SLOVENIA, March 28 - Following today’s Government session, a press conference was held at Brdo where Prime Minister Janez Janša and the ministers spoke about the adopted measures.

As the Prime Minister said in his introductory remarks at the press conference, we are in a race against time. “The speed of the vaccination drive, which is now picking up, will ensure that we reach the target vaccination coverage, which helps contain the epidemic, in June or at the start of the summer, and, until then, it is necessary to adopt certain additional measures, particularly due to the extent of the UK variant of the coronavirus, which is more deadly and spreads more quickly, leading to an increased number of infections and significantly greater pressure being placed on hospital capacities, which are key factors in assessing when we need to take more action,” said the Prime Minister. He continued by explaining that earlier today the expert group had already proposed measures that would, in practice, mean public life in the country would be suspended between 1 and 12 April.  “The Government adopted these measures, as we agreed with the assessment that was put forward, which is that inaction would mean at least a few hundred additional deaths by June, and this inaction could later lead to a drastic shutdown of public life due to the overburdened capacities of the Slovenian healthcare system,” said Prime Minister Janez Janša. He then said that the lockdown was limited to a relatively short period of time and added that we are aware that Slovenia will not be free from the virus even after 12 April. “On 12 April we will go back to using the traffic light system of easing or tightening measures that is now being suspended. If necessary, the traffic light system will be supplemented, but for the most part it will stay the same, so that life after 12 April will be predictable, even with regard to the measures,” stated the Prime Minister.

“The success of the measures, which to a great extent means the stopping of many activities for this period, will depend on their consistent implementation, which is why I appeal to you all that we must accept the fact that it is better to act earlier than later. If these measures are carefully followed and if they are effective, further restrictions will not be necessary,” added Prime Minister Janša, also addressing his appeal to those who do not feel at risk of the virus. “We ask that you follow these measures for those who are at risk, and, in view of the current level of vaccination coverage, these include the majority of our compatriots. He also said that the Government had adopted the measure today to greatly limit the operation of the state administration from 1 to 12 April, apart from exceptions, and that it would transition to work from home.

“We are also appealing to the economic sector, especially to the part of it that will continue working, to organise themselves so as to ensure that as much of the work is carried out at home as possible, and where being in the workplace is required due to the nature of the work process and which does not allow for working from home, all preventive measures, including testing before going to the workplace, are taken into account even more consistently than before," said Prime Minister Janez Janša.

The Prime Minister added that most of the decrees adopted today refer to the period from 1 April to 12 April, with the exception of the decree concerning the crossing of state borders, which will enter into force as of tomorrow. "The reason for this decision is the alarming situation in some of the Western Balkan countries, where the number of infections has drastically increased and from where we have detected the arrival of many people who sometimes provide proof of testing of a suspicious origin,” said Prime Minister Janez Janša.