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STA, 4 May 2020 - With the tourism industry projected to remain shut down longer due to coronavirus than most other sectors, the Slovenian government is considering extending temporary emergency aid for tourism companies by a few months or even until the end of the year, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said on Monday.
"Tourism experienced the impact of the coronavirus crisis first and, partially due to the reliance on foreign guests, it will not be able to restart its operations until later," Počivalšek said before a newly established council for tourism, a government advisory body, convened to discuss the need for additional aid and health standards.
Specifically, the state financing of temporary layoffs, which expires at the end of May, could be extended by four months or even until the end of the year for the tourism business. Počivalšek said he would formally propose that to the government.
It would also make sense to set up a fund that would extend grants and favourable loans for the financing of current operations and investments since the industry needs to adjust to new standards.
While the current epidemiological situation is favourable and represents "an optimistic basis," Počivalšek noted that revenue in tourism was expected to contract anywhere between 25% and over 70% this year depending on the pace of the easing of measures.
Bar terraces opened today and restaurants have been allowed to serve food for take away and delivery for several weeks now. Počivalšek said "more significant steps" might follow in the second half of May or in June, for example the opening of small accommodation facilities.
Slovenia has also been in talks with Croatia on reopening the border for tourism. Počivalšek said the heads of both public health institutes would discuss protocols for border crossing this week.
The minister however warned that tourism would change permanently as a greater emphasis is placed on health. "I am confident that the tourism business and we as the competent ministry know which direction the measures should take so that we remain at the vanguard in this field."
Počivalšek noted that Slovenian tourism had already built its business model on niche experiences and active holidays, which he said would remain its foundation in the future.
The director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek, said after the session that an expert group would meet this week "to make sure that once the green light for opening is given, innkeepers, hotel owners and other workers in tourism are ready."
Gregor Jamnik, the head of the Slovenian Association of Hotels, said liquidity was essential now for hotel operators since the industry would take longer to recover and since the likely ongoing presence of the virus would require "an unprecedented change of conduct in hotels, bars and restaurants".
Podčetrtek Mayor Peter Misja, the head of the Slovenian Tourism Association, added that the standards that will be put in place should be workable. "Slovenia should not be more papal than the pope."
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This summary is provided by the STA:
Opposition files motion of no confidence in economy minister
LJUBLJANA - Four centre-left opposition parties filed a motion of no confidence in Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, accusing him of being responsible for profiteering of individuals and companies in the purchases of personal protective equipment. The move comes after a series of media reports questioning purchasing procedures. Denying accusations levelled against him, Počivalšek said the motion was aimed at toppling the government, while welcoming it as an opportunity to set the record straight. The motion has little chance of succeeding as coalition parties indicated their support for the minister and even the opposition National Party said it would not vote for his dismissal.
Ministry rescinds controversial ventilator delivery contract
LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry decided to rescind a EUR 8 million contract with company Geneplanet for the purchase of 220 ventilators Siriusmed R30. This was proposed by Geneplanet after the ventilators came under fire as being unsuitable for Covid-19 patients. Geneplanet has already delivered 110 of these ventilators to the Commodity Reserves Agency. The ministry decided to keep 90 of them under the condition that additional equipment be delivered, which would make them suitable for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Twenty ventilators will be returned.
Second day with no new confirmed coronavirus infections in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - None of the 616 persons tested for coronavirus on Sunday tested positive for the second consecutive day with no new confirmed infections in Slovenia. The number of all confirmed cases so far thus remains at 1,439. One more patient died of Covid-19, raising the death toll to 97. So far, 56,136 tests have been conducted in Slovenia. Saturday was the first day with no new infections since the first coronavirus infection was confirmed on 4 March.
City streets come to life as more businesses reopen
LJUBLJANA - Lockdown restrictions were eased further as stores under 400m2 outside shopping malls reopened along with bar terraces, hair salons and beauty parlours. Most museums and libraries reopened and church services resumed. Professional athletes were allowed to train again. Despite the easing, strict physical distancing sanitary measures still apply. Slovenians were very happy to be able to have their coffee at their favourite place or get a haircut with hair and beauty salons booked weeks in advance. Unlike bar terraces, clothes and footwear stores were not very busy today.
Slovenia pledges close to EUR 14m for coronavirus vaccine
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia pledged EUR 13.76 million in a global online pledging marathon supporting research into a possible vaccine and treatment for the novel coronavirus. As the EU campaign was launched on Monday donations worth more than EUR 7.4 billion were raised. The pledging conference was attended by Foreign Minister Anže Logar, who announced the country's donation.
