Bulgaria - Population: 7,000,119
Lockdown & social distancing
All counter measures
1970-01-01 Testing policy travel to Bulgaria originates in any other country must present a negative result from a PCR test do... US Embassy
1970-01-01 Border closure  banned the entry of third-country (non-EU) nationals, including U.S. citizens, into the country from... US Embassy
1970-01-01 Limit public gatherings ... US Today
1970-01-01 International flights suspension ... US Today
1970-01-01 Health screenings in airports and border crossings Italy and China nationals... US Embassy
2020-01-03 Introduction of isolation and quarantine policies People who have travelled from Italy or China quarantined for 14 days... US Embassy
2020-01-03 Isolation and quarantine policies People who have travelled from Italy or China quarantined for 14 days... US Embassy
2020-01-31 Strengthening the public health system receive testing kits... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-11 Schools closure  The classes in schools and kindergartens should not be interrupted even in the areas with coronaviru... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-12 Emergency administrative structures activated or established Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov convenes extraordinary meeting of the Council of Minister... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-13 State of emergency declared ... US Today
2020-03-13 Isolation and quarantine policies 3 years of imprisonment and a fine from 1,000 to 10,000 BGN for anyone who violates ordinances, rule... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-13 Closure of businesses and public services Visiting patients in hospitals will not be allowed.... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-13 Schools closure  Schools, universities and other educational establishments and organizations will cancel classes. Di... US Today
2020-03-13 Public services closure  Visiting patients in hospitals will not be allowed.... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-13 Partial lockdown School closures for one week starting Monday. Kindergartens, however, continue to operate. Closing o... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-13 Emergency administrative structures activated or established because of the declared state of emergency in the country, a team is established with the Prosecutor... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-13 Introduction of isolation and quarantine policies 3 years of imprisonment and a fine from 1,000 to 10,000 BGN for anyone who violates ordinances, rule... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-13 International flights suspension Restriction of travel to high-risk countries (Iran - Risk Level 5 (Warning to Suspend All Travels an... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-17 Border closure  The European Union is introducing a 30-day ban on incoming travel for foreigners to the territory of... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-17 International flights suspension the movement of all international trains through the border crossings on the territory of Bulgaria w... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-17 Full lockdown Bulgaria’s Bansko ski resort under strict lock down for 14 days; entry into and exit from the town... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-18 Emergency administrative structures activated or established organization was created between all institutions involved in this process to coordinate action... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-18 Health screenings in airports and border crossings opening of temporary units for border health control at the check points at Gueshevo, Vidin, Vrashka... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-18 Border closure  Bulgaria temporary bans the entry on its territory of citizens from high risk countries with coronav... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-19 Economic measures Central Bank launches package of measures in response to Covid-19 pandemic... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-20 Partial lockdown Visits to parks, public gardens, sports grounds and playgrounds and outdoor and indoor facilities ar... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-21 Border checks  checkpoints on routes into and out of major cities in Bulgaria... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-30 Economic measures Bulgaria’s government proposes budget update, increase in debt ceiling... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-31 Full lockdown Quarantine in Bansko ski resort will be stood down... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-03-31 Requirement to wear protective gear in public Health Minister cancels order for wearing masks until consensus is reached... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-01 State of emergency declared Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers on April 1 decided to propose to the Parliament to extend the stat... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-02 Economic measures Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has taken a package of measures to limit the negative effects of the u... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-03 Curfews Curfew introduced in Panagyurishte because of the coronavirus. Children will be forbidden to go outs... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-06 Other public health measures enforced Sofia disinfects streets, bus stops, dustbins to help combat coronavirus. the municipal authorities... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-06 Border closure  order imposing a temporary ban on entry into the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Exceptions w... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-06 Economic measures Bulgaria’s MPs on April 6 voted to forgo their salaries as of April 1 for the duration of the coro... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-07 Economic measures Pensioners below poverty line will receive Easter bonuses; More than 1,200,000 pensioners in Bulgari... