COVID-19 MEASURES AND REQUIREMENTS
As a general rule, visitors with flu-like symptoms (i.e. running nose, sneezing and coughing, high temperature) will not be allowed on the premises of the CMDR COE. Temperature is monitored upon entry with remote thermometers and / or a thermo-sensitive camera.
Specialised requirements apply in relation to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Entry to the Republic of Bulgaria (hereafter Bulgaria). Before travelling to Bulgaria, please check travel requirements and restrictions by visiting your local travel information authority or the official website of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
- The CMDR COE recommends that all visitors book refundable travel tickets (if possible) and monitor the latest travel/quarantine restrictions applicable for entering Bulgaria.
- The CMDR COE accepts no liability and will not reimburse any travel and accommodation expenses incurred in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
- Event fees will be reimbursed or seats transferred in case of attendance inability due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Entry to the CMDR COE premises. All visitors (non-CMDR COE staff members to include learners, instructors, facilitators, speakers and other guests) are to show proof of one of the following (as per the Order of the Minister of Health / 14 JAN 2022):
1. Vaccination. As proof here is considered:
A valid EU digital COVID vaccination certificate OR a similar document. Avalid EU digital COVID vaccination certificate or a similar document is a document for a completed vaccination course against COVID-19*. The document must contain the names of the person written in Latin, according to the identity document with which they travel, date of birth, date on which the last received dose of COVID-19 vaccine was administered, serial number of the dose, and the total number of doses (if more than one), the trade name of the vaccine against COVID-19, the name of the manufacturer/holder of the marketing authorisation, the country of issue and the name of the issuing competent authority and, for the EU certificate – its unique identifier.
*A completed vaccination course is considered to be the administration of an appropriate number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine listed in Table 1 below and the expiry of a 14-day period from the date of administration of the last dose.
Table 1: Annex 3 to item I, 10. 2 - Order of the Minister of Health / 14 JAN 2022
|
Trade name |
Name of manufacturer / holder of use authorisation licence |
Vaccination completed after |
|
|
BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH/ Pfizer-Biontech |
2 doses |
|
Vaxzevria/ AZD1222 |
AstraZeneca WCH/ AstraZeneca Canada Inc.
|
2 doses |
|
- / AZD1222
|
SK Bioscience Co Ltd |
2 doses |
|
Spikevax/COVID-19 VACCINE Moderna / mRNA-1273 |
MODERNA BIOTECH |
2 doses |
|
Janssen / Ad26.COV2.S
|
Janssen-Cilag International NV |
1 dose |
|
- / Covishield (ChAdOx1_nCoV-19)
|
Serum Institute of India |
2 doses |
|
- / SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated (lnCoV)
|
Sinopharm / BIBP1 |
2 doses |
|
- / COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated/Coronavac
|
Sinovac |
2 doses |
|
- / Sputnik V(Gam-COVID-VacComponent I Gam-COVID-Vac Component II)
|
The Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology |
2 doses |
|
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine, Inactivated (Vero Cell)/ COVAXIN |
Bharat Biotech, India |
2 doses |
2. Recovery. As proof here is considered:
(a) A valid EU digital COVID certificate for recovery. This is a document certifying that the person has recovered from COVID-19 and which is valid for the period from the 11th to the 180th day, as of the date of the conducted test entered in the document. The certificate must contain the names of the person, written in Latin , according to the identity document with which they travel, date of birth, date of the first positive result of NAAT test (Positive), data of the authority issuing the document, the country in which the test was conducted and its unique identifier. "NAAT test" means a molecular test for nucleic acid amplification, such as polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR), cyclic-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) techniques used to detect the presence of ribonucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 (RNA).
(b) A document similar to the EU digital COVID certificate for recovery. This is a document certifying that a person has recovered from COVID-19 and which is valid for the period from the 11th to the 180th day, as of the date of the conducted test entered in the document. The document must contain the names of the person, written in Latin, according to the identity document with which they travel, date of birth, date of the first positive result of PCR test or rapid antigen test and positive result (Positive), data about the medical institution which has conducted the test (name, address or other contact details) or the issuing authority and the country in which the test was conducted.
Negative PCR test. In addition to the proof mentioned in points 1 and 2, all visitors (non-CMDR COE staff members to include learners, instructors, facilitators, speakers and other guests) are to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, conducted in a certified testing centre / laboratory / medical institution. SELF-TESTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. As proof here is considered (as per the Order of the Minister of Health / 14 JAN 2022):
(a) A valid EU COVID certificate for testing or a similar document. A document showing a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction test conducted up to 72 hours before entry into the country or a negative result from a rapid antigen test conducted up to 48 hours before entry into the country from the date of sampling entered in the document. The document must contain the names of the person written in Latin , according to the identity document with which they travel, date of birth, type of test, written in Latin method (PCR or Rapid antigen test (RAT)) and negative result (Negative), date and time of collection of the test sample, trade name and manufacturer of the test (mandatory for rapid antigen tests), name of the laboratory/medical institution which has conducted the test, country in which the test was conducted and authority that has issued the certificate/document, and for the EU certificate - its unique identifier.
