Wearing face masks or protective face covers like scarfs in public is now mandatory until 13 May included, following a new order issued Thursday by the Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev. The requirement concerns both indoor and outdoor public spaces.

A temporary ban on entry into Bulgaria of persons and vehicles coming from the Republic of Turkey through the border checkpoints Lesovo - Hamzabeyli, Kapitan Andreevo - Kapikule, Malko Tarnovo - Kirklareli, comes into force at midnight on Friday (00.00am), the Health Ministry said Thursday.

Starting Tuesday, 21 April, citizens travelling to or back from work will be able to enter and leave the capital city of Sofia at all times, provided that they present a declaration.

The Bulgarian capital Sofia was sealed off from midnight to contain the spread of the new coronavirus after the number of confirmed cases jumped in the past two days, the health minister said. At a late night briefing Health Minister Kiril Ananiev said travel to and from Sofia will be banned until further notice, and will apply to all cars and intercity buses.

From 12 to 26 April wearing face masks in public places will be mandatory. Violators will be fined BGN 300. The order will be in force for two weeks, until 26 April. The measure was proposed to PM Boyko Borissov by Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, head of the National Crisis Response Centre.

Citizens of third countries have been temporarily banned from entering the territory of Bulgaria through any of the air, sea, railway or road transport border checkpoints, the Ministry of Interior has announced.

Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev issued late on Tuesday an order temporarily banning citizens of 13 Schengen area countries from entering Bulgaria. The ban applies for individuals from Italy, Spain, France, the UK and Northern Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Luxembourg and concerns all border checkpoints for air, sea, railway and road transport. It also applies to individuals originally from third countries.

After heated debates, MPs voted for an extension of the state of emergency until 13 May. Prior to the vote, several amendments to the State of Emergency Act were adopted as well.

Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev has reversed his Monday order, which obligated citizens to wear a face mask at both indoor and outdoor public spaces. He announced that the state will buy one million masks for low-income citizens and for those who lack the financial means to buy them. The minister added that the masks to be ordered will be of the FFP2 or FFP3 type.

All citizens are now obligated to wear a mask at indoor or outdoor public spaces following an order issued on 30 March by Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev. The minister of interior and regional governors will be tasked with organising control mechanisms, with police officers being responsible for enforcing the measure.