Govt to upgrade epidemic protection plan and cyber security standards
BRDO PRI KRANJU - As the National Security Council met for a session the government decided to upgrade the national protection and rescue plan in the part pertaining to epidemics in order to address issues that may occur in the case of a possible second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic. The government will also set up uniform cyber security standards for state institutions with the 5G technology seen as an issue of national security. Digitalisation and cyber security will also be among Slovenia's priorities for the upcoming 2021 EU presidency.
Extension of aid for tourism mulled
BRDO PRI KRANJU - The government is considering extending temporary emergency aid for tourism companies. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said state financing of temporary layoffs, which expires at the end of May, could be extended by four months or even until the end of the year for the tourism sector. It would also make sense to set up a fund that would extend grants and favourable loans for the financing of current operations and investments since the industry needs to adjust to new standards, he said before a meeting of a new government advisory body for tourism.
Interior minister promises gradual reopening of checkpoints on Italian border
NOVA GORICA/KOBARID - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs visited the communities along Slovenia's western border, announcing the reopening of two border check points with Italy and discussing the possibility of reopening several others. In Nova Gorica, a town right on the border, he said that a check point in the city would reopen, and that another would reopen in Goriška Brda, the rural area north of Nova Gorica. "The border with Italy, as we knew it before the epidemic, will not be the same for a long time," the minister said.
Jurist Verica Trstenjak candidate for NLB supervisor
LJUBLJANA - Verica Trstenjak, a former advocate general at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, was put forward as a candidate for a member of the supervisory board of Slovenia's largest bank, NLB. The vote on her appointment and the re-appointment of Primož Karpe as supervisory board chairman and David Eric Simon as a supervisory board member will be taken at the shareholders' meeting on 15 June. The shareholders will also vote on the proposal to carry forward the EUR 228 million in distributable profit, and on amendments to the articles of association to allow employee representatives to the be named to the supervisory board and management.
Increase in domestic violence recorded amid Covid-19 epidemic
LJUBLJANA - Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia, the police have recorded a 20% increase in domestic violence compared to the same period last year, having dealt with 177 such incidents. At the same time, the number of crimes against public order has decreased. The number of issued restraining orders has been reduced as well, said Vinko Stojnšek of the Criminal Police Administration juvenile delinquency department.
If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here
STA, 4 May 2020 - None of the 616 persons tested for coronavirus on Sunday was positive in what was the second consecutive day with no new confirmed infections in Slovenia. The number of all confirmed cases so far thus remains at 1,439. One more patient died of Covid-19, putting the total number of deaths at 97, government data show.
So far, 56,136 tests have been conducted in Slovenia and this Saturday was the first day since 4 March with no new infections.
The first coronavirus infection was confirmed in Slovenia on 4 March.
On Sunday, 58 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, including 20 in intensive care. Three persons were released from hospital yesterday.
STA, 4 May 2020 - The details concerning the purchase of a total of 316 ventilators for coronavirus patients continue to raise dust. Two doctors have stepped forward defending the choice, and the government and some media have questioned the credibility of a member of an expert group that had reservations about the purchase of 220 of these ventilators.
It was two doctors from the Celje general hospital who issued statements on Saturday in defence of the 220 Siriusmed R30 ventilators ordered on 18 March through Geneplanet for EUR 8 million even though an expert commission formed as part of the selection process had reportedly ranked them at the very bottom of the 13 ventilators picked among 92 as appropriate.
While a government report on PPE purchases during the coronavirus crisis is still pending, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and PM Janez Janša have defended what TV Slovenia said were the most expensive ventilators on the approved list. They argued lives had been at stake and that the speed of supply had been the decisive factor.
Accusations about alleged political ties and personal interests have meanwhile continued flying across the board, starting with reports hinting at potential ties between Geneplanet and the ruling Democrats (SDS).
While it has been confirmed that none of the three hospitals supplied with the Siriusmeds had used them on Covid-19 patients and that the head of the Celje hospital had served as state secretary under Počivalšek, the spotlight has shifted in recent days to internal medicine specialist Rihard Knafelj, one of the three members of an informal medical group that had evaluated offers for ventilators.
It was Knafelj who insisted for one of the two editions of TV Slovenija's Tarča current affairs shows - which featured Commodities Reserves Agency whistleblower Ivan Gale - that the Siriusmed ventilators were dangerous for use on Covid-19 patients.
While the UKC Ljubljana doctor, who specialises in artificial ventilation, initially came under fire for alleged ties to the Marjan Šarec Party (LMŠ), he was later attacked heavily for several Facebook posts, including a reference to PM Janša as Adolf Janša and a joke that those trusting God do not need ventilators.