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-07 Awareness campaigns COVID-19 Virusafe app is now available to all smartphone users... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-08 Testing policy Bulgaria’s PM orders mass testing for coronavirus in Banko ski resort... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-10 Partial lockdown Health Minister extends Covid-19 anti-epidemic measures until May 13... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-10 Surveillance and monitoring Police will be present in all around 4,000 Orthodox churches across the country during church servic... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-10 Awareness campaigns Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers launches an official coronavirus website... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-10 Strengthening the public health system Bulgaria buys 30,000 Covid-19 test kits from South Korea... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-10 Economic measures Bulgaria’s central bank permits banks to defer loan payments... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-12 Requirement to wear protective gear in public Bulgaria’s health minister issues order making face masks obligatory in public; effective from 12... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-13 Economic measures Government approves interest-free loans for Covid-19 impacted individuals... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-15 Mass population testing Bulgaria starts mass coronavirus testing... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-16 Domestic travel restrictions Entry into and exit out of Sofia banned as of midnight on April 16... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-21 Domestic travel restrictions entry/exit allowed again from Sofia... BNT
2020-04-21 Strengthening the public health system 3. Immunization of babies is allowed; 4. Women's consultations are allowed; 5. Planned operations ar... BNT
2020-04-21 Economic measures Government provides BGN 4,5 billion for economic measures... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-23 Border closure  Bulgaria temporary bans entry of travellers, vehicles from Turkey until April 26... BNT
2020-04-24 Requirement to wear protective gear in public Health Minister extends order on obligatory wearing of protective mask in public; remains compulsory... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-27 Emergency administrative structures activated or established set up a public register to report the funds spent in the fight against the new coronavirus with reg... BNT
2020-04-27 Closure of businesses and public services Parks re-open, but with restrictions on use... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-27 Public services closure  Parks re-open, but with restrictions on use... Bulgarian Ntnl. Television
2020-04-28 Other public health measures enforced Retail chains with 10 or more shops in the country will be obliged to sell Bulgarian products and ot... BNT
2020-04-29 Economic measures Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers on April 29 approved a portfolio guarantee programme to support th... BNT
2020-04-30 Limit product imports/exports Bulgaria’s Health Minister bans export of certain medicines... BNT
2020-05-01 Requirement to wear protective gear in public phase out of requirement to wear masks in public places -- wearing in closed public places, such as... BNT
2020-05-02 Awareness campaigns Bulgaria’s coronavirus task force discontinues daily briefings... BNT
2020-05-04 Limit public gatherings The order of the Minister of Health also permits individual outdoor sports, including tennis, cyclin... BNT
2020-05-04 Requirement to wear protective gear in public staff at cafes, restaurants, must wear masks ... BNT
2020-05-04 Closure of businesses and public services Health Minister Kiril Ananiev issued an order allowing visits to outdoor shopping areas (gardens, te... BNT
2020-05-06 Domestic travel restrictions after the afternoon of the May 6 public holiday (St George’s Day), the checkpoints controlling the... BNT
2020-05-08 International flights suspension Varna airport resumes international flights... BNT
2020-05-11 Limit public gatherings Health minister issues order to allow re-opening of museums, galleries, cinemas; The order allows th... BNT
2020-05-12 Mass population testing mass testing was carried out after the town was locked down in March for two weeks because several ... BNT
2020-05-13 State of emergency declared state of emergency lifted, but all anti-epidemic measures remain in force; Bulgaria’s government t... BNT
2020-05-14 Isolation and quarantine policies obligatory isolation of the confirmed cases of Covid-19, the quarantine of the contacts of the infec... BNT
2020-05-14 Schools closure  Schools, universities and kindergartens remain closed.... BNT
2020-05-14 Closure of businesses and public services The ban on visits to entertainment and gaming halls, discos and bars, indoor areas of restaurants an... BNT
2020-05-14 Other public health measures enforced It is forbidden for persons under the age of 60 to visit supermarkets, food shops and pharmacies dai... BNT
2020-05-14 Border closure  Cross-border workers are allowed to enter the country, but are required to submit a declaration that... BNT
2020-05-14 Visa restrictions temporary ban on the entry to Bulgaria of foreigners, introduced during the state of emergency, rema... BNT
2020-05-14 Emergency administrative structures activated or established Bulgaria’s Parliament voted unanimously on May 14 to set up an ad hoc committee to monitor the sta... BNT
2020-05-15 Economic measures scheme for free financing of micro and small enterprises electronically was launched... BNT
2020-05-15 Mass population testing A large-scale testing begins in Bulgaria’s second largest city of Plovdiv on May 15. the aim to te... BNT
2020-05-20 Strengthening the public health system Obligatory hospitalisation of Covid-19 patients aged over 60 years is cancelled... BNT
