Due to the Covid-19 pandemic amendments to the Bulgarian legislation have been introduced. They aim to regulate the consequences of breaches of the measures adopted by the state authorities to address the coronavirus.
Criminal Liability
The amendments to the Criminal Code provide for imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of BGN 10 000 to BGN 50 000 in case of non-compliance with the ordinances, rules and measures duly adopted for the limitation of the spread of infectious diseases in the event of declared epidemic, pandemic or emergency state.
Such liability is borne by the managers of companies, which do not comply with the mandatory acts issued regarding the Covid-19. It is an infringement if:
- leisure and gaming halls, discos, bars, restaurants, fast food restaurants, beverage stores, bakeries and pastry shops, coffee shops and large shopping malls;
- the restaurants and the fast food restaurants have not limited their activities exclusively to home deliveries and/or if they do not comply with the sanitary and hygiene requirements applicable for such deliveries;
- cinemas, theatres, museums, sports and spa centres, gyms and similar facilities holding mass events, including sports, cultural, entertainment leisure and scientific events;
- in enterprises which cannot operate through teleworking, if the employers have not implemented enhanced anti-epidemic measures in the working premises (the possible measures include: filters, disinfection and ventilation, personal hygiene instruction, non-admission of staff or third persons with acute infectious diseases symptoms, etc.) and others.
Administrative-Penal Liability
The Health Act states that a fine of BGN 5,000 can be imposed on individuals which do not comply with an order/a compulsory prescription issued by a competent medical authority for quarantine and treatment of Covid-19.
Therefore, the individuals are infected or have close contact to someone with COVID-19 will be fined if not complying with the treatment and/or quarantine assigned.
The article above is intended for information purposes only by drawing your attention to some of the sanctions imposable upon breach of the national orders and measures to deal with the Covid-19. It should not be construed as (binding) legal advice. For a thorough understanding of the subjects covered and prior acting on any issue discussed we kindly recommend Readers consult Ilieva, Voutcheva & Co. Law Firm attorneys at law.
