Hundreds of anti-vaccine protesters joined some political leaders in Sofia to demonstrate against Bulgaria's decision to make a Covid-19 “Green Certificate” mandatory for access to restaurants, theatres and shopping malls, reports Reuters.

The interim health ministry announced the move on Tuesday to try to slow a surge in infections and deaths in the European Union's least vaccinated country.

Under the new rules, due to come into force on Thursday (tomorrow), access to bars, gyms, hotels and other indoor public venues will be allowed only to people who have either a vaccine certificate, a document they have recovered from the virus or a negative test. Only 24 per cent of adults are vaccinated in Bulgaria.