Sofia, November 30 (BTA) - Last week, over 12,000 people
recovered from COVID-19 and Sofia is no longer among the regions
 with the highest infection rates. Hospitals are supplied with
enough medicines and protective equipment, and a national
vaccination plan is being prepared. This emerged at a working
meeting on Monday, convened by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov
with members of the Cabinet, the government information service
said.

The meeting discussed the latest COVID-19 situation and the
measures which are being implemented.

Prime Minister Borissov ordered that the vaccination plan is
prepared as quickly as possible, underscoring that vaccines will
 be voluntary and free and that possibly vulnerable groups and
frontline workers will get vaccinated first.

Borissov said that it is crucial that a balance is maintained
between the anti-epidemic measures and support for the economy.
"No one should get the impression that the measures are an end
in themselves," he said.

Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said that bonuses of 1,000 leva
 for frontline medical staff will be transferred on Monday.
Angelov said that Gabrovo and Kyustendil are the only two
regions with an infection rate of 1,000 per 100,000 population.
Pressure on the health system is decreasing and there are enough
 suppliers of personal protective equipment, disinfectants and
Remdesivir. The Health Minister said that according to
preliminary data the first 125,000 doses of vaccines from Pfizer
 are expected around New Year.

Economy Minister Luchezar Borissov highlighted a new measure in
support of businesses which will be unveiled this week.
Businesses from affected industries will receive compensation
calculated as a percentage of their turnover. The percentage
will be agreed with employer organizations in the relevant
sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said that the measure
will apply to all businesses which have been closed due to the
anti-epidemic measures.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Denitsa Sacheva reported that
from Monday a new job retention measure will be launched under
which workers on unpaid leave will receive a daily compensation
of 24 leva.

Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Mariyana Nikolova
said that according to information from the industry, Bulgarian
tourism is stable. Employees in the sector have been informed
that the anti-epidemic measures which were introduced on
November 27 will be effective only if all people comply with the
 instructions of the health authorities. "We will be
uncompromising towards violations," Nikolova said.

Interior Minister Hristo Terziiski said that from March 13 until
 last Sunday, some 3,180 pretrial proceedings were opened in
connection with non-compliance with the orders of the Health
Minister. RI/PP