STA, 23 January 2022 - A new daily record number of coronavirus infection cases was recorded in Slovenia on Saturday as 13,911 PCR tests were positive, with the positivity rate standing at 75.5%, the latest data from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) show. Total hospitalisations were up slightly, while as many as 18 people with Covid-19 died.
The record comes after similarly high daily numbers were also recorded on Tuesday (more than 12,000) and Wednesday (more than 10,000).
Radio Slovenija reported that the Saturday figures included the results of the samples taken on Thursday and Friday that had come back for Germany, as a certain number of samples are being sent there as Slovenia has reached full capacity.
According to unofficial information, there are certain delays in the reporting of results for samples sent abroad.
The STA is still waiting for comment on that from the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food (NLZOH) the Health Ministry.
Some community health centres record an increased number of calls from residents and there are significant delays in obtaining results of swabs from PCR testing by external laboratories.
NIJZ Milan Krek is not surprised by the record daily count. He told Radio Slovenija that the Omicron variant was extremely contagious and that it had many opportunities "given how people behave".
The 7-day average of confirmed infections was up by 1,125 to 10,557, and the two-week incidence per 100,000 population rose by 502 to 5,329.
According to the government, hospitalisations were up by seven to 608 today, while the number of patients in intensive care was down by one to 135.
The youngest hospitalised patient is 20 years old, and the youngest patient in intensive care is 32 years old.
A total of 18 people with Covid-19 died yesterday, which is the highest daily death toll since 18 December.
The estimated number of active infections was up by 10,557 to 112,517, according to the NIJZ.
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