The Medical Chamber said today its ethics committee would examine the statements, for which Knafelj has already apologised. It also condemned death threats that he received.
Another prominent accusation against him is that he pushed for the purchase of other ventilators - a day after the deal with Geneplanet, Slovenia also ordered 46 Bellavista ventilators through Gorenje and 50 Nihon Kohden ventilators through Ram2, Dnevnik reported. These three had also been on the expert group's list of 13, along with Avea and Mindray ventilators, but at least the Mindrays were no longer available at that point, the paper added.
Publishing an email sent to officials by Knafelj on 19 March, the Siol.net new portal reported on Sunday that Knafelj had pushed for the purchase of several ventilators by other makers, including the Bellavista ventilators even though they had been designated as potentially lethal by US, Canadian as well as Slovenian authorities last November.
"We did not push for any of the 13. The three mentioned in Siol's article (Avea, Bellavista and Mindray) had been offered as being available for purchase immediately, and this is what gave rise to the question of why they had not been purchased given that they had been assessed positively," Knafelj told the STA on Sunday.
As for the Bellavistas, he said certain serial numbers had been recalled in November, but that their producer Vyaire Medical had committed to upgrading the device's software by the end of the 2019 and that its recommendations for use on Covid-19 patients were in line with the recommendations by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.
Meanwhile, Tomislav Mirkovič, another UKC Ljubljana doctor, who used to head the hospital's intensive care unit, said at today's government coronavirus briefing that experts were fairly united in the view that the Siriusmed R30 is suitable for use on Covid-19 patients provided a compressor and an air humidifier with heated pipes are supplied additionally.
This requirement had also been stated in its opinion by the expert commission, which Mirkovič said had done a good job. He added that according to his knowledge, the Celje hospital has this additional equipment.
Mirkovič moreover argued that the start of the epidemic had been a confusing time filled with panic there would not be enough ventilators. He explained the UKC Ljubljana hospital had also ordered 104 new ventilators on its own, 50 of them very good and 54 perhaps of a little lower quality.
Data published by UKC Ljubljana show that a deal was signed on 12 March on the purchase of 50 Hamilton C6 ventilators through Framed and two days later a deal on 54 Sternmed Vento 62 ventilators through Geneplanet. Three more Lowenstein Elisa ventilators were ordered through Ram2 in mid March.
By 24 April, 13 Sternmed Vento 62 ventilators and three Lowenstein Elisa ventilators had been delivered.
Four opposition parties file motion of no confidence in economy minister
STA, 4 May 2020 - The opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD), Left and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB)filed a motion of no confidence in Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek on Monday over his responsibility for what they see as opaque procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The move, which the LMŠ announced on 23 April, comes after a wave of accusations was levelled at Počivalšek and the government about purchasing procedures and the quality of equipment as well as about attempts to influence the Agency for Commodity Reserves to choose certain suppliers.
More than a week ago, Ivan Gale, the deputy head of the agency, came forward with accusations of strong political pressure and other potential irregularities in the procurement. The whistleblower also told the Tarča current affairs show that Počivalšek had personally intervened in favour of a ventilator contract with the company Geneplanet worth EUR 8 million.
Počivalšek denies any wrongdoing, describing the media reports on the topic as an orchestrated head hunt. He acknowledged things could have been done better, but said the situation at the start of the epidemic had been unprecedented.
He said that neither he nor his colleagues had lobbied or politically influenced decisions in any way, adding that the goal of the communication had been to speed up procedures and secure protective equipment for frontline staff at a time when it was needed the most.
Prime Minister Janez Janša said on Saturday that Počivalšek still enjoyed his trust and that a government report on the procurement would be sent to parliament this week.
Presenting the motion to the press, representatives of all four parties said the responsibility for the controversial procurement of protective equipment lied with the entire government, especially since the PM expressed support for Počivalšek, and that more measures were to follow.
LMŠ MP Robert Pavšič said a parliamentary inquiry into the procurement procedures would be launched in a few days.
He said the minister had been violating the law, which applied also in times of crisis, in conducting procurement procedures, which should have been conducted by the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices any way. "It's about a whole range of direct and indirect breaches of the law, but mostly avoidance and misleading, and apparent cronyism and corruption," he said.
LMŠ head Marjan Šarec added on the sidelines on today's meeting of the National Security Council that there was also no clear information on what the needs for protective equipment had actually been.
Some equipment was available at the start of the epidemic, including ventilators, and the UKC Ljubljana hospital for example had EUR 30 million available for purchasing more of it, he said. Other health institutes also had permission to purchase equipment, he added.
