Eight new cases of the novel coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Slovenia, seven fewer than in the last 24 hours, and the total number of infections now stands at 1,396, the Slovenian government said on Sunday.

One patient has died, which puts the death toll at 82.

Eighty people are receiving treatment in hospitals, including 23 who are in intensive care units.

The government said that some of the most stringent restrictions introduced to fight the coronavirus infection, such as a ban on leaving one’s place of residence, would stay in force until after Workers’ Day, May 1, at least.

The newly appointed head of the Public Health Institute, Milan Krek, warned that one must not allow the situation that happened during the Easter holidays to happen again, when a significant number of people violated restrictions, which 14 days later resulted in a new surge in the number of infections.

Prime Minister Janez Jansa said that intensive activities were under way at EU level to determine standards for the relaunching of various activities such as education, tourism and public transportation so that they could resume at least in a limited scope.

He said that Slovenia was one of the most successful European countries in terms of results in the fight against COVID-19 but that one would have to get used to the fact that restrictions such as physical distancing and wearing masks in indoor spaces would stay in force.