All our stories on coronavirus are here, while those covering covid-19 and Croatia are here. We'll have an update at the end of the day, and if you want newsflashes then we'll post those on Facebook
We can’t have pictures of COVID-19 every day. So instead we’ll try and show the works of Slovenian artists. Today it’sTjaša Kučič, with part of a series from Tam Tam, with the rest here.
Six new Covid-19 cases recorded, death toll up by three to 86
PM says govt to discuss plan for easing lockdown tomorrow
Minister sees issues with coronavirus contact tracing apps
Six new Covid-19 cases recorded, death toll up by three to 86
STA, 28 April 2020 - A total of 683 new Covid-19 tests were performed in Slovenia on Monday, resulting in six new cases to bring the total number of confirmed infections to 1,408. Three persons died of Covid-19 yesterday, brining the total death toll in the country to 86, the government said on Tuesday.
A total of 78 Covid-19 patients were in hospitals around the country yesterday, of whom 24 were in intensive care. Two persons were discharged from hospital while the number of persons in intensive care was up by two.
A total of 50,290 tests have been performed in Slovenia so far, with a random testing of population being introduced last Monday. No new infections have been detected as part of the random testing campaign.
Šmarje pri Jelšah in the east of the country remains the largest hot spot in the country on a per capita basis, and four out of the six cases recorded yesterday were detected there.
One new case was recorded in Ljutomer (NE), which is another hot spot with 117 confirmed infections, second only to Šmarje pri Jelšah (172) and Ljubljana (247).
The municipalities of Ljutomer and Šmarje pri Jelšah are much smaller than Ljubljana, and the bulk of their cases are related to the local nursing homes.
PM says govt to discuss plan for easing lockdown tomorrow
STA, 28 April 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša has announced that the government will discuss on Wednesday plans to loosen coronavirus lockdown measures for the foreseeable future. It is also expected to discuss reports by individual ministries on the procurement of personal protective equipment, which have raised some doubts.
Janša tweeted on Tuesday that current data on the course of the epidemic allow a sober reflection on lifting certain restrictions to movement and a gradual revival of activities for which "a safe distance, the disinfecting of hands and meeting points and safe use of protective equipment" can be secured.
It is not clear which restrictions could be eased and to what extent. The bulk of the criticism coming from part of the public and politics has been directed at the limiting of movement to municipal borders.
There have also been calls to restart public transport, while a big question mark are kindergartens and schools, although one date circulating is 11 May.
The government's spokesperson Jelko Kacin indicated today that the government was considering reopening schools, but that it would wait to see the results in countries that had already done it before taking a final decision.
Some restrictions have meanwhile already been lifted, with recent new exceptions to the lockdown including takeaway restaurants, DIY stores, car showrooms, car washes, stores selling bicycles, technical goods and furniture stores, dry cleaners, some repair shops, and insurance agents.
As of today, weddings in restricted format are possible. As of tomorrow, museums, libraries and galleries will reopen and partners will again be allowed to be present during childbirth.
Yet more services will be available from 4 May, with the reopening of hair salons, beauty parlours, dog and cat grooming salons and shops of up to 400 m2 sales space, except for those in shopping centres. Outdoor facilities of bars and restaurants will also reopen on Monday and so should churches.
The government is also expected to discuss tomorrow a report on the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), requested by Janša after a wave of accusations about dodgy procedures and faulty equipment.
The report was compiled by the Economy Ministry on the basis of reports by the economy, defence, health and foreign ministries plus the Agency for Commodity Reserves.
Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said it featured all relevant information and data about the PPE procurement since 27 February (that is under the previous government), including between 13 March, when the new government took over, and 10 April, "when there was a terrifying shortage of protective equipment" and when everyone was under pressure from health workers to procure PPE. The report also covers the period after 10 April, when the situation eased off, he said.
The minister again rejected the allegations about pressure to close deals with certain suppliers, noting the majority of contracts had been signed by Agency for Commodity Reserves employee Ivan Gale.
Gale last week spoke to TV Slovenija revealing pressure on the agency and some potential irregularities, but Počivalšek said today Gale would have to explain at least three contracts.
The government is expected to send the report to parliament and expectedly also to the law enforcement.
Interior Minister Aleš Hojs meanwhile announced his ministry would propose for the restriction of the movement to one's municipality of residence to be lifted.
He however pointed out it would depend on the assessment of the coronavirus situation by the task force at the Health Ministry.
While he could not say when exactly this could happen, he indicated in a statement for POP TV the restriction could be lifted after May Day holidays at the latest.
Minister sees issues with coronavirus contact tracing apps
STA, 28 April 2020 - Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs argues that coronavirus contact tracing apps first needs to be very well presented to people, because it would not be effective without their trust. He sees many issues in relation to such mobile applications, which is not expected to be introduced in Slovenia any time soon.
Hojs spoke to Slovenian reporters in Brussels over the phone after taking part in a video-conference of EU interior ministers on Tuesday, with coronavirus contact tracing apps being one of the topics.
Mobile applications that find persons who have been in contact with an app user who has tested positive for coronavirus, are raising issues in some EU countries over privacy and personal information protection issues.
In Slovenia, such an app is not being used at the moment, and is not available. Slovenia, being a small country, will probably join one of the apps which will be available on the market, the minister said.
Hojs noted that, at today's session, Germany and France had announced that they would very probably use such an app, and that the Czech Republic and Poland reported about such an app being already in use.
Representatives of all four countries have stressed that the use of such an app is possible exclusively on a voluntary basis, only if an individual gives their explicit consent, the minister added.
He personally sees a number of issues. Simple logic and common sense say that if someone who has recovered from Covid-19 or is still infected does not use the app, their contacts will not be traced, so the data obtained will not be complete.
"This is why the purpose of the application needs to be presented very well first," Hojs said, adding that it should be emphasised that users would remain anonymous, as this was one of the biggest fears related to the use of such an app.
Asked when such an app could be available in Slovenia, the minister said it was not likely that it would be available soon.
