STA, 11 March 2020 - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Slovenia rose by 23 since Tuesday afternoon to 57 by 2pm on Wednesday. The first school was closed after a teacher tested positive and strict measures were put in place at the Ljubljana maternity hospital where several cases were confirmed as well. So far, 2,270 persons have been tested.
The Fran Albreht Primary School in Kamnik has been closed for two weeks after a teacher tested positive, but Education Minister Jernej Pikalo announced that "given the large number of negative effects on the life of the community and on the economy, the closure of schools is a measure we will be using only after careful reflection and consultations with experts".
New confirmed cases, standing at six at the time of a press conference held at noon, were reported for UKC Ljubljana. According to the hospital's director Janez Poklukar, the infected are mostly part of UKC's leadership and have had little contact with patients.
However, with five case reported for the hospital's gynaecology department, restrictions were upgraded there - fathers will for instance not be able to be present during birth, and all non-urgent check-ups will be cancelled. The dental clinic also has one confirmed case and is operating in restricted mode.
Šabeder explained that all preventive programmes in the healthcare system would be put on hold and staff relocated to where it is needed most.
The government has also decided to put head of the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration Srečko Šestan in charge of efforts to contain the virus.
Meanwhile, National Public Health Institute (NIJZ) director Nina Pirnat explained the institute was following all primary infections, while it was also noticing secondary, tertiary and quandary transmissions.
She reported that one infection had also been confirmed among the residents of the Metlika (SE) elderly home.
The UKC Ljubljana hospital said on Twitter today, it was treating 20 coronavirus patients at the moment.
While Slovenia remains without a death case due to coronavirus, one of the first individuals to test positive was transferred to intensive care today. However, UKC director Janez Poklukar explained that the patient was in critical condition because of a different issue, although the virus was not helping.
The other 19 patients are stable and at least two of them are expected to be released to home care soon, the hospital said.
UKC Maribor medical director Matjaž Vogrin said that all the patients hospitalised over COVID-19 in Slovenia were experiencing milder symptoms of the disease and that nobody needed intensive care for now.
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