Šarec also said the Chinese ambassador had offered assistance. The state only needed a company to import the equipment, and this could have been the Agency for Commodity Reserves or state-owned companies, for example pharma company Krka, Šarec said.
Šarec said the goal was to get to the bottom of this. The economy minister is not the only one responsible, as orders were coming from the top, he said, noting that some e-mails had apparently been written by Janša's wife.
Deputy head of the SD deputy group, Bojana Muršič, said "this government, this coalition has created a parallel world for itself, and only dishonest practices are coming out of it". She said the SD condemned cronyism in the procurement of protective equipment, noting the procedures must be investigated.
"Every time Janez Janša is in power millions in provisions are paid out," said MP of the Left Miha Kordiš, pointing to the 1990s defence scandal and the 2008 Patria scandal.
Maša Kociper of the SAB warned that determining political responsibility in the parliamentary inquiry or the no confidence vote would not bring back the millions that were possibly lost in the deals.
The SAB had demanded parliamentary oversight of all public procurement during the epidemic and a special fund, which would be used to finance all epidemic-related costs, but its proposals were rejected, she noted.
In the motion of confidence the parties allege that Počivalšek is politically responsible for financial profiteering of individuals and companies in procurement of PPE and other medical supplies and for uneconomical spending of public funds.
Blaming him for "unethical, crony and corrupt collusion in favouring companies and individuals" to buy PPE from, they say that due to his "lying and misleading of the public and media" the minister has lost trust in his integrity and work.
They note conflicting and inconsistent statements by Minister Počivalšek and Defence Minister Matej Tonin and shifting of the responsibility for PPE procurement from one body to another.
They allege that by misleading the public that the state could only buy through Slovenian intermediaries, the Economy Ministry squandered favourable bids by the Chinese state company Sinofarm and the online giant Alibaba.
They cite data showing that the Agency for Commodity Reserves paid some suppliers up to 100% of the order's value in advance, even though Počivalšek ruled out any money being paid up front.
To vote out the minister, at least 46 out of 90 deputies of the National Assembly would need to vote in favour of the motion. The four opposition parties have 37 deputies between them, while Zmago Jelinčič, the leader of another opposition party, has announced the three deputies of his National Party (SNS) will not support the motion, which he said was "without any juice and completely void".
STA, 4 May 2020 - Quarantine restrictions will be eased further on Monday as stores under 400m2 reopen along with bar terraces, hair salons and beauty parlours. People will again be able to visit museums, libraries as of this week, and go to church. Moreover, professional athletes will be allowed to train again.
Despite the easing of restrictions, safety measures will still apply. In case of bars and restaurants, this means that tables will have to be arranged in a way to allow customers to keep one-metre distance. Guests will also have to wear masks or other protection to go to the toilet or enter any other closed rooms.
Owners will have to regularly disinfect and air their premises.
Some bar owners, especially on the coast, have decided not to reopen yet because they are dependant mostly on foreign guests, so opening their door in the current situation would mean they would be making a loss.
Stores under 400m2 will reopen, except for those in shopping malls which do not have their own entrance.
Hair and massage salons, and beauty parlours will welcome one customer at a time, and the customers will have to wear a face mask. Those working in the salons and beauty parlours will have to wear a face mask, visor and gloves.
In churches, believers will also have to wear protective masks or other protection and keep a 1.5-metre distance if they do not live in the same household.
The services of making or repairing textile products, footwear and leather products will also be available again, along with key cutting, photography, watchmaking and photocopying services. Seamstresses and jewellers will also open their door again.
Top athletes competing in individual and team sports will be allowed to train again but only individually.
Also opening this week are museums, libraries and galleries, which received the government's permission to reopen before the May Day holidays but said they need more time to prepare for the reopening.
General libraries will reopen today, while most galleries and museums will open their door again on Tuesday. Some bookshops are already open.
This is the latest round of easing of restrictions for businesses since 19 April, when takeaway restaurants, DIY stores, car showrooms, car washes, stores selling bicycles, technical goods and furniture stores, dry cleaners, some repair shops, and insurance agents started working again.
The government imposed a temporary ban on most retail establishments in mid-March.
All our stories on covid-19 and Slovenia are here
STA, 4 May 2020 - None of the 616 persons tested for coronavirus on Sunday was positive in what was the second consecutive day with no new confirmed infections in Slovenia. The number of all confirmed cases so far thus remains at 1,439. One more patient died of Covid-19, putting the total number of deaths at 97, government data show.
So far, 56,136 tests have been conducted in Slovenia and this Saturday was the first day since 4 March with no new infections.
