Slovenia confirmed 1,772 new coronavirus cases after 6,604 tests conducted and 45 related deaths in the last 24 hours, the government said on Thursday.

The share of positive tests in the total number of tests was 26.8%, which is better than on Wednesday when 2,429 new infections were reported, with every third test returning positive, and as many as 57 deaths.

Currently, 1,289 infected people are being treated in hospitals, including 198 who are in intensive care.

Since the start of the epidemic in the country in early March, a total of 81,338 infections have been confirmed, of which 20,277 are currently active, the Health Ministry said on Thursday morning.

The 14-day incidence is 967 per 100,000 people, and the latest number of deaths has brought the total death toll to 1,592.

The government is meeting in the afternoon to discuss the epidemiological measures that have been in force for five weeks now and a possible easing of some of the restrictions. Epidemiologists and Health Minister Tomaz Gantar said on Wednesday that they would not recommend any wider easing of measures given the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation.