Suspension of teaching activities and events (9–15 March 2020)

In compliance with the recommendations of the Bulgarian Government regarding the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, all classroom lectures and seminars at Sofia University are suspended until 15 March 2020.

See also: Suspension of all classroom activities and events until 25 May 2020

During this period, lecturers are invited to make available through Moodle or by other means the didactic material related to their courses.

Additionally, the following precautionary measures have been introduced, as of 9 March 2020:

• All conferences, seminars, ceremonies, cultural and sport activities, and other public gatherings held at Sofia University are suspended.
• All international travels have to be avoided. All academic, research, administrative and student trips have to be restricted only to those essential travels, which cannot be cancelled or postponed.
• All faculty members, students and administrative staff coming from abroad have to voluntarily undergo a 14-day quarantine period after their arrival in Sofia.

The Erasmus+ Office remains in contact with all incoming students and partner universities remotely, via e-mail.

These provisions will be subject to further review based on the assessment of the current situation. Updates will follow when necessary.

Protection against infection

Please refer to the information provided by the World Health Organization:

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks. Authorities in China and some other countries have succeeded in slowing or stopping their outbreaks. However, the situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.

You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:

– Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
– Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
– Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
– Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
– Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance (national 24-hour information line for Bulgaria: +359 2 807 87 57).
– Follow the directions of your local health authority.
– Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.

In case of suspicion of infection

If you suspect that you became infected with the virus, you should follow the guidelines outlined here:

Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.

If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance the national information line (+359 2 807 87 57) and inform about any recent travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

National 24-hour information line for Bulgaria (Ministry of Health):
+359 2 807 87 57

Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate:
+359 2 832 91 62
+359 2 832 91 81
+359 2 8130 482

For more information on COVID-19

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Questions & Answers
World Health Organization: Questions & Answers