The first coronavirus infection was confirmed in Slovenia on 4 March.
On Sunday, 58 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, including 20 in intensive care. Three persons were released from hospital yesterday.
In this short (we hope) series before things re-open, we’re looking at what things local tourist offices want to promote for their town or region, starting with the capital. If you’re a tourist office and would like a similar, free-of-charge story for your area, please get in touch me with me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., subject Virtual Tourism + PLACE NAME, and let me know why people should be planning a visit, plus links to anything you want to promote.
People can’t travel now, but they can daydream and plan, so we got in touch with Nina Kosin at Ljubljana Tourism to find out what she’d recommend. She wanted to highlight four broad areas of what Ljubljana offers visitors and residents – a green, active city, vibrant culinary scene, wealth of museums and galleries to explore, and tours and trips to take within the city or nearby. There's a lot of videos, so relax, let them load and start planning your next trip Slovenia.
A green and active city
In 2016 Ljubljana won the title of European Green Capital, a fact that will come as no surprise to anyone who knows the city, with its trees and parks, large pedestrianised area, good public transport, clean flowing river and many, many cyclists. This year the city is tying this clean, green and active image even more closely to its tourist offer, with a clear focus on active holidays.
Cycling in Ljubljana
If you want to on a bike to explore the city like a local then you can easily rent one from the Biciklj system or the tourist centre – with four hours free if you have a Ljubljana Tourist Card – which also offers entrance to city and national museums and galleries, free public transport, a boat ride, trip to the castle, wi-fi and more.
By bike you can follow a one of several thematic routes through the city, take a tour or just explore your interests – with the Castle and river as easy reference points to find you way so you’re in no danger of getting lost.
If you prefer to cycle away from the streets, then Ljubljana Bike Park and the hill known as Golovec offer mountain bike trails to bounce along, while there are also pump tracks in the Spodnja Šiška, Bežigrad and Fužine districts. In short, if you’re looking for a city break that’s good on two wheels then consider Ljubljana – and if you want to see more of the country, then take a look at the Bike Slovenia Green tours that can take you from the mountains of Kranjska Gora to the coast of Koper.
Hiking in Ljubljana
Of course, not everyone feels comfortable on two wheels, so it’s good that Ljubljana is small enough to enjoy on foot, with many paths to hike or jog along through nature if you want to get more exercise and pump more of the city’s fresh air into your lungs. Simply head to Castle Hill or Tivoli Park and then up to Rožnik Hill for a commanding views the city in a forest. These two forested areas are quickly reached from the centre of town, and throughout the year offer residents and visitors a green escape into the wonders of nature.
Running in the city is fun, with lanes and bridges, hills and forests
Further from the centre there’s the more extensive Šmarna gora, while if you’d like to get out of the city then there are numerous hiking trails nearby with different levels of difficulty and landscapes to enjoy – the official details are here.
If mobility is an issue, then don’t worry – Ljubljana is an increasingly accessible city with ramps and facilities for people with disabilities, as well as a free electric vehicle (an electric kavilir) to move you around. A great app called Ljubljana by Wheelchair also highlights cafés, attractions and so on with ramps, disabled bathrooms and Eurokey facilities, which you can read about and download here. Manual wheelchair users can also borrow, for free, an attachment that will motorise their equipment, as reported here.
Food and drink in Ljubljana
With all that movement you’ll be hungry, and when Ljubljana reopens there should be plenty to eat, which is why Nina Kosin of Ljubljana Tourism recommends adding the city’s culinary scene to the reasons you’ll be making a visit.
Slovenian cuisine has been on a steep rise the last few years, with Ana Roš, food & wine tourism, farmers markets, and festivals building on each other to spread the word and create the networks needed to connect producers with consumers.
If you want to cook Slovenian food, then I recommend taking a look at the Cook Eat Slovenia book – beautiful produced, with clear recipes that cover all seasons and regions. Here’s the recipe for potica.
Gault & Millau published their first guide to a Slovenia in 1998, Michelin’s book is set to be released late 2020, and Ljubljana Tourism have put together their own list of restaurants with the “Ljubljana Quality Mark”, along with some recommended places to sample traditional Ljubljana dishes, artisanal products, and even international food (details here).
Whatever your budget, you’ll want to check out are the excellent central market, where you can pick up everything you need for a picnic from local farmers and producers – and perhaps find yourself shopping next to a top chef or two. If in town on a Friday in the warmer months then a must visit is Open Kitchen, which from 11am till late has stalls selling food and drink from some of the best restaurants in the city, and certainly has the most variety in one place.
