STA, 28 March 2021 - Slovenia will step up restrictions on its borders on Monday in advance of an eleven-day circuit-breaker lockdown over Easter (details), the government has decided.

Travel to red-listed countries - all of Slovenia's neighbours are on the red list - will be prohibited except for cross-border commuters, transit, goods and certain other emergency exemptions, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs told the press on Sunday.

Except for daily cross-border commuters, who already have to get tested every seven days with a rapid antigen test, all passengers will have to show a PCR test made in an EU or Schengen zone country to avoid mandatory quarantine.

In the interim period until school closure on 1 April, cross-border students will also be exempted.

A vaccination certificate or proof that the person has had Covid-19 in the past six months also suffice.

The reason why PCR tests now have to come from an EU or Schengen zone country is the "disproportionately high number of forged test results," in particular from Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, according to Interior Minister Aleš Hojs.

Hojs said a major reason why the measures on the border had to be beefed up to prevent an expected surge in travel over Easter, when many from the former Yugoslavia who work here go visit their family.

The government decree will be published in the Official Gazette today.

All our news on covid and Slovenia

STA, 28 March 2021 - UPDATED 18:15 The government has endorsed the proposal from the Covid-19 advisory team to impose an 11-day circuit breaker lockdown starting from 1 April in a bid to help hospitals cope with an expected influx in Covid-19 patients following an increase in Slovenia's coronavirus transmission rates.

"The suspension of public life will be brief. On 12 April the restrictions easing roadmap will start being implemented again," Prime Minister Janez Janša said in announcing the measures at Brdo estate on Sunday.

However, he said the success of the measures would depend on their being consistently implemented, in which case additional measures would not be needed.

Describing the situation as a race against time, Janša said the state administration would switch to remote work almost entirely, urging businesses to follow suit as much as possible.

Non-essential shops and services dealing directly with customers will be shut down and schools will switch to remote classes with day care provided to kindergarten and up to year three primary school children of essential workers.

Gatherings of up to 10 people will be no longer allowed, while movement will be restricted to the region of residence, except for Easter Sunday, when up to two households (no more then for adults) will be able to meet, according to Interior Minister Aleš Hojs.

All in-person religious services will be suspended except for spiritual care for persons in need and cultural institutions will no longer provide services in person, Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti said.

Health Minister Janez Poklukar said face masks would again be mandatory in outdoor public spaces except for exercise in green spaces where there is enough space and on means of transport for same household members.

However, Poklukar said that non-Covid healthcare services would not be reduced because of the immense needs.

During the lockdown, public transportation will run on Sunday or holiday schedule, and road worthiness tests and driving lessons are being suspended, while ski slopes will be closed.

Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said exceptions to a temporary ban on retail and services would include pharmacies, services stations, financial and postal services and delivery.

Construction work on sites, houses and flats that are not currently settled will also be allowed, as will preparing food and drinks for takeaway and delivery without mandatory regular testing.

Meanwhile, regular weekly testing will be required for staff in shops selling mainly groceries, personal care and cleaning items, garden shops, plant nurseries, florists', produce markets, newsagents and technical goods shops.

Presenting details pertaining to her department, Education Minister Simona Kustec said that special needs pupils would continue schooling in classrooms, and sports for professional athletes would be allowed to continue.

Janša said not taking action now would translate into at least 500 additional deaths until June. "The key value is preserving lives," he said, adding that experiences of other countries had shown partial measures were not producing good results.

The lockdown is also needed to give enough time to vaccinate the most at-risk groups of the population.

Janša suggested the current roadmap out of the lockdown would be resumed on 12 April if the figures should be at least at roughly the level they are today and unless a new, more aggressive variant appeared, which he said was not likely for the time being.

Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik said the government's guidance to state administration heads is that no more than 20% employees should be in workplaces.

The government adopted the measures after the Covid-19 advisory team presented their proposal to a cross-party meeting at Brdo, which the centre-left opposition failed too attend.

The majority were in favour, but Počivalšek had initially aired misgivings about the efficacy of a new lockdown given the pandemic fatigue and low public trust.

He told the press after the government session the measures would not be effective should the opposition continue to abuse the epidemic for politicking. Janša also regretted their absence.

Mateja Logar, the head of the Covid-19 advisory team, welcomed the government heeding their recommendations, saying the experts were united in their position that resolute action was needed to prevent the virus from overwhelming the health system again.

