Ljubljana - Slovenia has entered the autumn wave of coronavirus infections, which is projected to peak in mid- or late October, modelling expert Janez Žibert of the Ljubljana Faculty of Health Sciences has told the STA.

More than 2,500 people tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, which Žibert says indicates the country has entered a new, autumn wave of Covid-19.

"Today's figures show the number of infections increased compared with last Monday and that we can talk about a trend. We'll need to keep an eye on whether this will be so," he said.

Žibert, who is a member of the Covid-19 task force affiliated with the National Institute of Public Health, says the new wave was expected as the start of a new school year also means more contacts between people, which are driving up transmissions.

"Our simulations show the number of new infections will first increase slowly, but we expect the new academic year to accelerate this autumn wave further," he said.

At the peak, the seven-day case average is projected to hit 5,000 a day. Modelling also shows the number of Covid-19 patients requiring hospital treatment will near 500, of whom 50 to 100 will require intensive care.

The seven-day average is currently at 1,308 and the 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 people at 873.