This year, World Health Day puts nurses and midwives at the forefront and the importance of community support for them. In recent months, nurses and other healthcare professionals have been on the frontline to care for those falling ill with COVID-19.

The Holmec border crossing reopened on 6 April and it will remain open every day from 5.00 to 8.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00.

A call centre has been operating ever since the declaration of the coronavirus pandemic in Slovenia to provide the public with reliable and up-to-date information on the new coronavirus. Information is available at the toll-free telephone number 080 1404 (+38614787550 for calls from abroad) every day between 8:00 and 20:00.

Upon their arrival from abroad, all healthy persons are required to remain in quarantine due to a possible infection with the new coronavirus. Persons with signs of COVID-19 infection must be isolated.

The Government Communication Office manages the national brand ‘I feel Slovenia’, which represents our country both at home and around the world. Promotional events, campaigns, presentations and performances of Slovenia were commonplace until recently. Due to the current events, we have postponed our planned promotional events, but this does not mean you cannot feel Slovenia in a different way.

The Organization for European Cooperation and Development (OECD), in partnership with the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration, has completed a joint project to review, analyse and propose improvements for public procurement in Slovenia.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated Baa1 (positive) / AA- (stable) / A (stable), has mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole CIB, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan to lead manage a multi-tranche transaction consisting of a new 10-year SLOREP benchmark due 15 July 2030 and a reopening of the 0.200% notes due 31 March 2023 (ISINSI0002103974). A reopening of the 3.125% notes due 7 August 2045 (ISIN SI0002103552) will be considered subject to reverse interest from investors. All tranches will be Regulation “S” transactions in dematerialized registered form. The deal is expected to be launched in the near future, subject to market conditions. Relevant stabilization regulations apply. Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) are eligible and professional counterparties (all distribution channels) and also retail investors (all distribution channels).

Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša visited the University Medical Centre Ljubljana where he took note of the situation and what adjustments the medical centre had implemented to control the COVID-19 disease. The Prime Minister visited the temporary emergency unit, the pediatric intensive care unit and was informed about the current situation in the Department of Infectious Diseases.

During the last days, Foreign Minister Logar led a coordinated diplomatic action aimed at reopening the Holmec border crossing. As part of the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Republic of Austria has decided to close down the border crossing.

At today’s informal videoconference, EU ministers of foreign affairs called for continued intensive efforts to repatriate EU citizens from third countries, and for consular cooperation between Member States. They underlined the importance of the free movement of goods and the possibility of transit within the EU for EU citizens returning via airports outside their home countries. The ministers agreed that the EU must strengthen its assisting role in third countries as part of its response to the pandemic, particularly in Africa, the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries. They also called for more proactive provision of information to EU citizens on the EU’s role and activities undertaken to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Managing Authority for ESIF and Cohesion Fund, has issued a grant decision for the project “Energy-saving renovation of the Gradišče Residential Care Home” in Dornberk. The project is worth over EUR 1.3 million and will receive EUR 364,000 of Cohesion Fund support.

We have set up a special email address to provide advice to people who have questions concerning the new measures being implemented to contain COVID-19 and associated movement restrictions.

The Government is also drafting a second anti-corona package, the purpose of which will be in particular to resolve the issue of liquidity in the Slovenian economy, and a third package in which the legislator will outline the exit strategy for the period following the end of the epidemic.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended the regular meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers today. Due to the changed circumstances following the spread of the COVID-19 disease, NATO Foreign Ministers met via a secure video conference, for the first time in the history of NATO, with the COVID-19 crisis at the top of the agenda. They assessed further measures NATO and the allies can take to enhance the collective fight against the virus.

Following a political crisis in Slovenia, at the session of the National Assembly on 3 March 2020, Janez Janša was elected as the 14th President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. We interviewed him on the health emergency in Europe, the respnses of the European Union and the migrant crisis.

As of 6am Thursday, 2 April 2020, the following two border points are open at the Slovenian-Hungarian border: Čepinci - Verica and Hodoš – Bajasenjye.

As a member of the Core Group of the MLA Initiative, which also includes Argentina, Belgium, Mongolia, the Netherlands and Senegal, we regret to inform that after careful consideration and in response to the continuing developments surrounding COVID-19 pandemic, the Diplomatic Conference for the negotiation of the Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes, which was scheduled for 8–19 June 2020 in Ljubljana, is postponed until further notice.

On 2 April, we celebrate International Children's Book Day.

The National Assembly adopted on Thursday a EUR 3 billion stimulus package aiming to cushion the impact of coronavirus on Slovenia's economy and people.

A crisis always opens the window of opportunity for something new.