STA, 21 February 2022 - Virtually all Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted in Slovenia on Monday except for the wearing of masks and hand sanitising indoors. Proof of recovery, vaccination or negative test (PCT) will only be required in hospitals, care homes and prisons.
Under the decisions taken by the government on Saturday, there will no longer be a cap on gatherings or the number of people allowed inside shops, hospitality and other services establishments.
Meanwhile, cultural institutions await more detailed instructions by the government to ascertain whether a distance of 1.5 meters will still have to be heeded at cultural events.
Also scrapped are restrictions on the opening hours of hospitality establishments, and night clubs can reopen. Unseated guests will still be required to wear face masks indoors and hand sanitising remains in force like in other activities subject to easing.
At outdoor public events, masks are recommended when a distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained.
The Covid pass or PCT requirement remains mandatory for staff and service users at hospitals and those undergoing certain procedures such as endoscopy or oral surgery, but it is not mandatory at health centres. It also remains in place at social care institutions, prisons and other correctional facilities, except for those aged up to 15.
Students will no longer need to self test at schools, but face masks remain obligatory under the same conditions as so far.
Free self-tests and rapid antigen tests are no longer available, except in certain cases. The government will pay for the costs of tests in activities where testing is still compulsory.
Rapid antigen testing remains free of charge for those who get a positive self-test result, those with Covid-19 symptoms and those who would like to end self-isolation early after a seven-day period.
Since Saturday, contacts of infected persons are no longer required to quarantine, but those who test positive still need to self-isolate.
The infected are also urged to notify those with whom they have been in close contact within 48 hours before testing positive of the risk of infection.
Their contacts are advised to take a test or self-test 7 days after the last risk contact and to avoid unnecessary contacts with other people for 14 days since being in contact with the infected person.
Since Saturday, the Covid pass is no longer required to enter Slovenia.
The near universal PCT requirement has been in force since 15 September last year with further restrictions such as the curfew on bars and restaurants imposed in early November.
