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This summary is provided by the STA:
Epidemic not letting up as record 225 patients need intensive care
LJUBLJANA - As many as 3,666 new coronavirus cases were detected in Slovenia on Friday for a 39.8% positivity rate, slightly up from Thursday's 37.6%, and another 20 Covid patients died. The number of Covid patients in intensive care meanwhile hit a record 225 since the start of the epidemic in March 2020 on Saturday, while the overall number is 981. There are now over 41,500 active cases in the country. The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population increased by 31 to 1,969. Health Ministry State Secretary Franc Vindišar said there are only nine free beds available in intensive care, so a meeting is planned for this evening with directors of all 15 hospitals treating Covid patients to increase the capacities. "By far the biggest mobilisation is under way in healthcare," he said.
Pahor presents Golden Order of Merit to author Milan Kundera
PARIS, France - President Borut Pahor bestowed the Golden Order of Merit, one of the highest Slovenian state decorations, on Czech-French writer Milan Kundera in Paris on Saturday. Kundera was honoured for having raised his voice for Slovenia's independence and for his outstanding contribution to understanding turbulent times in Europe. Since Kundera, 92, could not attend today's ceremony due to illness, the order of merit was accepted by Paris-based Slovenian photographer Evgen Bavčar.
Army and Red Cross to help in anti-coronavirus efforts
LJUBLJANA - As hospitals are under great pressure from increasing numbers of Covid patients, they will be helped out by the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) and Red Cross Slovenia, while the government is also in talks with the country's Civil Protection force. The army will provide its medical unit to help treat and nurse Covid-19 patients, while Red Cross will give at the hospitals' disposal volunteers to help at Covid units. As many as its 124 volunteers have responded to the call for help.
National budgets for 2022 and 2023 ready for plenary
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Finance Committee completed two days of debate on the draft supplementary budget for 2022 and draft budget for 2023, preparing them to be passed at the plenary starting on Monday. The MPs kept the headline figures as planned but backed a redistribution of EUR 45 million in spending for the two years. With five amendments to next year's budget, EUR 37.9 million was redistributed for areas the MPs deemed neglected; EUR 26.5 million will go for local government. The budgets are accompanied by a bill on their implementation, which allows the state to borrow just over EUR 5 billion in 2022 and slightly less than EUR 4.7 billion in 2023.
Slovenian men start chess championship with win
ČATEŽ OB SAVI - The Slovenian teams competing in the European Team Chess Championship got off to a mixed start to the competition on Friday, with the men's team defeating Ireland and the women's team surprisingly losing to Belgium. The top-ranked teams in both men's and women's competition, Russia, predictably notched up their first wins. The championship lasts nine rounds and will wrap up next Sunday.
