In the past 24 hours 1,564 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Slovenia and 24 people have died from Covid-19, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

In said period 5,895 tests have been done, with 26.53% coming back positive.

Since the start of the epidemic, Slovenia has confirmed 42,658 cases of the new virus, including 23,336 currently active ones. The death toll is 495. The 14-day infection rate is 1,113 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Currently 1,065 people are hospitalised for Covid-19, including 168 in intensive care. The situation in hospitals remains critical, with Covid wards near breaking point due to the influx of patients.

On Thursday night, the government extended for another week restrictions including movement allowed only within one’s municipality, online education and a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

After last night’s riots in Ljubljana in which police clashed with violent protesters against the restrictions, Interior Minister Ales Hojs and media close to Prime Minister Janez Jansa blamed the leading media for the violence and accused them of indirectly prompting those who question anti-Covid measures or negate the danger of the epidemic.

Hojs last night warned citizens against travelling abroad, recalling that the neighbouring Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia were on the red list.