Slovenia on Tuesday reported 894 new coronavirus infections, while the number of new infections on Monday was 209, with fewer tests done, which has prompted epidemiologists to recommend stepping up vaccination to put the situation under control in the next few months.

The 14-day incidence in Slovenia is 457, which is around the European average but additional progress is needed in vaccination against Covid-19, said epidemiologist Nuška Caks-Jager.

According to the latest data, 430,938 Slovenians or 23 percent of the population have received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 216,820 have received both doses, which is a 10.3 percent share. The vaccination of people above 50 is about to begin.

Experts, however, warn that two to three times more people should get vaccinated on a daily basis than is now the case because otherwise the process of immunization could last until late autumn, the more so as less than 40 percent of people aged over 70 have been vaccinated.

There are currently 9,675 active cases of the infection and the number has been declining slowly, as has the number of patients in hospitals, to 584, 24 fewer than on Monday.

Six people have died as a consequence of the infection in the last 24 hours, putting the death toll at 4,273.