Two More Bulgarian Parliamentarians Test Positive For COVID-19

Two more Bulgarian parliamentarians have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

The chairwoman of the parliamentary group of the ruling center-right GERB party, Daniela Daritkova, and another party member, Daniela Maleshkova, were identified on April 2 as having COVID-19.

The positive tests were reported a day after all Bulgarian lawmakers were told to undergo testing after one parliamentarian came down with COVID-19.

Hasan Ademov, a member of the center-right Movement For Rights And Freedoms (MRF), tested positive for COVID-19, National Assembly speaker Tsveta Karayancheva told an emergency briefing on March 31.

General Ventsislav Mutafchiiski, the chief of Bulgaria's National Operations Headquarters, said on April 1 that Ademov was in the hospital, but did not provide other details.

Despite the three cases, the 240-member National Assembly is scheduled to meet on April 3 to discuss a draft update of the state budget act proposed by the government.

Earlier on April 2, the Health Ministry reported eight new case of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, in Bulgaria. That brings the total to 457, with 10 deaths.

Bulgaria has been in a state of emergency since March 13. Schools and most shops are closed and there are restrictions on intercity travel and access to parks. All domestic and foreign holidays trips are banned.

The measures are to last until at least April 13. However, the government has proposed extending the state of emergency through May 13.

“The world is facing a huge challenge, a war that is killing many innocent victims,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Facebook. “We have to do everything we can to protect the life and health of the Bulgarian people.”