Ljubljana - Slovenia's largest fuel retailer Petrol has temporarily shut down some of its service stations across the country or shortened their opening hours due to a shortage of staff as a result of an increase in Covid-19 infections.

Closures or reduced opening hours have also affected the north-western region of Gorenjska, which is seeing a surge in visitor numbers and holiday traffic at this time of year.

The situation has raised quite a few eyebrows in the alpine resort of Kranjska Gora, where one service station is closed, while there are long lines of vehicles waiting to fill up at others.

The petrol station in Koroška Bela in the vicinity of Jesenice and the one in Lesce are also often closed or operate at reduced hours. Both those stations attract quite many tourists along with the locals.

"We have closed or adjusted opening hours at those retail points due to staff shortages, which is largely linked to an increase in Covid-19 infections among Petrol retail staff," the company has told the STA.

As a result, the available staff is being reassigned to sales points that are vital for comprehensive supply of services to the clients and where there is no such other alternative nearby, the company added.

It noted that similar adjustments of working hours had been introduced during the Covid-19 outbreak and Covid pass mandate last year.

Petrol has promised to reopen the now closed service stations or extend the opening hours at others affected sales points as soon as possible.