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This summary is provided by the STA:
Border crossing restrictions relaxed, Canada red-listed
LJUBLJANA - The government decided to relax border crossing restrictions for people living near the border. As of Monday, they will be able to cross into a neighbouring country without having to quarantine upon return to go to a store or to use another service if it is closer to their home than the nearest in Slovenia. Such trips abroad to red-listed countries will be limited to two hours. At the same time, Slovenia will allow the same exception to citizens and residents of neighbouring countries seeking services in Slovenia. The government also expanded the list of red countries with Canada and several administrative units across Europe.
Curfew, gatherings ban extended
LJUBLJANA - The government extended by another seven days coronavirus restrictions related to gatherings and movement of people as it conducted its periodic review of the measures. This means that the complete ban on all gatherings and the 9pm-6am curfew will remain in place, the government said after a correspondence session on Saturday, adding that the decision is based on the assessment of its Covid-19 task force. The curfew has been in place since 19 October and the gatherings ban since 13 November, gatherings having already been severely restricted before.
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Slovenia's Covid-19 death toll exceeds 1,000
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia' death toll from the Covid-19 epidemic exceeded 1,000 after 31 deaths were reported for Friday. A total of 1,690 cases were confirmed in 6,580 tests, the government announced on Twitter. As the number of new cases remained below the 2,000-plus, the situation in hospitals appeared to be stabilising. There were 1,219 people in hospital after 129 were discharged, down from 1,254 the day before, of which 197 in intensive care, four fewer. Positivity rate dropped continues to drop yesterday, reaching 25.68%.
Slovenia starts gearing up for mass testing
LJUBLJANA - Government departments in Slovenia have been instructed to prepare a mass testing of the population for coronavirus by 5 December and the registration of candidates for voluntary vaccination, Prime Minister Janez Janša announced on Twitter Friday night. Janša said the decision was made based on the state of the epidemic and consultation at EU level. Slovakia was the first country in Europe to mass test its population in early November using rapid tests. Two-thirds of the population were tested and one percent tested positive. A new round of testing is scheduled for 2 December.
NSi will continue to look for cooperation possibilities, Tonin says
LJUBLJANA - Matej Tonin, the head of New Slovenia (NSi) and the only candidate for the job at the election congress that started on Saturday, said in his address to the event that he would continue to look for cooperation possibilities. He also said that "any coalition bow can snap if pulled too tight". He also advised the opposition to cooperate, adding that attempts by the Coalition of Constitutional Arch (KUL) to bring down the government "were not cool at all" while the country faces one of the greatest challenges since gaining independence. The congress was suspended until Thursday, when election results will be announced.
Railways operator takes over first new passenger trains
LJUBLJANA - Railways operator Slovenske Železnice has officially taken over the first five Stadler trains, marking the start of a highly awaited modernisation of passenger transport. The diesel trains will be put to use on the links between Ljubljana and Kočevje, Novo Mesto and Kamnik once passenger transport is relaunched. Slovenske Železnice said it also expected to start gradually incorporating into traffic electric trains, which are also a part of the multi-million order to Stadler. The operator expects that all of the 52 trains ordered will be in use by the end of 2022. Slovenia has order 21 single-deck and 10 double-deck electric trains and 21 single-deck diesel trains.
Apples wins LIFFe Kingfisher Award
LJUBLJANA - The winner of this year's Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe) is Apples, a Greek-Polish-Slovenian co-production directed by Christos Nikou. The Best Short Film Award went to Portuguese-French co-production Invisible Hero by Cristele Alves Meira and the FIPRESCI Award given out by the international jury of the International Federation of Film Critics went to Exile, a co-production of Kosovo, German and Belgium, by Visar Morina. The Art Kino Network Award went to Italian-French co-production Martin Eden by Pietro Marcello.
Goran Dragić announces he is staying with Miami Heat
LJUBLJANA/MIAMI, US - Goran Dragić, one of the only two Slovenian players in the National Basketball Association (NBA), has announced that he is staying with the Miami Heat, reportedly for another two years. "I'm glad that I can announce that I'm staying with my Miami Heat. Let's finish the job we started!" he said on Twitter. With his five-year, US$90 million contract with the Miami Heat having expired, the 34-year-old from Ljubljana became a free agent at midnight, but only for a few moments.
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