Over the past 24 hours, more than 11,000 tests have been performed in Slovenia, confirming 1,698 new cases of the coronavirus infection, with positive trends registered in recent days continuing and the government preparing for the first significant relaxation of the tight restrictions.

In the last 24 hours, of the 5,384 PCR tests performed, 25.9% have returned positive, confirming 1,396 new cases of the infection, and 302 more infections have been confirmed with 5,924 rapid antigen tests, a share of 5.1%.

Due to favourable data which show that the epidemic is winding down, Prime Minister Janez Janša has announced that the government will today discuss partial easing of measures and restrictions in regions with best results and that given the availability of the vaccine and its faster administration, 70% of the population could be vaccinated by the beginning of summer.

According to Slovenian media outlets, if the positive trend continues, primary schools in 9 out of 13 regions could reopen next week for pupils in the first three grades, as could kindergartens. Some services could also resume their activity in those regions.

According to current data, there are 20,869 active cases of the coronavirus infection in Slovenia or nearly 2,000 fewer than on Tuesday, and the 7-day rolling average of new cases has dropped to 1,297.

The number of patients in hospitals has also decreased, to 1,200, 187 of whom are in intensive care units. Over the past 24 hours, there have been 25 more COVID-19-related deaths, so the death toll has increased to 3,206, according to data from the health ministry.