Sofia, Oct 20, 2020, SPA -- Bulgaria will make wearing protective masks obligatory in all outdoor spaces from Thursday, as coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours hit a new record, its health minister said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Kostadin Angelov said wearing protective masks, along with social distancing and frequent disinfection, will slow the spread of the virus by about 30% and help prevent the health system from being overwhelmed. Bulgaria reported 1,024 new infections on Tuesday, the highest since the first cases were reported in March. The Balkan country of seven million people now has 30,527 confirmed cases including 1,008 deaths. --SPA 19:43 LOCAL TIME 16:43 GMT 0020 www.spa.gov.sa/w1432883