Ljubljana - A further 1,738 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Wednesday, an increase of 6% from the same day a week ago in a potential indication that the spread in transmissions may be slowing down. However, a public health official has projected that infections will keep rising for the next four weeks.

According to data released by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), the seven-day average of cases is now at 1,379, up by 17 from the day before and up 295 in a week. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population rose by 35 and 216, respectively, to 822.

The latter figure is close to the European average, Nuška Čakš Jager, deputy head of the communicable diseases centre with the NIJZ, told reporters on Thursday.

"Our indicators for deaths, hospitalisations and infections over the past 14 days had been below average until recently, but now we are reaching the European average, which is nearing 1,000 per 100,000 of the population in 14 days," she said.

Hospital data released by the Health Ministry shows 66 patients are hospitalised with Covid-19 as their main condition, including seven in intensive care. The overall figure is up by 12 from the same day a week ago and ICU cases are down by one.

However, three patients infected with the virus died on Wednesday.

Despite the increase in hospitalisations, Čakš Jager said there were no indications of major risk of hospitalisation or death for the age group of 65 years and more, but there were indications of outbreaks in care homes.

The largest number of the infected is among the 15-45-year-olds.

Čakš Jager noted that precautionary measures such as the wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitising and airing continue to be recommended to prevent the spread of the disease, as is vaccination.