Ljubljana - Students who refuse to wear masks or self-test will study from home under new rules that will enter into force on 15 November, Education Ministry State Secretary Damir Orehovec said on Thursday after schools expressed concern over the lack of a legal basis for action against those who violate rules.

The announcement of a new stricter preventive regime for primary and secondary schools under which all students will need to be tested three times a week on school premises was met with concern from school leaderships over how this be conducted and how schools should react in case of opposition from students or parents.

Indeed, a civil initiative opposing masks and testing of children presented a petition today against the new measures signed by 43,000 people and urged the education minister, the Covid-19 task force and the National Institute of Public Health to immediately stop the implementation of the government decree.

Orehovec said earlier this week that new new rules were being introduced to keep schools open. "The most vulnerable groups are entering schools and kindergartens and our ministry must make sure that all those involved - including children and youth, and staff - are in a safe environment, where they can be educated and where they can work," he said.

The association of head teachers proposed yesterday that students from 1st to 5th grade and those with special needs be tested at home, noting that self-testing could be organised for others on school premises.

Meanwhile, secondary schools said they expected problems, as they had no special rooms where the self-testing could take place or rooms where students testing positive could be placed to be isolated.

Orehovec said today that only children with special needs will have the option to be tested at home.

The new, stricter preventive measures are being imposed in Slovenia as the epidemiological situation in the country continues to raise concern and hospitals are being overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients, including in intensive care.