Prime Minister Janez Janša said he wanted to visit the municipality to assess the situation first hand. “I do not want to get a sugar-coated version, but instead see the reality of the situation. Only in this way can we take effective action,” Mr Janša said. He again congratulated the mayor on his decision to close the local primary school after the emergence of infections in their local area. “This is how we should respond to chaos. Since your decision, developments across the Slovenian municipalities have taken a different turn,” Mr Janša said to the mayor. He reiterated that epidemics cannot be contained from a single centre.

 “Each of us is a medium that can spread the epidemic, as well as a medium that can contain it. All institutions that can make a difference must act in this direction," Mr Janša said. He also said that an epidemic situation requires acting self-reliantly, just as the municipality Šmarje pri Jelšah had done.

Civil Protection Commander Alojz Stoklar said at the meeting that the municipal headquarters was still in control of the situation and was being resourceful to the greatest extent possible. He and the mayor presented proposals for measures to curb the spread of the virus throughout the municipality and beyond. “I'm not worried about you, you will know what to do. However, I would be grateful if you could share your experiences with the whole of Slovenia," Mr Janša added.

State Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Vinko Gorenak, who was also present at the talks with the heads of the municipality and members of the municipal civil protection headquarters, described the visit as a gesture of support for the mayor, who, despite threats from the former minister responsible for schools, had closed the school two days before the rest of Slovenia. "The visit of the Prime Minister today has given new impetus to our commitment to work," Mr Gorenak added.

At the meeting, which took place in the premises of the municipality, which were cleaned and disinfected beforehand, the attendees wore protective masks. When taking photographs outdoors in front of the entrance to the municipality building, the safety distance was observed.