Ljubljana - The Chamber of Commerce (TZS) appealed for reopening of stores as they met top government officials on Friday, learning that reopening would depend on the improvement of the coronavirus situation in the coming weeks.

Apart from TZS officials the meeting was also attended by PM Janez Janša, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, Health Minister Tomaž Gantar and Bojana Beović, the government's chief Covid-19 adviser.

A release issued by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology said the meeting had agreed some of the lockdown restriction could begin to be eased in the coming days provided an improvement in the epidemic status.

If consistent abiding by the measures showed visible progress in containing coronavirus, clothing and footwear stores could start reopening next week, along with car showrooms and some services.

With the help of rapid tests at shop entrances, more widespread reopening of establishments could be possible from January.

Speaking for Planet TV, TZS head Mariča Lah regretted that the ban on movement between municipalities would likely remain in force even when stores are allowed to reopen.

As a result, shoppers will not be allowed to visit a shop in another municipality even when such shop is closed in their municipality. Ladi Rožič, the head of the shop workers' union, said the ban was causing great damage to business.

"We are aware that some businesses have been closed for the greater part of the year, so we are working to allocate them specific aid in the seventh stimulus package to make up for the loss of revenue to be largest possible extent," the ministry said.