Ljubljana - Slovenian hospitals are increasing their bed capacities for Covid patients to around 1,200, of which 280 in intensive care units (ICU), as they are coping with an increasing number of Covid patients amid the fourth wave of the epidemic.

The expanded capacities will be available today or tomorrow, said Robert Carotta, the national coordinator for Covid beds at hospitals.

Ways of increasing the number of Covid beds will be discussed by hospital director and Health Ministry officials at a meeting scheduled for today.

A new Covid unit is being opened today at one of the hospitals within the system of UKC Ljubljana, the country's biggest hospital. 37 new beds will thus be available at Peter Držaj Hospital.

However, a shortage of staff is even a bigger problem as the country fights the epidemic, with all segments of the health system, healthcare and medical students, as well as the army and Red Cross helping out.