Slovenia’s coronavirus tally soared to another daily record on Wednesday as 1,663 infections were confirmed in a record 6,215 tests, show fresh government data. The test positivity rate remained above 25%. Nine Covid-19-related fatalities were recorded.
Initially it was reported that five persons infected with coronavirus died yesterday, however the government later tweeted that there were nine fatalities.
Hospitalisation numbers continue to rise as well. There were 357 patients in hospital yesterday, 24 more than on Tuesday, including 62 in intensive care, up by seven. A total of 32 were discharged home.
Data from the tracker site undefined://covid-19.sledilnik.org&source=gmail&ust=1603452726046000&usg=AFQjCNGad4pY6waIT_Flh2DZXbL63uxiDg”>covid-19.sledilnik.org show that there are currently 10,136 active cases in the country. The incidence rate, the average number of cases per 100,000 residents over the past fortnight, is 484.
Gorenjska remains the statistical region with the highest incidence rate, 759, followed by Koroška and central Slovenia, heard today’s government briefing.
The coastal Obalno-Kraška region, the only one still to be orange-coded, has had the lowest incidence rate, however the situation is worsening there as well. The incidence rate there is currently 131, nine points short of the threshold for red-listing the region.
Matjaž Jereb, head of the intensive care unit at the Department of Infectious Diseases at the UKC Ljubljana hospital, said via videolink that estimates show there are currently 15,000-20,000 active cases in Slovenia.
He pointed out that apart from rising hospitalisation figures, a major issue was also the virus spreading among healthcare staff. More than 100 health workers are infected at UKC Ljubljana, a ballpark figure, he said.
Jereb believes that a steep curve of new cases is a result of prevention measures being flouted and a critical mass of the infected surpassed.
Responding to Health Minister Tomaž Gantar’s suggesting a complete lockdown to contain the epidemic, Jereb said the measure was an unpopular course of action due to its ramifications, however he believes “it would likely solve the problem”.
He also commented on Slovakia’s plan to test the entire population, deeming it impractical including due to limited lab capacities. He highlighted that heeding precaution measures was vital.
When it comes to the option of treating patients outside hospitals, in makeshift facilities, during extreme situations, Jereb said that would not be a wise decision in case of severely ill patients, however it could serve the purpose for less serious cases.
There has been some unclarity as to the number of Covid-related fatalities for Tuesday with the Health Ministry and tracker site data showing ten fatalities, while government spokesman Jelko Kacin and the government tweet yesterday reported eight deaths for the previous day.
The tracker site shows five fatalities rather than nine fatalities for Wednesday, so the overall death toll is not clear; tracker site has 207.