Travelers from eight more countries must be tested, even if they have been vaccinated or ill – Bulgaria

The Ministry of Health has updated the conditions for travel to Bulgaria, expanding the list of so-called red zone, where the most risky countries fall. Entry from them is prohibited for foreigners except for medics, officials, seasonal workers or without Bulgarian citizenship. The rules take effect on Monday (July 19th).

Bulgarians traveling from countries in the red zone, whether vaccinated or ill, must present a negative result of a PCR test for coronavirus performed up to 72 hours before travel. Otherwise, a person is subject to ten days of quarantine. The rules in Bulgaria allow the negative result to be displayed within 24 hours of entering the country.

The countries that are already on the list of the most risky are: Cyprus, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Spain, Fiji and Kuwait. The other countries in the red zone are known in the past, including India, South Africa and Brazil, and the full list can be found at page 10 of the order of the Minister of Health.

Tests for travelers from Russia and Portugal

Although they do not belong to the red zone (that is, the entry of a wide range of foreigners is not prohibited), travelers from Russia and Portugal will also have to present negative results from PCR tests, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or sick, the Ministry of healthcare.

The conditions are again that the test is done up to 72 hours before the trip. If no document is presented, the person is subject to mandatory quarantine of 10 days. It can be canceled if a negative PCR test result is presented within 24 hours of arrival.

And more new rules

As of Monday, the health ministry has ordered children under the age of 12 traveling from countries in the green and orange zones to travel freely. The exact wording of the order is: “without the need to submit documents for COVID-19”.

According to the current list, the green zone includes the countries: