WEBVTT

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Good afternoon
and welcome to today's statement

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regarding the current situation
in connection with the coronavirus.

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Let me introduce
today's speakers.

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First is the Civil Protection
Commander Srečko Šestan.

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Hello. I will try to be short,
since there are many speakers.

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You will get the necessary
information in the Q&A session.

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This morning we met as a new team,
although it wasn't very new.

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I believe we will get new
instructions with a new government.

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We will then organise
in a more suitable manner.

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Despite that we formed
some new working groups.

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My colleagues will tell you more
about the measures of these groups.

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After yesterday's meeting
with the municipalities,

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the mayors, and NGOs,
we were very active today.

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We sent a letter to all public
services with instructions.

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Our branches on field
were informed,

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how to communicate
with municipalities.

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We gave instructions
to the commanders of our bodies.

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Last but not least,
we sent a letter to the mayors.

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The reason was yesterday's meeting

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and because there are
more and more questions,

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even if the answers are known.

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And you will hear some of the
answers from my colleagues.

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This is all for now.
-Thank you, commander.

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Next is the Director of Slovenia's
National Institute of Public Health,

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Nina Pirnat.
-Good afternoon.

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Epidemiological situation
in Slovenia reached phase two.

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This means we have to limit social
contacts as much as possible,

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with all the measures
being carried out

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in order to prevent and limit
the spread of infections.

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The most recent
information shows

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we have 141 confirmed
cases as of 2 pm today.

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4346 tests were carried out.

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These numbers are enormous.

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There are 54 new cases
since our last report.

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Regional data
is not yet available,

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however, there is an indication

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that the biggest increase
is in the Ljubljana region.

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We can observe

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the number of people infected
with covid-19 is growing every day.

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With the help of all state-imposed
measures, we try to lessen the burden

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that has been caused
by a large number of infections.

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We have been trying hard to contain
the spread of infections,

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so that the healthcare system

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will be able to
treat everyone

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who will need help
appropriately and on time.

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We realise
that the implemented measures,

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such as closing down
schools and kindergartens,

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banning gatherings
and cancelling events,

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are changing
people's everyday lives.

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But it is necessary.
Studies of the past pandemics

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indicate that ristricting
social contacts

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is the most important measure
that eventually helps

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to contain the spreading
of infections.

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We banned school and kindergarten
classes, but we need to know

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that young people
keep on gathering.

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Therefore, we ask parents
to comply with the measures.

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Young people
who do not go to classes

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should not gather
at bars or go for a drink,

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because they are putting
themselves and others at risk.

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Sick and elderly people,

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who are most susceptible
to the infection,

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would be the most affected
if they got infected.

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Some people
live in institutions,

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such as nursing homes

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and social
protection institutions

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and it is very important
that they do not get infected.

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Every day,
we are receiving questions

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if we could nevertheless
allow visitors in nursing homes.

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We realise it is hard not being able
to see our loved ones,

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but it is extremely important
that the virus

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does not come to these institutions
and therefore, we must respect

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the restrictions.
I have been talking

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to many nursing home directors

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who told me that visitors
do not follow the instructions.

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They have obvious signs of the
upper respiratory tract infection

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and they visit a relative without
washing and disinfecting their hands.

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This should not be happening.
Even when we are outside,

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it is very important
to keep our distance to others.

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We understand that situations
such as this one bring uncertainty,

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which can cause anxiety
in adults and children.

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That's why Slovenia has helplines
for people in mental distress.

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You can find
information on those

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on the National institute
of Public Health website.

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We would recommend for parents
to speak to their children

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about the virus, its transmission,
about what is happening,

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who is really
threatened by the virus.

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By that I mean the groups at risk,
elderly and otherwise.

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Speak to your children,
so they can learn

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what kind of measures
need to be taken

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to prevent the virus
from spreading.

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Parents and adults must of course
take care of themselves as well.

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This period is really hard, we've
found ourselves in such a situation

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for the first time
in independent Slovenia.

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Europe is also facing this for
the first time after many decades.

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This will pass.

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But only
with really strict hygiene measures

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that I've mentioned several times
will we be able to move on together.

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Hello in the name
of the Ministry of the Interior.

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The Ministry offers
assistance and help

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to the health care professionals
and everyone else

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with implementing measures
to prevent the spread of the virus.

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The main questions
that have come up in this story

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are the border crossings and why we
implemented health control

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and six checkpoints
on our Italian border.

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I think it's clear to everyone, it
is clear from the regulation itself,

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that we want to limit traffic
and find out

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if anyone is showing
any signs of illness.

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Of course, at this point I would like
to point out that freight transport,

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except for the transport of postal items,
medicines, protective equipment,

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medical supplies
and humanitarian aid

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from Italy is not forbidden
and is being carried out

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and we will continue to carry it out
whatever the condition

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of the infection spread.

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This order also doesn't apply
to Slovenian citizens,

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people with permanent and temporary
residence, freight vehicles

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and all freight traffic headed to
Slovenia as their final destination.

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Today I was asked if food from
a certain area in Italy can come

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to Slovenia. Of course it can,
because we will after all

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need this food. Others are
responsible for inspecting it.

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Police will allow them access.
The problem we have

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is the freight traffic
going to Hungary

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because of the specific measures
they've implemented.

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They banned passage to the citizens
from the infected areas,

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especially from Italy. We have
a certain problem here as far as

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the return of Romanian citizens to
their country of origin or destination,

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the Hungarians
don't want to let them in

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because they're coming
from the infected area.

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This is a broader problem,
which cannot be solved

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by banning the entry of
Romanian citizens with an order.

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This applies to other citizens
on the Italian border as well.

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But we will have to find some way
to agree with Croatia,

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who has certain obligations
in this area, or with Hungary

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as to how we will get
these people home.

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This is a humanitarian problem
that we will have to solve.

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Police will participate in this
constructively. If the Ministry manages

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to arrange a convoy
or some other way of traveling

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in the least harmful way possible,

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which will not cause any infection
in Hungary or Croatia,

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to assure the Romanians a way
home, we are obliged to do that

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in the name of EU solidarity
and we will do it.

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We're also handling the situation
with the drivers, stuck at Obrežje.

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They are provided with food so they
can wait in that line decently.

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However, we can't influence the
number of trucks Croatia will accept.

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That is why I advise everyone

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coming from Italy
not to drive towards Croatia,

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because they will wait.

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We decided to restrict the access
of these vehicles by an order.

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We are turning them around
at the border crossing with Italy,

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because we know
they won't let them through.

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We're trying to limit
these obstacles.

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Of course,
we'll have to talk about

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humanitarian aid so that
these matters can run smoothly.

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Croatia will also need
food and other things.

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Then there are quite a few questions
about other border crossings.

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Except for those with
Hungary and Italy

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the traffic is normal.

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But it's true that today
for example

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an international passenger
train arrived to Obrežje.

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Croats removed
all passengers

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from the train
and set certain conditions.

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We discussed how to
get them across all morning.

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In most cases,
these are their citizens,

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returning from work
in Italy or countries at risk.

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I hope they will cross
the border at Rigonci

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and go through appropriate medical
screenings before entering Croatia.

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It is like this.
A doctor in Croatia decides,

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whether you go into quarantine
or self-isolation.

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The quarantine
costs 500 Euros for 14 days

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and that's why people reutrn,
for example Japanese nationals.

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We'll have to take care
of all of the above.

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I assure you we will take care of them
and we will find solutions.

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There's no need to be afraid.

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But I sincerely advise anyone
not to travel abroad.

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Romanian Nationals sought
help from their embassy.

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We're discussing with
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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We lack information
about any agreements.

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I would like to highlight this issue,

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because many foreign nationals
will be returning from Italy,

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not only Romanians,
but also some other EU nationals.

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I would like to stress
the importance of solidarity.

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As members of the EU
we are obliged to take care

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of those in transit
to their home country.

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There was a question
about the Austrian ban.

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We received no information
on this matter.

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The Austrian police always
informs us in advance

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so we will have information in time.

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The Czech Government
declared a 30-day state of emergency.

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They prevented entry
to travelers from 15 countries.

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Slovenia is not one of them,
however Austria and Italy are.

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You know which countries were denied
entry by Hungary and Croatia.

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These matters change hourly.

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I can only say:
Don't travel. Stay at home.

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Thank you.

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You mentioned the train
that is stranded in Dobova.

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Where are these people now?
There were some Croatian nationals

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who weren't allowed to cross
the border by the Croatian police.

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And Slovenian and foreign nationals.
The train left from Switzerland.

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It was an international
train to Zagreb.

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28 passengers are on their
way to Rigonce,

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where they will be medically examined.
Based on medical decisions

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they will either be quarantined
or kept in paid quarantine

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for foreign nationals.

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I can't comment
on these decisions.

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They won't be kept in waiting rooms.

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Is the communication with Croatia
better? They didn't inform us about

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their actions
on the border.

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Apparently migrant workers
from Croatia can't enter Slovenia

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or will be denied entry
if they decline quarantine.

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Workers who came
to Metlika in the morning

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won't be returned
if they decline quarantine.

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They were given this information
upon entry.

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We understand,
people want to work

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and are afraid
to lose their jobs.

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That's why they want
to cross the border like that.

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Same goes with Italy.

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Italian nationals who work here
or Slovenians who work in Trieste

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want to cross. But the advice that
the Ministry of Health gave is clear.

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Stay at home.
Work from home.

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Don't cross the border.
That's how we will contain

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the spread of the virus.
We have to acknowledge that

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and there will be no problem.

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I can't comment
on Croatian measures.

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They have to prevent
the spread of the virus,

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which is why they react this way.
In these difficult times

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some measures might
not be appropriate,

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others turn out to be.
We'll see.

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These foreign nationals
sought help at the embassy.

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We advise them to do so.
If they have any trouble ...

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I guess it has to be clear
they have to make sure

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to plan their return home.

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No border is impassable.

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We've stressed
this point enough.

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We have to reach an
agreement with Hungary,

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how these people will
be returned home.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
is in contact with the embassy.

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I am certain
we will solve this.

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Everyone is taken care of.

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The truckers at Obrežje,
so they can wait decently.

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We will take care of everyone.
For now,

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they sought advice from the embassy,
so there won't be any issues.

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If things escalate
and there is no agreement,

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we will be forced to close
the border with Italy.

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and find different solutions.