Five new cases of COVID-19 have been registered in Slovenia in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 1,335, while three people have died due to the coronavirus infection, the Slovenian government stated on Monday.

The greatest number of infections is in the capital Ljubljana and its surroundings, while 77 patients have died to date.

On Sunday there were 88 people hospitalised, of whom 26 were in the intensive care units.

On Monday, Slovenia launched a serological survey to determine the prevalence of the COVID disease in its population.The testing was based on a national sample which should provide data on the real number of people infected until now and can serve as a basis to calculate the extent of the epidemic and perhaps allow conditions to relaunch the economy and social life.

Three thousand people have been asked to attend the testing from about three hundred different areas around the country. It is assumed that because the testing is on a voluntary basis that at least 1,500 will agree. The results of the tests should be known be the middle of next week.

The tests should provide information on the average number of people in Slovenia who may have overcome COVID-19 without even being aware that they were infected as well as the number of people that may be carrying anti-bodies as a reaction to the disease.