Sofia, January 13 (BTA) - Prime Minister Kiril Petkov presented a new national COVID-19 response plan by video conference on Thursday. He said that in the new plan, all anti-epidemic measures will be determined by the occupancy rate of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in hospitals. Nothing will be closed down at this stage, he added.

Bulgaria is currently on the verge of a big new wave, which is approaching with great force, said Petkov, citing the large number of infected, hospitalized and deceased people.

For the purpose of planning the COVID response, this country's 28 regions will be grouped in six clusters to allow easy transfer of patients within the cluster where needed, said the Prime Minister. The measures which will impact these clusters of regions will be based on the number of hospital beds.

The general public will be informed about all figures and a forecast will be made about what should be expected in the next five days, he explained.

The plan consists of four stages. In the first stage, 50 per cent of ICU hospital beds are used, there are no additional restrictions but control on the universal measures (wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance, requiring a green certificate and COVID screening in schools) is heightened.

In the second stage, 60 per cent of ICU beds are used - which is now the situation in many parts of the country. At this stage, the control authorities are extra vigilant about the validity of the COVID-19 passes and enforcement of measures, and additional restrictions are considered. In the education system, extra-curricular activities are halted but schools and businesses remain open.

In the third stage, where ICU beds are 70 per cent taken, the measures are further tightened, but children in grades one to four continue in-person classes. In grades five to 12, the students rotate between in-person and on-line classes to avoid overcrowding in schools, and weekly screening will continue. Public facilities operate at 50 per cent of their capacity and require a COVID-19 pass for entry.

In the fourth stage, with 80 per cent of ICU bed taken, public life will be put on hold. Only food stores, pharmacies, pet stores, banks, courier offices, insurers and telecom operator offices will be open. School will switch to on-line classes for all students but kindergartens will remain open.

Health Minister Asena Serbezova said that the maximum number of ICU hospital beds that can be opened given the current capacity of the health care system, is 1,268, of which 62 will be designated for children. As of Wednesday, there were a total of 4,460 occupied and 3,375 free hospital beds for non-life threatening COVID patients. There were also 584 occupied and 332 free ICU hospital beds for COVID patients, she explained, adding that these figures have already changed on Thursday.

The national plan provides for regional health inspectorates to be briefed daily on the situation and forecast the spread of COVID-19, Serbezova further said.

The new operational plan for COVID-19 provides for a transitional period of 3 to 5 days before new measures are enforced, the Health Minister said.

When taking measures, their effect on all spheres of life will be monitored. The measures will be explained in advance, so that the sectors to be affected have the opportunity to prepare for them, Serbezova added.

Education and Science Minister Nikolai Denkov said that schools will be closed only as a last resort.

The new plan allows parents to decide whether their children will attend school in-person or take online classes, Denkov said.

Petkov reiterated that the Government measures in support of businesses and people continue to be in effect. A new measure is planned in case stage four is reached and businesses are closed. This measure will allow for the allocation of 20 per cent of a company's average net revenues for 2021, but no more than 100,000 leva, in the form of grant aid, the Prime Minister said. LN/MY/DT