Museums, galleries and performances in Ljubljana
OK, that’s movement and food, now to consider art and culture, with Ljubljana’s museums and galleries offering very manageable collections of artworks and artifacts from around the country and all over the world. Whether you prefer natural history or contemporary art, ceramics or science and technology, puppets or Roman remains, the city has more than enough variety to keep you entertained, educated and enlightened.
The city has everything from sacred art at the national Gallery..... (Photo: JL Flanner)
...to more colourful shows, like this from the Japanese artist Saeborg at Galerija vzigalica (photo from the gallery website)
If you prefer your art live then you’re also spoiled for choice in Ljubljana. Classical music, opera, ballet, pop, rock, electronic, jazz, folk and so on, as well as a vibrant street performance scene, mean you can easily take in a show from local or international names, with all the major venues in the heart of the city. When things reopen, we’ll start our regular what’s on in Ljubljana guides again, so you can plan your trip – here are all the previous editions if you want to see what’s usually in town.
How well do you know the city? Test your knowledge with 25 things to know about the green city of dragons…
Tours in Ljubljana
So that’s green, active, culinary and cultural– what else did Nina Kosin recommend? That would be the experiences you can have in Ljubljana. While most of these will be the ones you make yourself on the streets and in the buildings of the city – which is small and welcoming enough that you’ll feel at home by your second day – you can always go on a more organised endeavour and be more certain of the outcome. There are (usually) many tours on offer, with focuses on history, architecture, food, wine, beer, street art and more. The city itself promotes these tours, but there are many others available in a competitive market.
Here’s Martin, an official tour guide, filming himself giving a tour during lockdown
All of this, and a lot more, is waiting for you in Ljubljana when travel is possible again, and you’re looking for a clean, green and active place to escape from wherever you are now.
If you’re a tourist office and would like to a similar story for your area, please get in touch me with me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., subject Virtual Tourism + PLACE NAME, and let me know why people should be planning a visit.
STA, 3 May 2020 - Slovenian journalist Blaž Zgaga is one of 17 recipients of this year's Freedom of Speech Award given out by the German public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle to journalists from 14 countries who have been persecuted for coronavirus reporting. All other recipients come from non-EU countries.
Zgaga, a freelance journalist and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, received the award for being harassed by the government and receiving anonymous death threats, the jury said.
Other recipients come from Serbia, Belarus, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Turkey, Jordan, India, Cambodia, the Philippines, and three from China.
Deutsche Welle has been giving out the award annually to initiatives and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to human rights and freedom of speech.
Previous award winners include the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, the White House Correspondents' Association, and the Mexican journalist and author Anabel Hernández.
MP of the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) Branko Grims responded to the news on Twitter by saying that the fact that Zgaga received the award proved only that Deutsche Welle staff did not understand Slovenian. "I think that giving Blaž Zgaga a freedom of speech award is like giving Metod Trobec a women's rights award."
He was referring to a serial killer and rapist, whose victims were women.
Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
This summary is provided by the STA:
No new coronavirus infection for the first time in two months
LJUBLJANA - No new infection was recorded in Slovenia on Saturday for the first time in two months, government data show. After 500 additional tests, the total number of infections confirmed so far thus remains at 1,439. Two people died of Covid-19 yesterday, putting the death toll at 96. Fifty-nine Covid-19 patients were in hospital yesterday.
Taskforce says Slovenia currently has enough ventilators
LJUBLJANA - After Slovenia's key provider of ventilators during the epidemic, Geneplanet, proposed to the government to terminate their contract amid criticism that the ventilators were not suitable for Covid-19 patients, the Health Ministry learned from a taskforce led by Marko Noč, the chair of intensive care unit of the UKC Ljubljana hospital, that the country currently has enough ventilators. The final decision will be made on Monday.
Journalists' trade union fears post-epidemic measures
LJUBLJANA - The media sector has adjusted to the epidemic situation quickly and effectively but it faces great uncertainty after the corona crisis is over and the government is increasing this uncertainty, the Slovenian Union of Journalists said in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day. The Association of Journalists and the Association of Journalists and Commentators also issued their World Pres Freedom Day statements, with the former saying that the government had overheard all calls for aid by the media, and the latter calling for more media plurality. The public broadcaster RTV Slovenija condemned verbal attacks on its employees by politicians.
Slovenian journalist among recipients of German freedom of speech award
BERLIN, Germany - Slovenian journalist Blaž Zgaga, a freelance journalist and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, is one of 17 recipients of this year's Freedom of Speech Award given out by the German public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle to journalists from 14 countries who have been persecuted for coronavirus reporting. All other recipients come from non-EU countries. A fierce reaction came from MP of the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) Branko Grims, who compared this to giving out a women's rights award to Metod Trobec, a serial killer whose victims were women.
