The Health Ministry and the Committee for Infectious Diseases are set to propose to the government on Monday that sanctions for failing to abide by the mandatory protective equipment measure are imposed earlier than planned, i.e. as of Tuesday, as citizens have been slow to implement this measure, Health Minister Venko FIlipce said at a press conference Sunday.

The Health Ministry and the Committee for Infectious Diseases will propose to the government on Monday that fines for failing to abide by the mandatory protective equipment measure are imposed immediately, as of Tuesday. I call on citizens to respect this measure and wear protective equipment when they are inside, or outside and can’t maintain a two-meter distance from others, Filipce said.

He underlined that officials have decided to put forward this proposal after an abundance of photographic evidence showing people not abiding by the mandatory protective equipment measure surfaced on social media.

There are citizens who respect this measure and are aware that it’s a key instrument in the fight against the virus. All measures we’ve adopted have shown positive results. If we abiding by this measure we’ll protect ourselves, our families, and the rest of the population, and prevent the number of cases, which we have kept under control for the past two months, from rising, Filipce said.