(b) A certificate equivalent to the EU digital COVID certificate. Certificates issued by a third country in accordance with standards and technological systems that are interoperable with the Digital COVID Trust Framework. EU certificate. The list of countries whose COVID-19 vaccination, testing and recovery certificates are considered equivalent to the EU digital COVID certificate is given in Table 2 below.
Table 2: List of countries whose COVID-19 vaccination, testing and recovery certificates are considered equivalent to the EU digital COVID certificate. Source: Annex 4 to Item I, 11 – Order of the Minister of Health / 14 JAN 2022.
|
Armenia, Georgia, Vatican City State (only for vaccination certificates issued), Israel, Eastern Republic of Uruguay, Iceland, Cape Verde, Principality of Andorra, Principality of Liechtenstein, Principality of Monaco, Confederation of Switzerland, Kingdom of Morocco, Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Thailand, Lebanese Republic, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of Albania, Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Panama, Republic of San Marino, Republic of Northern Macedonia, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Serbia Republic of Turkey, Taiwan, Togolese Republic, Tunisia, Ukraine, the Faroe Islands and Montenegro. |
- The certificate / document under points 1 and 2, as well as the the certificate of a negative PCR test are to be provided in a printout form upon first entry to the CMDR COE and to the event point of contact[1].
- All visitors are encouraged to take all reasonable precautionary measures while outside the CMDR COE premises, to avoid crowdy public places, exercise strict protection measures and good hygiene (consult WHO recommendations here), to monitor their health status and immediately report to the event point of contact in case of any, even if mild, symptoms such as: fever, dry cough, tiredness and loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, headache, sore throat.
- The CMDR COE may assist visitors with scheduling a COVID-19 test, should they need one as a result of worsened health status during the course, or as a requirement to return back to their home country upon completion of the event / course.
COVID-19 protection and prevention measures while on the CMDR COE premises
- All visitors are required to wear a facial mask with a level of protection: FFP2; FFP3; N-95; NK-95). Fabric masks, scarfs, shields and other similar items will not be accepted. The mask should fully cover the nose and the mouth and fit snugly against the sides of the face. Please consult the World Health Organisaiton’s webpage for further guidance on facial masks here.
- The mask should be worn at all times except when: 1. outside the CMDR COE building (i.e. outdoors in the back or front area) and 2. Eating or drinking during coffee breaks and only for short periods of time.
- Visitors should observe a distance of no less than 1.5 meters at all times, including while outside the CMDR COE building and during breaks, including coffee breaks.
The above general entry requirements and restrictions are to be updated regularly and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations at the national (Bulgarian) and EU levels.
Measures and procedure in case of a confirmed COVID-19 infection during CMDR COE in-person events
- The respect and application of strict prevention and protection measures, and the observance of high personal hygiene, as described herein, by all visitors and by the CMDR COE staff, are of crucial importance for ensuring a safe and protected environment on the CMDR COE premises, particulalry during CMDR COE in-person events.
- In case an event participant[2] exhibits flu-like symptoms (as described here-above) or feels a general non-disposition, they should remain in their accommodation and immediately inform the event point of contact.
- The event point of contact will advise the participant to take a PCR test.
- The CMDR COE shall provide general information on medical facilities, testing centres' location, emergency medical help (unified phone number 112), and online platforms for food purchasing.
- The CMDR COE shall not be liable for any medical expenses, i.e. test costs (regardless of the result) and follow-up treatment.
- Regardless of the test result, the participant will not be allowed to continue attending the event in-person and actions will be taken to allow for online participation. In case the latter may not be possible, the participant’s seat will be transferred to a future iteration of the event, if applicable.
- In case of a confirmed, with a PCR test, COVID-19 case during an ongoing in-person event, the event will be either:
- transferred online, if possible;
- re-scheduled in accordance with the CMDR COE event calendar and programme of work;
- cancelled.
- In case of transfer to an online delivery, the CMDR COE shall not be responsible for ensuring required technical equipment.
- In case of cancellation, event fees shall not be reimbursed.
- For instructors and facilitators, invited to support CMDR COE in-person events, the CMDR COE shall recalculate honoraria (in case of event cancellation), and may continue to pay daily allowance (i.e. allowance for meals). The CMDR COE shall not be held liable for additional accommodation expenses.
Measures and procedure in case of a confirmed COVID-19 infection within 7 (seven) days of the event.
- The event point of contact is to request participants to inform in case they test positive for COVID-19 infection within 7 (seven) days of end of the event.
- Should the CMDR COE be informed of such a situation, the event point of contact will immediately inform all participants and advises them to follow applicable regulations.
- The CMDR COE continuous to closely monitor the situation and reserves the right to adapt these requirements and measures as necessary and required.
[1] Event point of contact could be: Event / Course Director; OPR or Executive officer.
[2] Participant is to be understood as a brood reference to learners, instructors, facilitators, and all other persons (i.e. CMDR COE staff) participating in-person in an event conducted by the CMDR COE.