Environmentalists say work from home should continue after epidemic
LJUBLJANA - Work from home has become much more widespread in Slovenia during the coronavirus epidemic, and because its positive effects on the environment environmentalists are calling for legislative changes that would allow more of such work in the future as well. Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj supports the idea.
Weaker demand for bread and meat due to Covid-19 epidemic
LJUBLJANA - In the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, demand for meat as well as fresh bread and pastries has decreased in Slovenia. The country's food industries saw a spike in demand in March after the epidemic was declared, with people hoarding supplies, but in April the situation saw a downturn in the consumption. The closure of schools, kindergartens and restaurants, introduced to stem the Covid-19 spread, has led to repercussions for the meat industry since those institutions and venues are its main buyers.
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All our stories on coronavirus are here, while those covering covid-19 and Croatia are here. We'll have an update at the end of the day, and if you want newsflashes then we'll post those on Facebook
We can’t have pictures of COVID-19 every day. So instead we’ll try and show the works of Slovenian artists. Today it’sSaška Grušovnik. You can see more of her work here.
No new coronavirus infection for the first time in two months
No New Cases; Less Demand for Bread, Meat
No new coronavirus infection for the first time in two months
STA, 3 May 2020 - No new infection was recorded in Slovenia on Saturday for the first time in two months, government data show. After 500 additional tests, the total number of infections confirmed so far thus remains at 1,439. Two people died of Covid-19 yesterday, putting the death toll at 96. Fifty-nine Covid-19 patients were in hospital yesterday.
The first coronavirus infection was confirmed in Slovenia on 4 March. The number of infections grew in the next few days and in the weeks that followed dozens of new infections were recorded every day. In the past week, between 5 and 11 new infections were recorded every day.
Saturday is the first day since 4 March when no new infection was recorded.
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals has also been decreasing, standing at around 60 in the last three weeks. On Saturday, their number stood at 59, one fewer than the day before. 21 patients remain in intensive care.
In Slovenia, 55,520 tests have been conducted so far, confirming 1,439 infections.
Weaker demand for bread and meat due to Covid-19 epidemic
STA, 3 May 2020 - In the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, demand for meat as well as fresh bread and pastries has decreased in Slovenia. The country's food industries saw a spike in demand in March after the epidemic was declared, with people hoarding supplies, but in April the situation saw a downturn in the consumption.
The closure of schools, kindergartens and restaurants, introduced to stem the Covid-19 spread, has led to repercussions for the meat industry since those institutions and venues are its main buyers.
Some workers had to be temporarily laid off or they have taken a leave from work amid cutting down on production.
Peter Polanič, the chairman of food group Panvita, told the STA that the company had to step up its production in March, only to then reduce it in April.
Purchases by public institutions account for roughly 3% of Panvita sales, which is not insignificant when transformed into figures, said Polanič, adding that he expected additional fallout due to a weaker tourist season and less public events.
The group, which includes Panvita Mesnine, the leading firm in the group's meat division, expects to resume normal work schedules next week since the season of picnics is about to start, according to Polanič.
Meanwhile, poultry group Perutnina Ptuj has been dealing with decreased demand as well, with the exception of prepared meats and ready meals.
Pivka Delamaris, one of the main brands of poultry group Pivka Perutninarstvo, has been experiencing issues with meat exports, most notably to Italy, Austria and Croatia.
The impact of the epidemic has hit the bread industry as well, with the deliveries by the country's largest bread and pasta maker Žito cut by half compared to the same period last year.
Žito is supplying its products to public institutions and restaurants - a major share of its sales, nearly 20%, has been hence cancelled in the wake of the lockdown.
Moreover, the sales of fresh bread products have been slashed by 30%. Daily purchases of bread are currently considered a thing of the past, with people frequenting Žito shops only once per week or every ten days.
The company has partly adapted its operations to the extreme circumstances by launching some of its most popular products in a packaged form which keeps them fresh longer and providing home deliveries via its online shop. In May, Žito will also make frozen bread available.
Due to decreased demand, the company has been rationalising production as well as dealing with labour surplus by striving to avoid any layoffs. However, some workers have been put on furlough for the time being and the number of hired staff has been reduced.
Meanwhile, baking group Don Don has told the STA that it has been delivering less bread and pastries as well - down by some 35% - due to introducing additional preventive measures in production and a drop in demand.
Don Don clients are mostly grocery shops, however lockdown measures resulting in teleworking and remote learning have affected the company's sales of sandwiches as well as sweet and savoury pastries. The company has meanwhile responded to the changed circumstances by launching part baked bread.
