Slovenia has confirmed 1,656 new cases of coronavirus infection over the past 24 hours, which is a lower number than yesterday, but the percentage of positive tests remains high at close to 25 percent, the authorities said on Friday.

The number of hospitalised Covid patients continues to rise, as does the death toll, so the government decided on Thursday to impose a temporary lockdown that would last for at least a week.

The total number of confirmed infections since the start of the epidemic in Slovenia has increased to 19,307, including 11,434 currently active cases, 394 Covid-19 patients are being treated in hospitals, and 67 of them are intensive care units, the Health Ministry said.

The death toll has increased from 210 on Thursday to 214. The 14-day incidence rate is 546 infected persons per 100,000 inhabitants.