“The light at the end of the tunnel is beckoning; we hope that it will grow ever stronger and that the tunnel does not have any hidden curves,” was the answer given by Mateja Logar, Slovenian infectologist and head of the COVID advisory group when asked about the possible end of the third wave of the epidemic.
Slovenia is one of the countries where the number of confirmed cases of infections and deaths of patients with COVID-19 is currently decreasing. A slight decline has been noticed throughout the rest of Europe as well. But as the predominant English strain’s infectivity is higher, protective measures are necessary. New strains are, namely, our new reality.
An agreement that the age limit for priority vaccination should be lowered to those over 50, which would be possible in the next week or after 1 May, is at the final stages. The number of Slovenia’s residents vaccinated with one dose is approaching 400,000, which is quite encouraging for our country.
Based on the assessment of the current epidemic situation and the opinion of the advisory group, the Government decided on Wednesday that the country is in the orange phase according to the current plan of easing measures. The country’s epidemiological situation has improved enough that the Government decided at its Wednesday session that both crossing between regions and gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed as of Friday.
On Saturday, it is planned that bars and restaurants all over the country will be able to provide outdoor seating, while people who have recovered from COVID-19, vaccinated people and those with a negative test may also use the indoor spaces of bars and restaurants in the Pomurska, Goriška and Obalno-Kraška regions. Accommodation facilities offering up to 30 rooms will start operating on Monday. At the same time, camps will also be able to open. From Monday, accommodation facilities in the yellow regions may offer up to 30 rooms, regardless of their size.
Another important change is that all educational institutions will be open next week – in-person lectures at universities and vocational colleges will be possible again.