This was as the 7-day average of new daily cases rose to 944 on Saturday, from 927 the day before after standing at 808 a week ago. Of 499 Covid-19 patients in hospitals, 105 are in intensive care.

Slovenia has reported 212,679 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic with an estimated 12,311 still active infections, data from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) show.

The most recent NIJZ data on the death toll, released on Monday, show 4,258 had died within 28 days of testing positive by Sunday. Since then the government has reported 42 more deaths.

A total of 229,553 people have received their first dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 and 112,087 have received two.

STA, 25 March 2021 - The share of Slovenian residents concerned for their life or lives of their loved ones in March is lowest since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic a year ago, show results of a recent Mediana survey. Meanwhile, trust in government decisions and the ratings of the vaccine drive are declining.

The share of those who do not feel any concerns for their lives or lives of their families and friends is the largest since July 2020. On the other hand, the share of those who feel such concerns is the lowest since the start of such measurements in March 2020, standing at 40%.

Some 53% think that Covid measures are excessive given the situation and encroach on their personal freedom. Since November 2020 (32%), the share of residents who see the measures as appropriate despite encroaching on personal freedom has been declining, currently it is at 23%.

Some 22% believe that the measures are balanced in tackling health and economic issues. 18% consider them to be in favour of the economy at the expense of public health, whereas as much as 43% said the situation was the other way around.

Optimism expressed in February slightly decreased in the wake of the beginning of the third Covid-19 wave. Currently, 9% think that life will get better after the epidemic. On the other hand, 64% believe that life will likely take a turn for the worse after the epidemic.

About 44% think that other countries have been better at fighting Covid-19 than Slovenia. 18% trust the government to be ready for future global challenges.

The share of those who trust the government to make the right decisions for the nation has been dwindling since May 2020 and reached the lowest point in the most recent poll (17%).

Moreover, the numbers of those who are satisfied with the vaccine drive or government communication with the public dropped in March by 7% compared to the previous month. The most significant decrease was recorded in the category where respondents rated the government's efforts to procure Covid-19 vaccines - the share dropped from 21% in February to 12% in March.

The survey was conducted by the Mediana institute between 23 and 24 March among 504 respondents.

STA, 26 March 2021 - Slovenia has recorded over 1,000 new coronavirus cases for the third day running. With 1,032 people testing positive on Thursday, the rolling 7-day average rose to 895, government data show. Another ten patients with Covid-19 died.

Marking a rise of almost 10% from the same day a week ago, the latest cases were confirmed from 6,637 PCR tests, for a positivity rate of 15.5%. In addition 27,189 rapid antigen tests were performed.

The number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 dropped by one to 500 after 30 patients were discharged yesterday. The number of patients in intensive care rose by two to 108.

Under the government Covid tiers plan, Slovenia is currently in orange tier of restrictions, the third highest. The red tier begins when the 7-day average of new confirmed cases and hospitalisations rise above 1,000, but the plan may be changed by the government on Sunday.

Three of the country's twelve regions are already in red tier.

The cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents rose to 557, from 545 the day before.

Slovenia has reported more than 210,000 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, according to the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ).

The death toll has passed 4,000, with the most recent NIJZ data, released on Monday, showing 4,258 people had died within 28 days of testing positive by Sunday.

All our stories on covid-19 and Slovenia

STA, 26 March 2021 - The country-wide curfew is imposed from 10pm to 5am from Friday after the government decided to shorten it in light of the coming Daylight Saving Time change. Entering into force today are also inter-regional travel restrictions in red-coded regions. A negative rapid test result is no longer valid to enter Slovenia.

Only a negative PCR test result will be accepted from today to avoid quarantine on entering Slovenia. Meanwhile, dual owners and lessees of land in bordering areas will no longer need a negative test every seven days to cross the border.

The coastal Obalno-Kraška, western Goriška and northern Koroška regions have been demoted to tier red due to a deterioration of the epidemiological status there.

According to Wednesday's government decree, there is a number of exemptions from the ban on movement into and out of the three regions, including travel for work purposes. Students who commute from the red-coded regions to other regions for educational purposes are also such an exception even though the decree does not mention them specifically.

Bars and restaurants in regions with best epidemiological status are still allowed to serve customers outdoors.

