Slovenia declares coronavirus epidemic

"Considering the official number of newly infected people, Slovenia is facing a new wave of the Covid-19 infectious disease. We are witnessing its fast and exponential spread among the population, which is exceeding by far the normal morbidity, or incidence," the government said in a statement on Sunday when it adopted the decision to declare an epidemic situation.

The government's decision will be in force for 30 days.

According to the latest available official data, Slovenia reported 537 new coronavirus cases on Sunday based on 2,637 tests, and two deaths. This is somewhat lower than Saturday's 726 new infections and Friday's peak of 898 new infections.

Slovenia, a country of some 2.0 million people, registered over 700 new coronavirus infections on average on a daily basis last week.