The situation in Slovenia regarding the coronavirus pandemic and its fourth wave is critical, hospitals are receiving more and more COVID patients as the country confirmed 3,344 new coronavirus cases and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The test positivity rate is 43.9%, the the National Public Health Institute (NIJZ) said on Tuesday.

The seven-day average of daily new cases is now 3,194, while the 14-day incidence rate is 1,787 cases per 100,000 population.

Currently, 874 infected people are receiving hospital treatment and 187 of them are in intensive care.

The COVID-19 vaccination rate is growing slowly and has now reached 53.4 percent of the total population.

Despite the surge in new cases and hospitalisations, the government has not introduced a 14-day total lockdown, an option recommended by epidemiologists. The government has decided to introduce other less rigorous measures, such as stricter checks of COVID passes, shortening the opening hours of bars and restaurants, and restricting public gatherings.