On 11 March last year, the World Health Organisation declared the pandemic of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus. A year later, the end of the pandemic is still not in sight. The virus keeps spreading, among other things due to new straint. Anti-corona measures remain in force in numerous countries. Vaccination against the COVID-19 brings a certain amount of hope.

A year ago, Slovenia declared the COVID-19 epidemic. The number of infected persons increased to almost a hundred in the week following the first confirmed case of infection. Slovenia has spent more than 60% of the year in a declared epidemic accompanied by restrictive measures.

These days also mark the first anniversary of the government of Janez Janša taking office. The work of the government has been marked by the coronavirus epidemic, difficult circumstances, in which extraordinary efforts had to be made to keep all key social subsystems functioning. During this time, the government allocated significant funds to helping natural and legal persons, and Slovenia is globally among the most successful in maintaining jobs and the economy, which is also indicated by a lower fall in GDP in comparison to other countries and improved credit ratings.

After Valentine's Day and Lent, today's feast of St. Gregory, in accordance with cultural heritage, announces that the long-awaited spring is approaching. According to a well-known saying, St. Gregory’s day is when “birds get married”, and towns with artisanal traditions developed customs characteristic of the time when craftsmen could work by the daylight again. These customs are kept alive by children, but only virtually during the epidemic.