Rallies or events of up to ten persons are permitted across the country. Outdoor religious services are meanwhile capped at one person per 10 square metres or more in the case of members of the same household.

STA, 25 March 2021 - Prime Minister Janez Janša has proposed that President Borut Pahor call a meeting of the heads of parliamentary parties and deputy groups with the Health Ministry and its Covid-19 advisory group as soon as possible. Pahor meanwhile said that he had sent out invitations for Sunday morning.

The call from Janša came as the government is preparing to take additional measures by the end of the week due to a growing number of infections.

According to the prime minister's office, the Health Ministry proposes additional measures to stop the third wave of the epidemic at the proposal of its Covid-19 task force.

Janša said that because of the "worryingly rapid growth of infections and Covid-19 patients" the government was forced to discuss and adopt additional measures by the end of the week at the latest.

Based on the agreement from the last meeting of medical experts with the heads of parliamentary parties that any measures adopted by the government should be discussed by them first, Janša asked Pahor to call such a meeting as soon as possible.

"Representatives of the opposition stressed at the first meeting that they wanted to be acquainted with measures in more detail before they are adopted by the government, so now the government is taking the opposition's calls into account with the call to the president," Janša said.

He also proposed that the meeting be public, "so we can all get acquainted with the proposals and dilemmas we must face".

Janša proposes for the meeting to be held on Friday evening or on Saturday or Sunday, stressing though that the government must reach a decision on Sunday evening at the latest.

Pahor said in the afternoon that he called a meeting for Sunday at 10am, saying that all stakeholders wished the government take timely action at the start of the third wave. Participants will decide before the meeting whether it will be public, as proposed by Janša.

Some media have reported that the Covid-19 group could propose the government to introduce a full lockdown from 1 to 12 April due to the growing number of infections and hospitalisations.

Health Minister Janez Poklukar said today he did not wish to prejudge what the decision would be, noting it would be a political decision. "I'm counting on us taking a constructive position, which we will then present to the public," he said.

STA, 25 March 2021 - The head of the Slovenian Hoteliers' Association, Gregor Jamnik, has described the situation in the industry as disastrous, warning that the bulk of businesses are not generating any revenue and even though most are still able to keep their heads above water, they will need long-term state aid as the industry will not fully recover in a decade.

"I cannot express how awful the situation is," Jamnik, director of Hotel Slon in Ljubljana, has told the STA. "We're one hundred percent dependent on state aid. We're not generating any cash flow or revenue."

He noted that the state was refunding only part of fixed costs, but that those who had used up all their cash during the long-running crisis "cannot even be helped by the state".

Ljubljana hoteliers are still coping, having awaited the Covid-19 crisis in quite good shape financially. However, in some other parts of the country, for example in Maribor, hotels are said to be closing down and are being repossessed by creditor banks.

At any rate, hoteliers are on artificial life support "We don't know what will happen when state aid ends, we fear that," said Jamnik, who expects the road to recovery to be very long.

It will take at least five years for tourism to recover, or even ten years in case of cross-Atlantic travel and conference tourism. "The figures we saw in 2019 are unlikely to be seen again this decade."

Still new hotels are being built in Ljubljana, which means even more beds and consequently further pressure on prices; Jamnik warned of the danger of a price war such as Ljubljana had seen out of season already before the pandemic.

The outlook for the summer is uncertain. While coastal regions report good bookings and people can hardly wait to travel, restrictions are expected to persist and PCR tests are expected to be required, which would make holidays even more expensive.

Another problem is the slow vaccination rollout, not only in Slovenia, but also elsewhere.

"People will head out if they feel safe and if they don't have to pay hefty sums for PCR tests. There's considerable risk that this year's season will be even worse than last year's, which was bad anyway."

Jamnik regrets that the government would not allow tourism and "doesn't understand hoteliers aren't a source of infections". Only business people, diplomats, athletes and people getting treatment are allowed to stay in hotels at the moment.

As an example that Slovenia could follow Jamnik offered Croatia where tourism has been allowed and hotels at seaside destinations weathered the winter well being full with local guests every weekend.

He hopes the government will allow tourism to reopen as soon as possible, so that tourism vouchers could be spent and at least May Day holidays could be rescued.

