Janez Poklukar

Ljubljana – Slovenia is further restricting the use of PCR tests as of Tuesday with a new testing protocol under which rapid antigen tests will be enough to confirm a coronavirus infection. The certificate of recovery obtained in this way will only be valid in Slovenia for now, Health Minister Janez Poklukar said, indicating changes in this area as well.

Brussels – EU health ministers, meeting in Brussels on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Slovenia’s Janez Poklukar, called for fast and coordinated action to tackle the surge in infections and the spread of the Omicron variant, supporting the general applicability of the EU digital Covid certificate and emphasizing the importance of booster jabs.

Kranj – Six Italian military doctors and nurses arrived in Slovenia on Sunday to help the medical teams of the Slovenian Armed Force helping at Covid-19 hospitals. Another nine could not arrive due to the bad weather but will join them on Monday.

Ljubljana – Fifteen Italian military health professionals will come to Slovenia on Sunday to join the medical teams of the Slovenian Armed Forces helping in Covid-19 hospitals. The Italian team will be greeted by Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Health Minister Janez Poklukar in Kranj, the Defence Ministry said in a press release.

Ljubljana – Health Minister Janez Poklukar and the head of the Medical Chamber Bojana Beović warned about the possibility of the fifth wave of Covid infections. Poklukar thinks that another wave could emerge in February next year as a result of an insufficient vaccination rate.

Ljubljana – Slovenia saw its daily coronavirus count drop on the week before for the third straight day as 1,389 cases were confirmed on Sunday. However, more than half of the PCR tests were positive, and beds available for intensive treatment of Covid-19 patients are all but full, official data show.

Ljubljana – As hospitals are under tremendous pressure from increasing numbers of Covid patients, they will be helped out by the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) and Red Cross volunteers. Talks are also under way with the country’s Civil Protection force.

Ljubljana – The government approval rating slipped to its lowest point this term in the latest Barometer poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo. As many as 40% of respondents gave the cabinet a very negative grade. The gap between the ruling Democrats (SDS) and the opposition Social Democrats (SD) is narrowing.

Brdo pri Kranju – Amidst surging infections, the government decided late on Friday evening to tighten Covid restrictions instead of imposing another lockdown. From Monday, the Covid pass mandate is expanded, opening hours of bars and restaurants restricted, gatherings banned and only surgical or FFP2 masks allowed. Students will soon get tested more often.

Ljubljana – The coordinator for Covid-19 vaccination Jelko Kacin said on Thursday that the government would hold a special meeting at Brdo pri Kranju on Friday to assess the current situation, discuss the expectations for the next few days and the new measures, which were “to be implemented as soon as possible”.