A total of 5,115 PCR tests were carried out on Tuesday, with 1,097 new positive cases confirmed (21.4%); 19,962 rapid antigen tests were also performed. The number of patients in hospital yesterday was 648, 43 fewer than on Monday, with 126 of them in intensive care. A total of 12 patients died: ten in hospitals and two in nursing homes. The municipalities with the highest number of new positive cases compared to yesterday were: Celje (34), Cerknica (14), Domžale (22), Koper (66), Škofljica (20), Trebnje (16), Ljubljana (150) and Maribor (51). According to data released today by the NIJZ, the seven-day average number of infections is 838, which is better than yesterday’s level of 879.

Regarding the 14-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe, a decrease of 7.6% in the number of cases can be observed at the EU level for the fourth and fifth weeks of this year, while Slovenia has recorded a drop of 4.3% in the same period. Some countries are facing an increased number of positive cases, notably Greece (47.6%), which is followed by Bulgaria and Finland, each with a 30% increase, and Belgium and Hungary, each with an increase of just under 10%. In terms of the 14-day incidence, Portugal remains the highest, with 1,214 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the Czech Republic with 914, Spain with 843 and Slovenia with 762. The figure for Slovenia for 17 February is even better and stands at 545 cases.

Mr Krek drew attention to the 7-day incidence, which has remained at the same level for a number of days and is no longer falling, which is not a good sign. This could mean that the decline in the epidemic has stopped. The fall in the daily number of newly detected cases per million inhabitants has also halted in recent days and has remained at the same level for a number of days now. Slovenia’s neighbours Italy, Austria and Croatia are all currently one alert level lower than Slovenia, but here too new cases have remained at the same level for some time. In terms of the scale of testing, a comparison of countries shows that this measure is currently being used most in Austria, followed by Slovenia and then by Italy, Germany, Croatia and Hungary.

In February Slovenia will receive 78,390 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 13,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine and 36,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is almost 10,000 fewer doses than announced a week ago. This means a total of 127,590 doses in February. Another 99,450 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 30,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine are planned to be delivered in March, while no figures are available for AstraZeneca. The number of people who have received one dose currently stands at 70,888, while 47,693 people had received their second dose by 14 February. The number of adverse effects stands at 1,312 for the Pfizer vaccine, 6 for the Moderna vaccine and 5 for the AstraZeneca vaccine. 

Following the meeting of the Vaccinations Advisory Group at the NIJZ on 9 February, guidelines regarding priority groups for vaccination against COVID-19 have been updated and recommendations drawn up for the use of specific vaccines in the current conditions, in which quantities of individual vaccines are extremely limited.

The mRNA vaccinations produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are as a rule to be used for: persons aged 80 and over, residents of nursing homes and health workers aged 65 and over, for all those who have not yet been vaccinated. Subsequently, these vaccines will be used in the following order: for (i) persons aged 75 and over, (ii) persons aged 70 and over and particularly vulnerable chronic patients regardless of age and (iii) persons aged 65 and over.

In the current vaccine supply situation, the AstraZeneca vaccine is to be used for: (i) particularly vulnerable chronic patients aged 18–64, and also for older individuals with or without chronic illnesses if they express the wish to be vaccinated as soon as possible, at the discretion of their own doctor. In the case of a large number of particularly vulnerable chronic patients from the same group, older patients will take priority. Next on the list for vaccination are immobile persons at home, regardless of age, health workers and other health professionals aged 18–64 who have not yet been vaccinated, institutionalised persons, i.e. inmates/residents and staff of social care institutions, education and rehabilitation centres, prisons and similar institutions who are aged 18–64 and have not yet been vaccinated, and staff and students of special needs schools aged 18–64 who have not yet been vaccinated.

The order of priority for the vaccination of immobile persons is decided in accordance with the vaccination strategy on the basis of age or concomitant illness, beginning with those aged 80 and over and particularly vulnerable chronic patients regardless of age – with priority going to those who are older. Mr Krek gave assurances that all 80-year-olds who have registered for vaccination will be vaccinated in the course of next week.

The NIJZ is not currently receiving data on the number of false positives from rapid tests. New staff have been announced and confirmed by the Ministry of Health, so the NIJZ is already making preparations to organise work differently.