Ljubljana - A total of 4,257 new coronavirus cases were logged in Slovenia on Saturday, a drop of over 3,000 from Friday as well as from a week ago, data from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) shows. Government data shows that seven infected patients died yesterday.

NIJZ estimates that there are now just over 145,270 active cases in the country, a drop of almost 9,590 from a day earlier.

The 7-day average of new cases decreased by 460 to 7,549 in a day, and the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people by 455 to 6,888.

The total number of hospitalised patients infected with coronavirus is now 987, 5 more than on Saturday. Of these, 407 are treated at regular Covid wards, up 20 in a day, and 22 at ICU wards, down 3.

The new cases come from 1,196 PCR tests and 68,486 rapid antigen test performed on Saturday. Under the recently changed rules, rapid tests no longer have to be double-checked with PCR tests.

As the Omicron-driven wave of the epidemic has been slowly receding, experts will discuss the option of lifting restrictions next week.

The group of experts advising the government on Covid is meeting on Monday. Its head Mateja Logar has told the STA that there will be some gradual lifting of restrictions, but it is not yet known which measures would be relaxed or when.