictive measures from today. And by the end of April, we will have enough vaccines for people to choose from and vaccination to continue,” said Health Minister Kostadin Angelov at a regular briefing of the National Operational Headquarters at the Council of Ministers on the current situation with the spread of COVID-19 in Bulgaria.

There is pressure on the medical institutions, the most tangible in Sofia-city, Burgas, Shumen and Varna. "May everyone be calm, the health system is ready to cope, everything is secured and we have no worries," said Angelov, who expressed gratitude to everyone working in the system.

Of the beds for intensive treatment 71 percent are occupied. There is a possibility to increase the number of beds without reducing beds availability for patients with other diseases. Nearly 48,000 beds are available, the minister added.

The biggest pressure, however, is on people's mentality, says Prof . Angelov: "Some people try to put pressure through manipulating everyone's fears and hopes. I ask every Bulgarian citizen to be calm. To know that the healthcare system is ready and prepared. We don't have any worries. I want to extend my thanks to all the doctors who are on the frontline," he added.

Hospitalized patients are currently much more than during the November-December wave. In November, however, there were 47% positive tests carried, while now it is significantly lower - about 20%. Mortality rates data based on hospital admissions and intensive care units’ occupancy rates are also better than second-wave data, said State Chief Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev.

There is no longer such an exponential increase in cases that require treatment in a hospital. The number of people admitted to a medical institution in Kyustendil, which is one of the red areas and where things are starting to calm down, is also decreasing. Some areas have already passed the peaks and are in a plateau, while in others morbidity rate is about to rise, said the director of "Pirogov" emergency hospital Prof. Asen Baltov.

Regarding the loosening of the measures and the possibility to visit an open-air restaurant, Angelov commented that in his opinion it is abundantly clear what a garden means - "no roof and no walls".