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:
Number of coronavirus cases rises to 977; 22 deaths confirmed
LJUBLJANA - Two more deaths related to the new coronavirus in Slovenia were recorded on Friday, putting the death toll at 22. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rose by 43 to 977 in a day, the government said on Twitter. A total of 1,188 tests were performed yesterday. The number of hospitalised persons dropped from 112 to 109, while the number of patients in intensive care rose by one to 31. Ten people were released from hospital on Friday.
Minister says state will finance bonuses for vital staff
LJUBLJANA - The bonuses for vital public sector staff envisaged by the government mega stimulus bill will be fully covered by the state, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik said. Institutions' heads will decide on who will receive the bonus, he said. Employees will be eligible for the bonus in the amount of up to 100% of hourly wage if exposed to the coronavirus infection and dealing with excessive workload.
Austria partly opening Holmec border crossing
HOLMEC - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg have agreed that the Holmec border crossing, which Austria recently closed as it put in place additional restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus, will be partly open as of Monday so as not to cause problems for Slovenians commuting to work to Austria.
Minister excited about efforts to increase food self-sufficiency amid crisis
DOBROVNIK - Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec hailed on Friday a decision by a company growing orchids to also start growing vegetables as a case of rapid adaptation that can serve as an example to others on how to increase food self-sufficiency in the country in these times of crisis and in general. She announced government measures to facilitate this. Paying a visit to Ocean Orchids, which decided to use its greenhouses to also grow salad and plans to expand to other vegetables if the situation demands it, Pivec spoke of a successful practice that was a response to the crisis.
No major violations of new movement restrictions
LJUBLJANA - Police were checking compliance with movement restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus across the country, detecting no major violations on Saturday. Increased oversight will continue the entire weekend, focussing on popular tourist spots. Police are patrolling public surfaces and checking passengers at motorways and other roads. Officers are also responding to reports of alleged violations from citizens. People are mostly honouring restrictions, police say.
Ljubljana airport sees drop in cargo transport, no changes at Koper port
LJUBLJANA/KOPER - Due to the coronavirus epidemic, Ljubljana airport recorded a 20% drop in the amount of cargo transported in March. This is mostly the cargo transported in passenger planes, the airport operator Fraport Slovenija has said. The port of Koper was not affected in March, but the company managing the port expects a drop in the future.
Vulnerable groups to shop one hour more from today
LJUBLJANA - Vulnerable groups such as the disabled, pensioners and pregnant women are being given one more dedicated shopping hour from Saturday after being so far encouraged to shop for supplies only between 8am and 10am to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection. Under a decision taken by the government last night, two time slots will be reserved for vulnerable groups from Saturday, between 8am and 10am, and between 5pm and 6pm, when shops close. Pensioners will be allowed to shop only during those times, the Government Communication Office said.
Flour, rice and pasta sell like hot cakes amid Covid-19
LJUBLJANA - Sales of flour, rice and pasta rose more than four-fold in Slovenia in the week from 9 to 15 March compared to the same period last year, data by Nielsen agency shows. Cereal, canned meat, and pre-made sauces and soups recorded a growth rate of between 200% and 300%. This was in the week when the government declared a coronavirus epidemic on 12 March, when residents were becoming more worried about the outbreak and potential food shortages.
If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here