A part of the workforce have been furloughed, while some employees have been made redundant since the company has estimated that a drop in sales will continue for at least six more months.
STA, 3 May 2020 - A three-member team from Grosuplje has developed a device for disinfecting cash using ultraviolet light. The device called Cash Cleaner is said to be the only in the world to disinfect up to 100 banknotes a minute.
"Our lives are slowly returning to normal, but we'll have to be more careful after the pandemic," says Žan Brezec, a member of the team, adding that some countries, including China, South Korea, Hungary and the US, were already disinfecting money or keeping it in quarantine.
Cash Cleaner was developed during the lockdown. "Developing it during the lockdown was quite a challenge. We had to change the construction and design of functional parts several times to adjust it to the locally accessible materials and production processes," said Brezec.
After a lot of team work, testing, trouble shooting and improvisation, the device, using the same UV technology that is used for disinfecting hospitals, labs and clinics, was developed using own funds in just over a month.
Brezec said that several Slovenian banks were interested in the device and that one of them would start testing it in the coming days. But he would not disclose the name of the bank.
"At the moment we can make one device a day but if orders increased we could optimise our production and make up to 100 devices a month," Brezec told the STA.
The team says only three similar devices were currently on the market. One was designed in South Korea during the 2012 MERS epidemic but it uses a different technology, whose efficiency is not backed by sufficient scientific research, according to the team.
In China, they have UV devices, but each banknote is not treated individually and the process is time-consuming, and the third solution was developed in Turkey but its realisation is expected only in 2023, Brezec said.
"Our solution is ... the only device that exposes each side of a banknote to UVC rays for a specific period of time, meaning that each banknote is disinfected in less than a second and ready to be used."
You can learn more about the Cash Cleaner here
STA, 2 May 2020 - Following a series of accusations about alleged dodgy procedures in the procurement of personal protective equipment and ventilators, company Geneplanet, Slovenia's key provider of ventilators during the coronavirus epidemic, proposed to the government on Saturday to mutually agree to terminate the relevant contracts.
Related: New Details in Slovenia’s Coronavirus Equipment Scandal
The company wants to protect its reputation, according to its director Marko Bitenc, who suggested the termination of the cooperation in a letter addressed to Toni Rumpf, the acting director of the Agency for Commodity Reserves.
Bitenc explained that the company's "appearance in this negative context without any reasonable grounds is harmful to its international reputation and good repute", adding that the company had been operating in line with law and regulations.
Geneplanet proposes terminating a part of the contract that pertains to ventilators and protective masks which have not yet been delivered, as well as repurchasing ventilators that have already been supplied at the delivery price.
The company has so far delivered 110 of the 220 ordered ventilators from a Chinese supplier and must deliver the remainder by 15 May according to the contract signed with the agency.
The Tarča current affairs show, which broke the story of alleged political pressure in the procurement procedures more than a week ago, said on Thursday the contract had been botched since the ventilators were unsuitable for Covid-19 patients.
One of the three members of an informal medical group that had evaluated offers for ventilators, internal medicine specialist Rihard Knafelj, told Tarča that his group had assessed 90 offers and the one offered by Geneplanet had been assessed as the least appropriate of the 13 that were deemed acceptable. The government was acquainted with the assessment.
Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, who was recorded prodding the agency into signing the contract with Geneplanet as soon as possible, denied accusations, adding that the government received another expert opinion and stressing that the ventilators supplied by Geneplanet were one of the few available at the time.
Bitenc also told Tarča that the ventilators were adequate for treating Covid-19 patients and denied that the company was in any way prioritised in the procedures of selecting providers.
The deputy head of the agency Ivan Gale claims that Počivalšek has personally intervened in favour of the ventilator contract with Geneplanet worth EUR 8 million.
The company was one of only two providers to receive 100% advance payment. It was also the only ventilator provider with a bank guarantee covering only 50% of the transaction, said Tarča reporters, adding that Geneplanet ventilators were also the most expensive.
On Monday, Geneplanet will present all the paper trail regarding its contracts with the agency and clarify any open issues relating to the quality and suitability of its ventilators, added the company today.
Responding to the company's proposal, Počivalšek said that the Health Ministry had been urged to issue an opinion on whether Slovenia needs the ventilators. He also described the accusations as public lynching.
Even though the minister's response implies that the government will deliberate over the option of terminating the contract, the agency told public broadcaster TV Slovenija that Geneplanet's argument for the termination did not warrant such a step. The agency thus still expects the remainder of the ventilators to be delivered by 15 May.
