Ljubljana - The number of new daily coronavirus cases in Slovenia on Saturday was four times higher than a week ago, at 3,349, data from the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) show. The test positivity rate exceeded 45%.

According to data provided by the government, 537 Covid-19 patients are currently in hospital, one fewer than the day before, including 161 in intensive care, five more than yesterday. Five patients have died.

The NIJZ estimates there are currently 34,705 active infections in the country, up by 2,679 compared to the day before.

The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population was up 126 to 1,634, and the seven-day rolling average of new daily cases increased by 353 to 3,421.

On Friday, a total of 4,469 people tested positive for coronavirus, the highest daily figure in the latest wave of the epidemic.

Compared to last Saturday, when just under 42% of the tests returned positive, 2,520 more infections were recorded yesterday.

So far, 59% of the Slovenians have received one shot of a Covid vaccine, and 57% have received both shots. 70% of those over 18 have received the first shot and 67% both shots.

Among people over 50, 80% have received one shot and 77% have been fully immunised. Almost 24% have also received a booster shot.