Ljubljana - The epidemiological curve continues to rise in Slovenia, with the number of new infections confirmed on Sunday amounting to 1,008, up by over 40% on the week before. More than 44% of all PCR tests were positive.

Data provided by the government show 548 Covid patients are currently in hospital, 15 more than yesterday, including 173 in intensive care, the same as yesterday. Eleven patients died.

The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population is now up by 21 to 868 and the seven-day rolling average of new daily cases by 44 to 1,526, fresh data by the National Institute of Public Health show.

The number of active cases, currently estimated at 18,386, was up by 2,292 in a week, and the seven-day rolling average by 451.

Currently, 59% of the population has received one shot of a Covid-19 vaccine and 56% have been fully immunised.

The vaccination rate for those over 18 is at 67% and for those over 50 at 77%.

A total of 466,947 booster shots have been administered so far, representing roughly 22% of the population.

Bojana Beović, the head of the national advisory committee on immunisation, said in a separate statement in the afternoon that the committee would discuss this week recommendations on booster shots and validity of Covid passes.

She said that it was possible that it would propose that vaccination with a booster shot be recommended and not only allowed three months after basic vaccination.

Vaccination with a fourth dose is not planned for now, said Beović, adding that a decision could be made to start it six months after the start of vaccination with booster shots.

This could happen in March, which would coincide with the start of production of vaccines for new coronavirus variants.

Beović also touched on the possibility of reducing quarantine to five days, as the incubation period in the omicron variant is shorter. "This is why it makes sense and is possible to shorten quarantine."

As another reason for shortening quarantine, she mentioned the possibility of frequent infections in general, which could lead to stoppages of individual activities.

The duration of quarantine should be determined carefully so as to ensure safety, while not stopping public life and economy excessively, Beović said.