Sofia, Dec 16, 2020, SPA -- Bulgaria plans to keep its schools, restaurants and shopping malls closed until Jan. 31 to contain the spread of coronavirus and help its strained healthcare system, Reuters quoted the health minister as saying today, on Wednesday. The restrictions, which were due to end on Dec. 21, have helped decrease the surge in new infections, but the country of 7 million people still has the highest COVID-19 death rate per 100,000 people in the European Union. On Wednesday, Bulgaria reported 2,743 new coronavirus cases, down from about 4,000 per day in November, bringing the total infections to 184,287 including 6,005 deaths. Close to 7,000 people are in hospital. "After observing the pressure on the healthcare system...we are proposing to extend the restrictions with few exceptions," Health Minister Kostadin Angelov told a government meeting. Under the plan, kindergartens and primary schools will be allowed to reopen as of Jan. 4. Restaurants at hotels will also be allowed to open for guests but at 50% of their capacity. --SPA 19:02 LOCAL TIME 16:02 GMT 0012 www.spa.gov.sa/w1468858