Sofia, 19 October 2021 (dpa/MIA) - Due to rising case numbers, Bulgaria will require proof of vaccination against Covid-19, a negative test result, or documentation of recovery in order to access many indoor sites. As of Thursday, only patrons who have the appropriate proof will be allowed to visit places such as pubs, hotels, fitness centres, shopping malls, cinemas, theatres, concerts, museums and nursing homes. All indoor activities are to be carried out only under the rule, interim Health Minister Stoycho Kazarov told a news conference on Tuesday. Food shops, pharmacies and banks are exempt, but the regulation applies to health care workers. Some 4,979 new Covid-19 infections were registered within 24 hours. The seven-day incidence thus rose to 308.3 per 100,000 people. By comparison, in Germany it was 75.1 per 100,000 people on Tuesday. Many Bulgarians are sceptical of the vaccines. With about 20 per cent of its 6.9 million residents fully vaccinated, Bulgaria is at the bottom of the European Union vaccination ranking. Some hospitals in the capital Sofia said they will soon be at their capacity limits. In the education sector, face-to-face classes will be stopped in schools in the municipalities that reach more than 750 new coronavirus infections per 100.000 residents within 14 days.