Sharjah24 – AFP: Bulgaria said on Saturday it was days away from sending coronavirus patients abroad as a vicious fourth wave overwhelms its health system and forces neighbouring Romania to ramp up restrictions.
Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov told the Nova TV channel that if the current rate of infections was not stemmed in 10 to 15 days there would be "enormous problems".
"Our capacity in terms of staff and ventilators has been practically exhausted, we will have to seek help from abroad," he said.
"Talks are underway with the EU to transfer patients to other countries if it comes to that."
Katsarov has also warned a lockdown cannot be ruled out.
Despite the introduction of a health pass for places such as restaurants and shopping centres, experts say the current wave could lead to infections leaping from around 5,000 a day to 9,000 a day in two weeks in the country of 6.9 million.
Bulgaria has suffered one of the world's highest death rates with the total standing at almost 23,000 people.
Over the past year Bulgaria has faced a protracted political crisis alongside the pandemic, with the third parliamentary election this year due to take place next month.
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