“This is clearly a sign which we all wanted to see”, said the spokesperson, and added that the situation in care homes remains alarming, since they have recorded another spike in infections among the residents and employees. The number of infected residents increased yesterday by 250, so there are currently 2510 active infections (a total of 4424 in the second wave). The number of infected employees increased by 81, so there are currently 905 active infections (a total of 1656 in the second wave).

1254 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised yesterday, which means that 16 more people needed hospital care compared to the day before. There were fewer patients in intensive care units yesterday compared to Wednesday, and 201 persons needed intensive care. Yesterday afternoon, we reported that 20 intensive care beds remained unoccupied. 68 persons (10 fewer than the day before) were released from all hospitals on Thursday. 31 persons died.

Carotta, coordinator for Covid hospital beds: The situation in hospitals is stabilising

Robert Carotta, the coordinator for Covid hospital beds at the Ministry of Health, assessed that they have achieved the maximum capacity of hospitalisations in hospitals, and that the number of hospitalised patients will start to gradually reduce next week. However, he said this will only happen if there are no other outbreaks, which the Slovenian health care system cannot afford.

He also said that 778 patients with Covid-19 were moved between hospitals, a trend which has been reducing in the last couple of days. He believes that this is a sign that hospitals are capable of managing their own patients. Whereas last week there were, on average, 16 transfers per day, they only transferred five people on Thursday, he said.

Inspectors take into consideration concrete facts and circumstances during inspections

Deana Potza, representative of the health inspectorate, said that 2,578 supervisions were carried out last week. 104 sanctions were issued in the total amount of EUR 56,400, and 263 warnings were given in line with the Minor Offences Act, as well as 120 administrative measures. She pointed out the issue of the outside catering facilities, where individuals linger after taking their food and drinks - even in large numbers and especially in good weather. These violations are treated as gathering violations in some cases. However, when caterers serve food and drinks, proceedings are also launched against the caterer. In this context, she also clarified the explanation of MEDT, namely that the prohibition of consuming food and drinks in public places relates exclusively to the food and drinks taken at delivery points, and does not mean a general prohibition of consuming food and drinks in public places. She also added that masks or other forms of protecting the oral and nasal part of the face is mandatory when moving or standing in public areas, in line with the Ordinance on temporary measures to reduce the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19, and inspectors assess each case and circumstances individually and take appropriate measures by considering the principle of proportionality.

Deputy police chief Pečjak: Let’s comply with the measures to prevent the spread of the virus, in order to reduce its exponential spread among people

Tomaž Pečjak, the deputy police chief, said at the press conference that police officers carried out supervision activities in 46,124 places relating to the compliance with the government’s ordinances. Some supervisions were performed on the basis of citizen reports (604), and others on the basis of their own observations, and they identified 3,894 violations. They issued 2,753 warnings and 1,883 penalty fines. In 91 cases, they notified the health inspectorate because the matter was outside their competence. In 15 cases, they initiated minor offence proceedings, due to non-compliance with the police officer’s lawful measures.

From 1 November 2020 up to and including 19 November 2020, the police also issued 4,279 certificates for the transfer of persons to home quarantine, of which 721 were issued to minors.

Pečjak reiterated that urgent travel and travel that cannot be put off are still allowed, and that such persons must provide proof that they qualify for the exemptions provided for in the ordinances (regarding movement restrictions or border crossings).

The deputy police chief thanked all the police officers and other employees in the police force who have taken up additional tasks and activities related to the prevention of the spread of a contagious disease in these times.

Poljanec: Violence is always unacceptable

At the end of the press conference, assist. prof. Andreja Poljanec, PhD, psychologist, pointed to the issue of violence in interpersonal relationships, which is even more evident now when we are socialising with more or less the same people. She said that violence, either physical or mental, is always unacceptable, and that it is a sign that the person needs help in order to live a quality and respectful life in a relationship. It is important that everyone identifies this powerless feeling, distress, even shame, when a victim of violence acts, and that this first, albeit small, step is usually decisive to leave their circle of violence.