Pandemic COVID-19 and measures to limit its spreading in Bulgaria: aftermaths and conclusions

Since the beginning of 2020, the world has suddenly found itself in a unique situation - the spreading of the coronavirus has caused serious consequences in all areas and at all levels of society and required a radical change in people’s lives. The purpose of this article is, after presenting and analyzing the economic and social consequences of the spreading of COVID-19 and the measures taken by the government, to show that they have had an impact on all areas of the social system and that they will have a further reflection over time. The analysis used a sociological approach that interprets society as an integral system of interrelated and interdependent elements.
The analysis showed that, especially in spring, instead of looking for options that balance safety and the ability to work, introducing fewer measures, but more carefully thought out, and strictly monitor their compliance, in fact, too many measures were taken. As the result, the control over their observance was weak. It is difficult to deny the lack of a systematic approach and thinking in perspective. The focus was exclusively on the results characterizing the spread of the coronavirus, ignoring the effects in other areas of public life, as well as in relation to diseases other than coronavirus. The epidemic highlighted problems and gaps in the country’s health care system and showed that there is a need to rethink the universality of market principles, whether they are applicable to health care system, and whether cost-effectiveness is the most important indicator for it, or the criteria for it effectiveness are different.