Slovenia's government and epidemiologists are concerned with the rate coronavirus is spreading and have decided to introduce tighter restrictions while experts have said that the hospital system will be under strain if the situation does not calm down quickly.

According to official data, Slovenia recorded 707 new cases of Covd-19 on Tuesday and two fatalities. This is a new record after last week’s record of 411 in one day and the rate tof the spread of the virus is concerning.

Government spokesman Jelko Kacin told a press conference that the epidemiological situation is increasingly serious. That is why the government has decided for new stricter measures from the last third package in the orange phase seeing that the number of people infected is growing and accelerating, which is why we can come to the conclusion that the measures to date have not managed to prevent the spread of the epidemic, warned Kacin.

The reproduction number of the virus spreading amounts to 2 which means the one infected person infects another two people and if that trend continues next week there will be about 600 COVID-19 patients in hospital with more than 100 expected to be in intensive care units, the national health institute warned.

That would put the health system under strain, as it lacks teams to care for the ill and in that case most other medical treatment with the exception of emergency cases, would have to be suspended, experts have said.

They added that COVID patients with more serious conditions spend an average of two weeks in hospital which costs the state budget about €50,000 to 60,000.

The government is still discussing possible new measures and will reveal its decision later tonight or tomorrow.

According to Slovenian Television the government is considering closing down some commercial activities such as fitness centres, pedicurists and hairdressers. It is also mulling the idea of imposing measures on the regional principle which means some measures would be imposed in certain regions and would be in force for four weeks or until the situation calms down.