The Terme Zreče spa at the foot of the Pohorje hills in the north-east of the country resumed out-patient physiotherapy services on Wednesday, as some other specialist surgeries are gradually reopening as well.

"Partial resumption of health services is a major challenge, with days and weeks ahead that will be out of the ordinary both in terms of ensuring safe handling of patients and in terms of revenue and streamlining," said Unitur, the company running the spa.

The terraces of cafes and restaurants at Terme Zreče and the Rogla ski resort remain closed for the time being. Depending on the weather, they are planning to reopen them in the second half of May.

Zdravilišče Laško, the spa south of Celje, is providing urgent rehabilitation services as a continuation of hospital treatment for neurological, neurosurgical and trauma patients.

From tomorrow they will also resume outpatient physiotherapy services, initially only for patients on priority referrals whose rehab was interrupted by the epidemic in March. "It's mostly patients referred to us after injuries and surgeries," spa operator Thermana has told the STA.

"Our team, which includes an external infectious disease expert and our safety-at-work official, is making sure that all the requirements and recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health are being followed carefully."

The cafe terrace of Thermana Park hotel will welcome guests back on Friday and the spa's wellness centre resumed its operations on Tuesday, albeit on an adjusted schedule.

Terme Krka, the spa company of the drug maker Krka, suspended all services in mid-March with the exception of nursing care at the Šmarješke Toplice spa in the south-east of the country.

They started resuming specialist and physiotherapy treatment at Šmarješke Toplice in the east and Talaso Strunjan at the seaside on 20 April, and a week later at the spa Dolenjske Toplice, which had been under renovation.

The spa operator also reopened its tennis courts and golf course at Otočec near the Croatian border. "Our first golfers were impressed by the course following major maintenance work ahead of the season," said Terme Krka.

The company's three wellness centres have reopened this week for certain beauty services such as nail and face care and hairdressing services and massage. So have outdoor bars and restaurants. "All other services will be resumed when the authorities in charge issue suitable guidance and permits."

Tourism company Sava Turizem, which runs a number of hotels and spa resorts in the lakeside town Bled, on the coast and in the north-east of the country, will wait a bit longer before reopening. It expects to resume outpatient medical services in the second half of May, while Kavarna Park cafe in Bled will open on Saturday.