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This summary is provided by the STA:
Friday's new Covid-19 cases at four-month high
LJUBLJANA - Of of 1,203 tests were carried out, 43 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Slovenia on Friday, matching Wednesday's four-month record. One person meanwhile died, which put the national Covid-19 death toll at 131. Eighteen Covid-19 patients were in hospital, but none required intensive care. The number of active cases is now at 370, the majority, 90, in the municipality of Ljubljana, which recorded the largest number of new cases, 10, according to the tracker covid-19.sledilnik. Slovenian health authorities expect infections to further rise in the coming weeks as many Slovenian holidaymakers are returning from Croatia.
German ambassadorial pair advocates united and strong EU
LJUBLJANA - The new German ambassadors to Slovenia, who will take turns in their duties in what is the first such ambassador duo appointed by Germany, told the STA that they see a solution to the coronavirus crisis in a united EU. Natalie Kauther and Adrian Pollmann said this would be one of the main priorities as their country has taken over the EU presidency. According to Kauther, Slovenia and Germany share similar views and are very close when it comes to certain topics. Slovenia is also interesting for Germany as it is a junction between Western Europe and the Western Balkans, and serves as a kind of an interpreter and connecting tissue.
Over half of all Covid-19 infections in summer imported from Croatia
LJUBLJANA - 300 persons infected with Sars-CoV-2 came to Slovenia from abroad, of whom 55% from Croatia, shows data obtained by National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) epidemiologists and labs for the period between 1 June and 21 August. The majority of a total of 165 persons who brought the virus from Croatia, or 120, were aged 15 to 34. The majority (108) were men. Another 26 persons got infected from them in Slovenia, NIJZ said. Since the number of infected persons returning from Croatia was rapidly rising over the past two weeks, the Covid-19 task force and NIJZ proposed imposing quarantine for Slovenians returning from Croatia, NIJZ explained.
World consumes natural resources 4 months after Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - As a society and economy, Slovenia uses as much resources as if it had three Slovenians at its disposal, the national Environment Agency (ARSO) said on Earth Overshoot Day, a date calculated to show when humanity consumes natural resources beyond the Earth's capacity to regenerate them that year. While the world arrived at Earth Overshoot Day, previously known as Ecological Debt Day, almost a month later than before due to the coronavirus crisis, Slovenia reached it already on 26 April, a day earlier than in 2019. According to ARSO, Slovenia's ecological footprint is largely a result of unsustainable energy use, foremost in households (heating) and transport. It said long-term investments in transport and other infrastructure were of utmost importance to avert the tend.
Slovenia with narrowest gap between minimum and average wages in EU
LJUBLJANA - The gap between the minimum and average wages in Slovenia stood at 50.6% in 2019, which made the country the EU member state with the narrowest gap, data from Slovenia's Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (IMAD) shows. Since Slovenia introduced the minimum wage in 1995, legislation has been amended on several occasions changing the manner in which the minimum wage is set or raised. Over the past 25 years, there have been two major minimum wage raises, which have brought the minimum wage closer to the average salary, one in 2010 and the other in 2020-2021. IMAD also said that minimum wage growth had exceeded productivity growth throughout the last decade.
Slovenians not returning from Croatia en masse yet
LJUBLJANA - Contrary to expectations, Slovenians holidaying in neighbouring Croatia were not yet returning home in great numbers today after the country was put on Slovenia's red list in terms of Covid-19 on Friday. More massive returns are expected on Sunday and Monday, as Slovenians can return from Croatia without having to go into a 14-day quarantine until Monday midnight. Waiting times on the border to enter Slovenia were thus comparable to previous years. Mirko Skuhala of border police at Gruškovje told the press that 11,000 vehicles entered Slovenia last night, on a par with the same period last year.
New football season begins, multiple teams vying for title
SEŽANA - The 30th season of the Slovenian football league got under way with a ten-day delay due to Covid-19 infections among football players. Celje, crowned champions for the first time in history last season, will be defending the title as the ten participating clubs seem closer than ever in terms of quality. Still, Maribor and Olimpija from Ljubljana are likely to be the main obstacle in Celje's efforts to defend the title. The opening match between Tabor Sežana and Koper ended 1:0 (1:0).
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