Eight new coronavirus cases confirmed in Slovenia

This is the largest daily rise in the number of cases in the last month and a half, and the government is expected to decide at its emergency session today on how to contain the virus, Health Minister Tomaz Gantar told reporters before the meeting.

The new cases were detected in Ljubljana, Krsko and Koper and they include three foreign nationals. The total number of cases now is 1,511, of which 15 were confirmed in the first three days of this week. The government considers this to be the consequence of relaxation of restrictions and opening of the borders to people from countries where the epidemic is not yet under control.

Currently, there are 30 active cases in Slovenia, six of whom are receiving hospital treatment.

On Wednesday, infectious disease specialist Bojana Beovic called for tighter control of people entering from non-EU countries where the epidemiological situation is still not under control.

Local media said that the government would tighten requirements for Slovenian and foreign nationals entering from third countries, adding that quarantine would be mandatory for people arriving from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and EU member Bulgaria.