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This summary is provided by the STA:
Anti-corona restrictions to be extended for a week, says PM
LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša announced that anti-corona measures are to be extended for a week as projections suggest case and hospitalisation figures will keep growing for some time. He said a gradual relaxing of the restrictions could be expected in seven to ten days if the measures are heeded. Also, the autumn holidays will be extended for a week for primary school children. Remote schooling will resume in secondary schools, and kindergartens will continue providing only urgent daycare. Meanwhile, the list of exceptions allowed to operate during the lockdown has been expanded with construction, maintenance and installation works where there is only minimal contact with customers, as well as repair shops, chimney sweeping services and libraries.
Slovenia reports 1,798 new coronavirus cases as fatalities peak
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 1,798 infections in slightly scaled-down testing on Thursday, and another 23 fatalities among patients with Covid-19, the highest daily death toll yet, data from the government showed. The positivity rate fell to 28.23% from almost 35%. Hospitalisations have risen to 703 and the number of patients requiring intensive care increased to 122. The latest infections bring the number of active cases to 20,980, while the rolling 14-day average has increased to 1,001 per 100,000 residents. The government adopted a decree providing public healthcare institutions and care homes with stocks of certain essential equipment, such as ventilators and oxygen supply devices, from the commodity reserves.
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Chief epidemiologist does not see light at the end of the tunnel yet
LJUBLJANA - Mario Fafangel, the head of the infectious diseases centre at the National Institute of Public Health, told TV Slovenija in the late hours of Thursday that Slovenia is not out of the woods yet, even though coronavirus figures for Thursday might be lower than in the past two days. "It could be that the figures are down even when an epidemic is in full swing. They fall because testing capacities have been exceeded." Fafangel urged people to stay at home, work from home, whenever possible.
NSi turns down invitation to join attempt to form new govt
LJUBLJANA - Matej Tonin, the leader of the junior coalition party New Slovenia (NSi), turned down the invitation for his party to enter talks in a bid to form an alternative government after meeting Jože P. Damijan, a potential candidate for prime minister. Describing the talks as constructive, Tonin highlighted that "Slovenia is facing the biggest test after independence, which is calling for a stable and operational government".
Počivalšek says talk of govt replacement tasteless, inappropriate
LJUBLJANA - Zdravko Počivalšek, the economy minister and president of the Modern Centre Party (SMC), told Delo that discussions about a possible government replacement were tasteless and inappropriate given the moment. He added that the current government was operational, which he believes is the most important thing as the country is battling an epidemic.
Central bank governor says forecasts are worsening
LJUBLJANA - Following a meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council on Thursday, Banka Slovenije governor Boštjan Vasle said that the worsening epidemiological situation in Europe and hence tighter coronavirus restrictions aggravate forecasts for the rest of 2020 as well as those for 2021. He added that the services sector will be again the worst hit in the entire euro area, including Slovenia, following the lockdown period in the spring.
Slovenians in Hungary adjusting to Covid-19, staying in touch with Slovenia
SZENTGOTTHARD - While Hungary has not shut down public life yet as a new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit Europe, the Slovenian community in the country has scaled down its work and reduced the number of events. The community has meanwhile managed to stay in close touch with Slovenia despite the closure of the border, said Andrea Kovacs, the president of the Association of Slovenians in Hungary.
Slovenia's annual inflation rate at -0.1% in October
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's consumer price index remained in negative territory for the third month in a row in October, standing at -0.1% at the annual level despite a 0.3% increase in consumer prices over the month before, show the latest data from the Statistics Office.
EU Commission urges Slovenia to improve access to justice in environmental matters
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has received two formal notices and two reasoned opinions in the European Commission's October infringement package. The formal notices pertain to the handling of priority substances and basic safety standards, while reasoned opinions refer to waste and access to justice in environmental matters.
Jurist joins appeals for making court decision public
LJUBLJANA - Law professor Jurij Toplak joined appeals for a system under which court decisions would be public by default, after access to decisions has been constrained by a recent Supreme Court ruling that he described as "one of the most damaging judgements". In May the Supreme Court issued a judgement in a case concerning not court decisions but records produced by prosecutors. It determined that these records are no longer subject to freedom of information requests. This ruling is now being interpreted as extending to court decisions. Toplak's request follows a similar appeal by the Slovenian Journalists' Association
Cycling: Roglič also wins flat 10th stage of Vuelta, dons red jersey
SANTANDER, Spain - Slovenia's Primož Roglič secured his third stage win at this year's Vuelta de Espana in a somewhat surprising sprint triumph following a flat 185 km stage from Castro Urdiales to Suances. The ten second victory bonus helped him reclaim the red jersey of the overall standings leader. The 31-year-old Roglič, who had lost the red jersey in the sixth stage, is now neck and neck time-wise with Richard Carapaz, but he took over the leader's jersey because he has more points than the Ecuadorian.
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