Ljubljana - The coronavirus case count in Slovenia was up 25% week-on-week to 2,510 on Thursday, with positivity rate at almost 37%, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) announced. It has estimated that there are more than 25,000 active cases in the country. Hospitalisations, including in intensive care units, were up.

The seven-day average of new daily cases increased by 71 on the day before to 2,138 as the 14-day incidence per 100,000 people rose by 65 to 1,190.

According to the government figures, 558 people are currently in hospital for Covid-19, 11 more than on the day before, with the number of ICU patients increasing by three to 134. Seven Covid-19 patients died.

The youngest hospitalised patient is 19 years old, and the youngest patient in intensive care is 21 years old.

The NIJZ has estimated that the current number of active cases is 25,121, up by 1,373 on a daily basis.

The situation in Slovenian hospitals reflects the country's worsening epidemiological status as hospital beds are filling up and staff are under increasing pressure.

A single Covid patient in intensive care is treated by one doctor and two nurses, meaning more than 100 doctors and over 250 nurses are currently needed in intensive care units, said Health Ministry State Secretary Franc Vindišar.

The number of newly-admitted patients in the past week was 474, up by 64% on the previous week, he noted, adding that 80 patients had been admitted to intensive care in the past week.

Currently, there are 479 standard Covid beds and 150 intensive care beds available across Slovenia, but next Wednesday the capacities will be increased to 590 and 159, respectively.

The ministry will adopt a decree today introducing temporary measures to organise and carry out healthcare services. This means that providers at all levels will be able to provide all health services once they have secured the agreed capacities for Covid patients.

Certain services will have to be provided in any case, including urgent services, oncology services and health services for pregnant women, women giving birth, newborn babies and children.

Given the soaring Covid figures, Health Minister Janez Poklukar urged mayors today to do their best to help stem the epidemic, including by stepping up monitoring the recovered-vaccinated-tested rule and raising awareness about the importance of the Covid pass.