The new rules introducing mandatory COVID certificates and testing are followed in most cases without excessive problems, Education Minister Radovan Fuchs said on Wednesday, adding however that sanctions should be imposed for those people who choose to disregard the mandates.

The mandates by the national COVID-19 crisis management team are being implemented as conceived and planned, he told the press after a cabinet meeting.

“The principals have organised things brilliantly and we are in contact with them,” Fuchs said, adding that some school employees “refused testing and de facto entered schools and held classes. No one physically stopped them.”

He said there was no need to hire security or police to remove people who do that. He called their behaviour irresponsible, saying that no one is forcing anyone to get vaccinated and that the certificates and the testing are a measure to comprehensively curb the pandemic.

Fuchs said he hopes “those people will come to their senses and that they will not follow some… political projects and attempts by individuals who are trying to score cheap political points by irresponsibly playing with the health of our fellow citizens.”

He said he would meet with Justice Minister Ivan Malenica and Health Minister Vili Beros today in an attempt to find a way to legally regulate the flouting of COVID rules.