As the situation of Covid-19 in Bulgaria deteriorates, the nation’s Health Ministry is suggesting that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) pays for quick antigen tests specified by general practitioners and outpatient care doctors.
The Health Ministry stated on Tuesday, July 12, that the change strives to improve the quality and timeliness of medical care for patients and increase the early detection of coronavirus disease.
The health ministry stated that the early detection of existing infection in individuals and subsequent measures to quarantine them would particularly slow the spread of COVID-19.
There are adequate funds in the NHIF budget to pay for these changes, stated the ministry.
Angel Kunchev, Bulgaria’s Chief State Health Inspector, stated last week that the current wave of coronavirus in Bulgaria was not wholly reflected in official statistics as there was considerable hidden morbidity.
This was because PCR tests were costly, people don’t have access to them and did not get tested, said Kunchev.
Professor Iva Hristova, the head of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, stated on July 12 that intensive talks were being conducted at the Health Ministry, and within a few days, new measures against the spread of COVID-19 infection would be announced.
Hristova stated, “At least the wearing of masks in public places must be compulsory.”
The Health Ministry has asked individuals with critical illnesses and those above 65 to get a second booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Presently, 10 out of 28 districts in Bulgaria are Covid-19 yellow zones, which means that they have a morbidity rate between 100 and 249.9 per 100,000 population on a 14-day basis. The rest 18 districts are green zones, although four are higher than the 90 mark, putting them near the threshold to be reclassified as a yellow zone.
Sofia city has recorded the highest morbidity rate at 228.23, which means that it is nearing the threshold to be recalled as a red zone.