Sofia, December 30 (BTA) - The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria reached 740,682, after 36,449 tests identified 3,449 new infections on Wednesday, 79.44 per cent of which were of unvaccinated persons, according to data posted on https://coronavirus.bg/. The test positivity rate now stands at 9.5 per cent.

The active cases are 99,139. Currently, the hospitalized patients number 4,071, including 462 in intensive care. Of the 761 new hospital admissions, 85.41 per cent were not vaccinated.

Another 2,276 COVID-19 patients have recovered over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 610,724.

169 fatalities were reported (92.59 per cent unvaccinated), and the death toll now adds up to 30,819.

With 19,901 new inoculations over the last 24 hours, 3,682,460 vaccine doses have been administered so far and 1,908,733 people are fully vaccinated, and 265,194 have received a booster jab.

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Within the first one to two working days of 2022, it will become clear whether the Omicron variant has reached Bulgaria, as the full sequencing of the samples takes between 8 and 10 to 12 days, Bulgaria's Chief State Health Inspector Dr. Angel Kunchev said in an interview for bTV.

According to Kunchev, the Omicron variant may be already in Bulgaria, but it cannot be certain without the sequencing results. The COVID-19 statistics from Wednesday repeat the statistics after an accumulation of several holidays, which was the case in previous years with the flu.

An omicron infection is less severe with a lower mortality rate, yet the omicron cases are doubling every two to three days, Kunchev noted. According to him Bulgaria will suffer greater consequences such as more fatalities and hospitalized patients compared to other countries with higher vaccination rates. This wave too will be inevitably difficult, yet the financial support for adults over 65 years of age is an encouraging step towards vaccination, Kunchev said.

The Chief Health Inspector noted that fatal mistakes were not made, and the vaccination campaign has not failed, it would have failed if the country had not been able to provide vaccines. The mistake according to him was the absence of a communication campaign aiming at the worries of every person. Kunchev noted that around 10 to 15 per cent of people would never be convinced to get vaccinated, yet 48 per cent are hesitant and afraid. Experts should focus on providing accurate information to people on a personal level, aiming at the personal worries of an individual, such as pregnancy, worry about a certain disease, and others, Kunchev said.

The health authorities will soon decide whether the booster shot must be administered six or three months after the second vaccine. A single Janssen Covid-19 vaccine booster shot is discussed to be administered at least two months after the primary vaccination, Associate Professor Kunchev clarified.

Source: Sofia