Similar demands have come from the trade union of hospitality and tourism workers, which urged Milan Krek, the head of the National Institute of Public Health, to provide arguments and data showing why the sector is an infection risk.

STA, 24 March 2021 - The government amended once again the national vaccination strategy on Wednesday, moving higher up on the list the age group of 60 and older, as well as the national Olympic team bound for Tokyo in the summer.

The changes were made due to the changing epidemiological situation and will take effect on Monday, a press release said after today's government session.

Healthcare workers and elderly care home staff remain at the top of the priority group list. They are followed by those aged 70 and over, especially vulnerable chronic patients and education staff.

The second priority group includes the age group of 60 and over and chronic patients who are not particularly vulnerable.

Diplomats and others involved in Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of the year follow, as well as foreign diplomats in Slovenia and Armed Forces members set to be deployed abroad. This priority group now also includes Slovenia's Olympic team.

The next priority group includes MPs and national councillors, some expert services staff, the government and staff at ministries vital for the government, the president and his office, mayors and Constitutional Court judges, as well as vital staff in judiciary, the police, the military and the Civil Protection Administration.

Next up will be those working in the sectors of energy, transport, food, pharmaceutical industry, water supply, finance, environmental protection and IT, as well as other staff vital for the state.

They will be followed by the rest of the population in the order individuals applied for vaccination.

All our stories on coronavirus and Slovenia

STA, 24 March 2021 - Negative rapid antigen test result will no longer be accepted to avoid quarantine on entering Slovenia, while dual owners and lessees of land in bordering areas will no longer need a negative test every seven days to cross the border, under a decision taken by the government on Wednesday.

The decision means that only a negative result of a PCR test taken within the past 48 hours will qualify as proof to allow quarantine-free entry into the country or to end quarantine early.

The same as before, arrivals can also avoid quarantine if they produce proof that they had been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from the disease within the past six months.

Such proofs include a positive PCR test result older than 21 days but not older than six months or a doctor's note proving the person has recovered from Covid-19 but not more than six months since the onset of symptoms.

However, a negative rapid test result no older than seven days remains valid as proof to enter Slovenia quarantine-free for those crossing daily for work or school when they are older than 13, the persons brining students or pupils across the border to school, those having a medical appointment in Slovenia or are returning from an EU and Schengen country where they provided care or assistance.

Dual owners and lessees of land in bordering areas will no longer need a negative test result to tend to land or do farm work across the border if they return within ten hours.

The government also made some changes to the red list of countries or regions as a result of which all Austrian regions are red except for Vorarlberg, all Italian regions except for Sardinia, while in Spain Cantabria, Extremadura, Galicia, Balearic Islands, Murcia and Navarra are removed from the red list.

STA, 24 March 2021 - The government has shortened the curfew from between 9pm and 6am to between 10pm and 5pm, and imposed a ban on movement into and out of three regions with the highest coronavirus infection rates.

Movement is being restricted to within the region in Obalno-Kraška and Goriška in the west and Koroška in the north, according to a release issued after the government session on Wednesday.

Exceptions to restriction of movement into and out of what are currently red-coded regions include travel for work, business, farming, forestry, dealing with risks to health, property, and caring for family members or maintaining parental ties.

Travel in an out of the regions is also possible to access services such as pharmacies or health services and diplomatic and consular missions, and maintaining property or graves, among other things.

Other than exceptions, travel is also allowed to persons providing a negative PCR rapid antigen test results no older than 48 hours, or proof of having been immunised against Covid-19 through vaccination or having recovered from the disease within the past six months.

The decree will take effect a day after publication in the Official Gazette and will be in force until 2 April.

The government has made no changes to gatherings or events, which continue to be capped at ten people.

It said it would take a final decision on measures proposed by the Covid-19 advisory group on Sunday at the latest, proposing for President Borut Pahor to call a meeting of heads of parliamentary parties and deputy groups prior to that.

The curfew has been in place since 20 October 2020 with the government arguing its necessity due to the coronavirus epidemic.

The cabinet had been deliberating on shortening the curfew two weeks ago, but the Government Communication Office said at the time the Covid-19 advisory team opposed such a proposal by Interior Minister Aleš Hojs.

The group's head Mateja Logar told the magazine Mladina last week they did not opt for shortening the curfew because they did not think it would change the situation much. She also announced that they would propose lifting the curfew if the epidemiological situation was good enough.