Bulgarian capital Sofia sealed off to contain spread of coronavirus

FILE PHOTO: Workers spray disinfectant outside St Petka church, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ahead of Orthodox Palm Sunday services in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 11, 2020.REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

SOFIA (Reuters) - The Bulgarian capital Sofia will be sealed off from Friday to contain the spread of the new coronavirus after the number of confirmed cases jumped in the past two days, the health minister said.

At a midnight briefing Health Minister Kiril Ananiev said travel to and from Sofia, home to some 2 million people, will be banned until further notice, except for cargo transport and people who have to travel to go to work, or for hospital treatment. Bulgarians have been practicing social distancing and wearing protective masks.