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This summary is provided by the STA:
New Covid-19 vaccine shipment in Slovenia, health staff priority
LJUBLJANA - A new shipment of 16,575 doses of Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Slovenia and will be administered to health staff, a senior Health Ministry official announced. Another shipment is expected next week; those shots will be administered to older persons not residing in care homes, and chronic patients.
Staff at special-needs schools get tested before tomorrow's reopening
LJUBLJANA - Schools and other institutions for special-needs children made arrangements for tomorrow's reopening, including by rapid testing their employees. An estimated 86% of staff were tested and at some schools will have to defer reopening because of positive cases. Community health centres around the country started providing rapid antigen testing today.
744 new infections confirmed on Sunday, 35 died of Covid-19
LJUBLJANA - A total of 744 new cases of coronavirus infections were recorded in Slovenia on Sunday from a combined 2,671 tests, while 35 persons with Covid-19 died. Hospitalisations were slightly up compared to Saturday. There were 1,209 people in hospital for Covid-19 yesterday, up by 36 compared to Saturday. The number of those in intensive care was up by four to 194. Slovenia has so far logged 2,838 deaths, while 19,525 cases remain active.
Gyms, swimming pools allowed to reopen
LJUBLJANA - Gyms and swimming pools reopened under strict conditions under a new government decree that also allows younger registered athletes who are members of national teams to train. Under the rules adopted on 31 December, one person per 50 sq. is allowed in gyms and swimming pools accompanied by a coach, and a five-metre safety distance between individuals must be observed.
Large companies testing their employees after the holidays
LJUBLJANA - A number of large companies started the week by testing their employees for coronavirus. Some performed the tests in-house, others referred workers to community health centres. Aluminium producer Impol for example tested nearly 760 staff at its headquarters, and Adria Mobil, a caravan maker, tested more than 1,000 employees in the morning.
Ski lift operators demand end of obligatory testing for skiers
LJUBLJANA - Ski resorts demand that the government abolish obligatory coronavirus tests for skiers, said Manuela Božič Badalič, president of the association of ski lift operators. Božič Badalič said that skiers do not want to get tested and that despite efforts by operators to get everything needed in place fast, only a few dozen skiers turned up after the measure took effect on 1 January. Unless the testing requirement is abolished, they will mount a Constitutional Court challenge.
No flu case recorded in Slovenia this season so far
LJUBLJANA - Not a single flu case has been recorded in Slovenia this winter, but public health officials warn that the absence of confirmed cases might be the result of a scaled-down testing since flu screening has been put on the back burner due to coronavirus. There have been fewer cases of other viral diseases too. Merely 3%-4% of tests for rhinoviruses, the chief cause of the common cold, returned positive between 21 and 27 December.
Govt planning fresh borrowing
LJUBLJANA - The Finance Ministry announced that a new, 10-year bond with maturity in 2031 will be issued in the near future and and the existing 30-year bond issue due in 2050 increased, depending on the situation on financial markets. Barclays, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole CIB, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Slovenia's NKBM have been authorised to manage the debt issue.
Regulator clears state takeover of spa company
LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Agency has given the go-ahead for Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) to take over spa operator Terme Olimia in what is seen as a step in the creation of a state hospitality holding. SSH acquired a 20.9% stake in Terme Olimia in 2019, raising the overall interest held by the state and state-owned companies over the takeover threshold. It will now be required to publish a takeover bid for the remaining shares.
Municipalities association joins donation efforts for Croatia
LJUBLJANA - The Association of Municipalities (ZOS) has decided to donate funds following a devastating earthquake that hit Croatia last week. The association has transferred EUR 15,000 to the Slovenian Red Cross and Caritas, which have launched donation campaigns. The association called on Slovenia municipalities to contribute as much as they can last week, with many of its members also sending material aid to Croatia, the ZOS said after its first session this year.
Piccaso's illustrations at Moderna Galerija this year
LJUBLJANA - Moderna Galerija, the national museum of modern art, will put on a major exhibition of works by Slovenian artist Tobias Putrih this year and showcase illustrations by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM) will showcase photographs by Božidar Dolenc.
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