By: STA, L. K. F.
At today’s press conference, Minister of Health Janez Poklukar answered questions related to the current state of the covid-19 epidemic in Slovenia. “The situation is serious. We have all kinds of measures on the table. This week we will definitely shake everything from A to Z and look for the best solutions for healthcare and society. It will certainly not be easy for us,” explained Poklukar.
“According to the latest data, 324 cases of omicron infection have been confirmed by sequencing in Slovenia, and another 2,335 are suspected of being omicron. The reproductive number is between 1.4 and 1.5. This information is certainly not encouraging. Today, 173 patients are treated in intensive care units, of which 17 are vaccinated or, in other words: 90 percent of patients in intensive care units are not vaccinated,” explained Poklukar.
A total of 548 covid patients were hospitalised, of which 375 are in ordinary wards.
He announced that due to the aggravation of the epidemiological situation, several measures will be shaken this week. They are still waiting for the guidance of the profession regarding the possible introduction of the PC condition, i.e., that a negative test for infection with a new coronavirus would no longer be valid for participation in public life. The Minister announced changes in the field of quarantine. It is now considered that only those who have received a booster dose of covid-19 vaccine do not have to quarantine after being in close contact with an infected person.
“Every day counts and each of us counts. We do not know which version of the coronavirus is the last one. Maybe it is omicron, maybe some other. We do not start in intensive care units with nothing, but with 173, and this is our clog that we are carrying in the fifth wave,” Poklukar emphasised.