March 16 (SeeNews) - Slovenia is halting all passenger flights as of midnight on Monday in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the infrastructure ministry said.
The ban will be in force until March 30 for international flights within the European Union, in line with EU regulations, the ministry said in a statement.
For other international flights, the ban will remain in force until further notice, taking into account similar bans introduced by the respective non-EU countries, the statement reads.
International cargo and mail flights, as well as flights operating without passengers are exempt of the ban, the ministry said.
On Thursday, Slovenia declared a state of emergency because of the coronavirus spread. Public transport has been halted, schools and kindergartens have been closed, restrictions have been imposed on border crossings and on public gatherings.
The first confirmed coronavirus case in Slovenia was reported on March 4, with confirmed cases jumping to more than 250 as of midday on Monday. The virus has already claimed one life in the country.