2020-05-22 Visa restrictions Bulgaria lifts ban on entry of citizens from EU and Schengen area without the requirement for 14-day... BNT
2020-05-25 Domestic travel restrictions National carrier Bulgaria Air restores Sofia – Varna flights... BNT
2020-05-26 Schools closure  Kindergartens in Bulgaria re-open as of May 26... BNT
2020-06-01 Closure of businesses and public services Theatres, opera houses re-open as of May 26, indoor restaurants as of June 1... BNT
2020-06-01 Isolation and quarantine policies 14-day quarantine for travel from Greece & Serbia to Bulgaria lifted from June 1... BNT
2020-06-10 Visa restrictions Bulgaria extends its temporary ban on the entry to the country of non-EU nationals. The temporary ba... BNT
2020-06-10 Visa restrictions Bulgaria extends its temporary ban on the entry to the country of non-EU nationals. ... BNT
2020-06-10 State of emergency declared epidemic emergency situation is extended until the end of June... BNT
2020-06-11 Full lockdown The village of Izgrev, Shoumen district was placed under lockdown in the evening on June 11 until Ju... BNT
2020-06-11 Requirement to wear protective gear in public mandatory only in village of Izgrev that is under lockdown ... BNT
2020-06-15 Isolation and quarantine policies a change in the period of the quarantine for people diagnosed with COVID-19: after discharge from h... BNT
2020-06-15 Requirement to wear protective gear in public Wearing masks in public transport, pharmacies and hospitals remains compulsory... BNT
2020-06-15 Closure of businesses and public services Night clubs, piano bars in Bulgaria re-open; can operate at 50% capacity; Disinfection of all surfac... BNT
2020-06-15 Economic measures The 60/40 wage support measure will become 80/20 for the tourism and transport industry, and a new g... BNT
2020-06-15 Border closure  As of June 15 until June 30, 2020, a temporary ban on entry into the territory of the Republic of Bu... BNT
2020-06-15 Limit public gatherings Mass events are now allowed to take place in closed places with the requirement for using 50% of the... BNT
2020-06-18 Isolation and quarantine policies Bulgaria lifts quarantine for arrivals from Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, San Marino,... BNT
2020-06-22 Requirement to wear protective gear in public Bulgaria re-introduces obligatory wearing of face masks in indoor public spaces, Health Minister ord... BNT
2020-06-30 Limit public gatherings The order introducing temporary anti-epidemic measures states that during the final of the Bulgarian... BNT
2020-06-30 Requirement to wear protective gear in public All persons when in indoors public places, including means of public transport, medical and health e... BNT
2020-06-30 Isolation and quarantine policies The order for compulsory isolation and /or hospital treatment states that persons - confirmed cases ... BNT
2020-06-30 Border closure  ban on entry into Bulgaria does not apply to persons travelling for training purposes to carry out a... BNT
2020-07-01 Economic measures Minimum state pension in Bulgaria increases to 250 BGN as of July 1... BNT
2020-07-02 Isolation and quarantine policies Bulgaria lifts the mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals from the UK. The directors of the region... BNT news
2020-07-02 Closure of businesses and public services Albena seaside resort closes night bars and clubs as anti-epidemic measure... BNT
2020-07-06 Visa restrictions Ananiev will issue an order in which he will determine the citizens of which countries will be able ... BNT news
2020-07-06 State of emergency declared epidemic emergency situation extended until July 31... BNT
2020-07-06 Isolation and quarantine policies all entereing travellers are required a 14-day quarantine.... BNT news
2020-07-06 General recommendations It is recommended to reduce the number of mass events to a minimum, because in recent weeks there ha... BNT news
2020-07-15 State of emergency declared Bulgaria’s government extends epidemic emergency situation until July 15... BNT
2020-07-16 Testing policy As of July 16, the 14 day quarantine and the required PCR test will be lifted for arrivals from Isla... BNT news
2020-07-16 Isolation and quarantine policies As of July 16, the 14 day quarantine and the required PCR test will be lifted for arrivals from Isla... BNT news
2020-07-28 Economic measures Minister of health announces pay rise for medical workers in Bulgaria... BNT news
2020-07-31 International flights suspension entry restrictions went into effect on July 31, 2020 and extend to August 31, 2020. The restrictio... US Embassy
2020-07-31 Border closure  entry restrictions went into effect on July 31, 2020 and extend to August 31, 2020. The restrictio... US Embassy
2020-08-13 Economic measures Bulgaria’s government allocates additional funding for students, young families and hospitals... BNT
2020-08-31 Schools closure  In-person classes in the system of preschool and school education are resumed. Attendance in higher ... BNT
2020-08-31 Isolation and quarantine policies The requirement for quarantine for arrivals from Turkey, Serbia and Belarus are lifted... BNT
2020-08-31 Testing policy The requirement for negative PCR test for arrivals from Turkey, Serbia and Belarus are lifted... BNT
2020-09-01 Visa restrictions The anti-epidemic measures remain in force in several main areas - the temporary restriction of the ... BNT
2020-09-01 State of emergency declared Bulgaria’s government extends Covid-19 epidemic emergency situation until September 30... BNT
2020-09-01 Other public health measures enforced medical institutions - as of September 1, they are allowed only for relatives of patients in termina... BNT
2020-09-01 Limit public gatherings The extraordinary rules for organizing mass events also remain in force.... BNT
2020-09-01 Requirement to wear protective gear in public extended with extended state of emergency until at least 30.9.2020... BNT
2020-09-08 Border closure  Ilinden-Exohi border crossing re-opens to lorries, road hauliers. There are several requirements for... BNT
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