Ljubljana - As the advisory task force for Covid-19 will again discuss on Monday mandatory wearing of protective masks in enclosed spaces, Health Minister Janez Poklukar announced the possibility of the mandate being lifted this week, with the exception of healthcare institutions and care homes.

Under the original proposal of the task force, the mask mandate for most indoor spaces would be changed to a recommendation when less than 35 Covid patients and those infected with Covid are treated in intensive care units for seven consecutive days.

As Health Minister Janez Poklukar visited the Ljubljana Clinic for Infectuous Diseases, the task force's head, Mateja Logar, said they would discuss the possibility of lifting the mask mandate today, as the epidemic in Slovenia was waning.

Similar trends are being recorded in hospitals, as 22 Covid-19 patients are currently being treated in intensive care units for Covid-19, she said, adding that the task force would see whether the mask mandate could be lifted already this week.

Poklukar added that "I believe that changes to this effect could be expected as early as Thursday," adding that if the mandate was lifted, it would nevertheless be retained in healthcare institutions and care homes.

The minister noted that wearing of protective mask would continue to be recommended to all older persons and those with a weakened immune system.

Asked if epidemiologists have taken a position on the possible abolition of wearing of masks indoors, Poklukar said that he had discussed this with them last week.

Poklukar said that epidemiologists had agreed that "we should not strive for masks becoming the new normality," while not taking a final final position on the possible abolition.

Both Logar and Poklukar reiterated that the lifting of the mask mandate just ahead of the general election was not a political decision.