Slovenia confirms record daily number of infections

Local media say that the actual number of infections is probably higher because about 5,000 PCR tests remain unprocessed due to limited laboratory capacity.

According to unofficial data cited by the media on Wednesday morning, 12,019 COVID-19 cases were registered in the last 24 hours, up from the 7,433 reported a week ago.

Prime Minister Janez Jansa confirmed on his Twitter account that the daily number of infections had exceeded 12,000.

Franc Vindisar, state secretary at the Ministry of Health, was quoted as saying that under the new testing protocol that came into force today, PCR tests would be used only to confirm positive rapid antigen tests, which would relieve the burden on the health system and laboratories. Persons from risk groups will be exempt from this rule.

New quarantine rules also came into force today, under which employees from the health, welfare and education sectors need not quarantine after a risky contact, but are required to take rapid antigen tests every day for seven days after a risky contact and use more effective FFP2 face masks at work.