In the past 24 hours Slovenia has registered 1,524 new cases of coronavirus out of 5,637 tests, and there have been 44 COVID-related fatalities, the government reported on Tuesday.

That number is on average the same as last week and the epidemiological situation in the country is still difficult.

However, the government has decided to slightly ease some restrictions for a period of one week, until December 23 after which Slovenia will once again go into lockdown over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

With the latest 44 deaths the death toll now stands at 2,151, the government said.

The situation in hospitals is still difficult with a growing number of patients requiring hospitalisation. Currently there are 1,284 patients in hospital treatment, 204 patients are in intensive care units while 127 patients were discharged in the past 24 hours.

The latest government decision means that public transport will be running again but to a limited capacity.

Some services will once again be allowed for the next eight days such as hairdressers and pedicure salons. Further restrictions on movement will continue to apply in only 4 of 12 statistical regions.

Prime Minister Janez Jansa said in parliament on Monday that the first 5,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines would arrive in Slovenia at the end of the year as part of a joint European Commission procurement.