Ljubljana - Slovenia continues to record an increase in coronavirus cases due to the rapid spread of the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of the virus, but for now the situation in hospitals remains stable and health authorities say the situation is not alarming.

New cases his a two-month high of 1,222 on Monday, up by more than 44% from the week before, show Health Ministry data.

The number of patients hospitalised with Covid as their primary condition remains broadly flat, with 30 in hospital this morning, the same as a week ago, of which eight in intensive care, up by three.

The 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 population rose by more than a hundred in a week to hit 361.

Mario Fafangel, the head of the centre for communicable diseases at the National Institute of Public Health, said today that the situation was "serious and has to be monitored, but it is not as horrible as it may seem."

Despite the rise in cases, the majority of the population is either vaccinated or gained immunity through infection, or both, which provides a certain degree of protection against severe Covid.