Slovenia has conducted almost 9,000 PCR and rapid antigen tests in the past 24 hours, confirming 1,752 new coronavirus cases while 32 more people have died, the Health Ministry said ahead of mass testing of the population to start on Monday.

Of the 4,073 PCR tests done, 1,437 or 35.3% proved positive, while 4,841 rapid antigen tests identified 315 new cases, a rate of 6.5%, the ministry said on Thursday.

There are currently 1,774 active cases in the country and 196 patients are in intensive care.

In the past 24 hours, another 32 people have died as a consequence of COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 2,697.

Prime Minister Janez Jansa has announced that as of Monday mass antigen testing of the population would be conducted in aged care facilities, calling on citizens to get tested in an effort to identify possible asymptomatic cases and in that way help better control the spread of the epidemic.

The government has said that ski tourism will be allowed as of Saturday, however, visitors have to have a negative coronavirus test. Antigen testing will be conducted at border crossings as of Saturday for all those who wish to enter the country and avoid quarantine measures.

Anyone entering Slovenia from “red” zones will be able to enter the country without going into quarantine but only if they have a negative test no older than 24 hours.