With the growing number of newly infected and the changing measures in Bulgaria, by order of the Minister of Health Dr. Stoycho Katsarov, new COVID rules for entry into the country will apply.

Bulgarians coming from countries that fall into the "red zone" of COVID-19 distribution are required to present to the border authorities a valid EU digital COVID vaccination certificate or a document certifying post-illness. Persons who do not submit such are admitted to the territory of the country only after presentation of a negative result from a PCR test, conducted up to 72 hours before entering the country.

As of September 1, the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, the Republic of Kosovo, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United States, and Ireland fall into the red zone. This is so with a change in the list of countries by color zones, according to which the order of entry into Bulgaria is determined.

Italy goes from red to orange, and Germany, Estonia, Croatia, Italy, and San Marino go from green to orange. Romania is already moving into the green zone.

The order establishes a list of non-EU countries whose COVID-19 vaccination, testing and disease certificates will be considered equivalent to the European Union's digital COVID certificate. These are: the Republic of Northern Macedonia, the Republic of San Marino, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, and the Vatican.

As of today, foreign students holding a "D" type visa for long-term residence for study purposes are admitted to the territory of Bulgaria from countries falling into the red zone. Pupils, students, and doctoral students who live in Greece, Turkey, Serbia, the Republic of Northern Macedonia, and Romania and travel at least once a week to Bulgaria for study purposes, as well as pupils, students, and doctoral students who live in Bulgaria and travel at least once a week to the same countries for training purposes, are admitted to the territory of the country without the need to submit documents for COVID-19.

Greece is introducing an additional coronavirus test for those arriving from Bulgaria who have not been vaccinated and have not been ill, and a mandatory PCR or rapid antigen test will be performed at the respective border crossing point upon entry. According to the Bulgarian embassy in Athens, if the test is positive, the citizens will be placed under a 10-day quarantine. The fine for non-compliance is 5,000 euros.

Those who hold a vaccination certificate for COVID-19 valid for 14 days after completion of the vaccination course or a certificate of illness issued no earlier than 30 days and no later than 180 days after the illness will be exempted from the test.

Upon entering Greek territory, citizens who have not been vaccinated or have not had a coronavirus should present a negative result from a PCR test performed no earlier than 72 hours after entering the country or a negative rapid (antigenic) test performed up to 48 hours before the trip.

Against the background of these rules, doctors in Greece are protesting against compulsory vaccination. 8,000 people are protesting in central Athens against a change in the rules that took effect last Wednesday.
/BNT