STA, 17 December 2020 - The government decided on Thursday to allow some more shops, including those selling technical goods, to reopen for five days, from 19 to 23 December, after some services reopened on 15 December. What lockdown regime will apply after that is expected to be determined in the coming days, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said.
Shops selling technical goods, tree and plant nurseries as well as shops with goods for installation, maintenance and repair services will be able to open across the country. Pet care services as well as some counselling and therapeutic services will also be allowed.
Meanwhile, book shops, shops selling stationary and gifts, shops offering photocopying services and those with baby and children's products will only open in the four regions with a better epidemiological situation - Central Slovenia, Goriška, Obalno-Kraška and Gorenjska.
Real estate agents will also be able to offer their services in these regions, where clothes and footwear shops reopened on Tuesday.
Počivalšek said the government had already discussed the regime after 23 December but the final decision is to be taken in the coming days.
He said it would be largely based on epidemiological trends following the ongoing temporary easing of restrictions in the services sector.
The minister believes that despite the difficult epidemiological situation, it is vital that the economy is functioning.
Slovenia cannot afford a full lockdown during the holiday season, he told the government's afternoon Covid-19 briefing. "We are aware of its economic consequences, so this is not a measure we desire or support."
