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| - Bulgaria and Slovenia on Friday tightened confinement measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus with Sofia also introducing dedicated shopping hours for the elderly. The measures in Bulgaria, which enter into force on Friday at midnight and run until at least April 13, ban all travel between the country's 27 provinces without a legitimate reason, such as health, going to work or returning home. All public gardens, parks, children's playgrounds and open-air sports facilities will be sealed to prevent people from gathering there, allowing dog owners only solitary walks of their pets. Anyone under 60 years will be banned from visiting foodstores, pharmacies and drugstores between 8:30 am and 10:30 am in order to leave these hours for shopping by the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to complications from the virus. Health Minister Kiril Ananiev said "a total lockdown with people required to sign a declaration whenever they leave the house" could be imposed if the new measures are not observed strictly. Bulgaria already declared a state of emergency last week, shutting shopping malls, restaurants, schools, theatres and other public places. Food stores, pharmacies and drugstores remain open but restrictions to the number of shoppers allowed at a time resulted in long queues outside. This prompted a subsequent order by the health minister for people to keep a two-metre (6.5-feet) distance between each other. The warm spring weather also drew crowds to public parks and children's playgrounds, which angered the authorities. In a separate move Friday, parliament also approved additions to the state of emergency bill, authorising the army to patrol, perform identity checks and hold vehicles and persons until the arrival of police, as well as to use force "in the event of absolute necessity." Bulgaria with its seven million people on Friday reported a total of 127 infections, including three deaths and only one recovered. Slovenia, meanwhile, banned outside gatherings of more than five people amid measures that took effect Friday. It has also reserved morning store hours for pensioners, pregnant women and people with disabilities. Like fellow EU member Bulgaria, Slovenia has also already closed cafes, restaurants and shops deemed non-essential. Slovenia with its two million inhabitants and bordering Italy and Austria on Friday reported 341 cases of new coronavirus infections, including one death. bk-ds/jza/spm
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