As of Saturday entry into Slovenia without having to go into quarantine or presenting a negative COVID test will be possible for anyone who has received two doses of a COVID vaccine or has recovered from the virus and has a doctor's certificate to that effect, the Slovenian government decided on Thursday.

Anyone who has recovered from COVID in the past six months and at least 14 days have passed since they received a second dose of the vaccine will be allowed to enter Slovenia without any further requirements.

The new regime refers to citizens and residents of EU and Schengen Area member states, while others will have to have a negative PCR tests or go into quarantine, Interior Minister Ales Hojs confirmed.

As of Monday ski resorts will accept people with a negative COVID test no older than 7 days whereas until now that test could not be older than 24 hours. People who have recovered or been vaccinated against COVID will also be allowed at ski resorts.

Slovenia has decided to ease some restrictions as of Monday due to the downward trend in new COVID cases, including lifting a ban on movement between municipalities and face-to-face classes for all elementary school pupils and secondary school graduates.

Stores are reopening with special epidemiological measures. All store keepers and staff will still need to be tested once a week and the cost of testing will be covered by the state.

A curfew will remain in force.

In the past 24 hours a total of 26,270 PCR and antigen tests confirmed 1,385 new cases of the virus and ten people died of COVID.