Slovenia is continuing to see a steep increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases, reporting 1,393 new cases in the past 24 hours, with positive tests accounting for 24.6% of the 5,665 tests done, one day before the introduction of tighter COVID-19 restrictions, including compulsory COVID-19 certificates.

According to the Public Health Institute, the 14-day incidence has climbed to 505, which is one of the criteria to classify a country as a dark red, epidemiologically risky zone on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control COVID map.

A total of 333 COVID-19 patients are receiving hospital treatment, including 76 in intensive care units.

As of Wednesday, in line with a government decision, employees of public institutions and companies, as well as their clients, will have to have certificates proving that they have been vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 or have tested negative, with certain exceptions being allowed.

COVID-19 certificates will also be required to enter shopping malls or using public transport, the exception being primary and secondary school students.

Certificates will also be necessary in health institutions, the exception being emergency cases, Health Minister Janez Poklukar told the public broadcaster, once again calling on all who can, to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

So far 44.5% of the country’s total population have been vaccinated.