Slovenia: Authorities to tighten COVID-19 restrictions nationwide from September 19 /update 12

Event

Slovenian authorities will tighten coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions nationwide from Saturday, September 19, due to an increase in cases across the country. Authorities will make face coverings obligatory in crowded open public spaces, including city centers and markets, as well as for all students in 7th grade or above. From Monday, September 21, cafes, bars, and restaurants will only be allowed to operate between 06:00 and 22:00 (local time). From Monday, all businesses must also carry out daily temperature checks of employees before they enter their workplace, and those with a high temperature must be sent on sick leave. The government recommends working from home whenever possible.

The Slovenian government has announced that those arriving in the country from Croatia are required to undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine period. Exemptions apply to those who are transiting through Slovenia to reach another country, and these travelers will be allocated a maximum of 12 hours to transit. Delivery drivers collecting or depositing stock are exempt, in addition to those who cross the border daily for trade purposes.

Most services in Slovenia have been permitted to reopen, provided that health and safety guidelines are implemented, and gatherings of up to 50 people are permitted without prior approval from authorities.

As of Thursday, September 17, there have been 4058 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Slovenia with 136 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.