SLOVENIA

The following information has been collected and collated by convergence consulting in collaboration with our in-country Global Alliance Partner.  Please let us know if you have additional questions by emailing us at COVID-19@cc-global.com.

COVID-19 is recognised as a work-related illness for workplaces which involve occupational exposure to the virus, i.e. medical staff, police, etc.

A symptomatic person with suspected COVID-19 should contact their personal physician.  The physician will consider whether the suspicion is justified or not.  If they decide that the suspicion is justified, the patient will be directed by phone and instructed on which of the 16 testing points they should report to for testing.  If tested positive, the case is then reported to local authorities.

2.       Is there information on the timing of “return to work” and the process for a worker to return, i.e. examination by a physician, or a negative COVID test?

Symptomatic persons need two consecutive negative tests within a 48 hour-period in order to be considered recovered and safe for work.

From the employment perspective, any symptomatic person is considered to be on sick leave and is entitled to receive 90% of their average wage for the first 90 days, then 100% at the expense of the national Institute for Health Insurance.

3.       Does your country’s health authority have COVID-19 mitigation guidelines for the public and/or for business?  If so, please list them below and how long they will be in place?

The government of Slovenia declared the epidemic on 12 March 2020, based on the Law on Communicable Diseases, given the increasing number of cases of coronavirus infection.  The Decree on Declaration of Contagious Disease SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) was also enacted.  Based on the Decree and a set of related by-laws, all non-essential businesses were closed, public gatherings banned, travel outside the municipality of residence prohibited, and public transportation suspended.

Use of a protective face mask is mandatory in indoor public spaces.

Starting from 20 April, a gradual easing of lockdown measures has been introduced, following the amendment of relevant regulations.   

The first stage (i.e. from 20 April) of eased measures included opening of shops and stores that did not require close contact with customers (technical goods, repair shops, and dry cleaners).  Public transportation for workers is now allowed, providing that precautionary measures are implemented (limited number of passengers, sanitation, and face masks).  Bookstores, libraries, museums and galleries were allowed to open starting on 29 April.  Recreational sport activities have been also allowed.

As of 30 April, travel and public transportation between municipalities has been allowed. 

As of 4 May, opening of services that require close contact with customers (e.g. hairdressers, beauty salons, pet care shops) is allowed, providing that requested precautionary measures are implemented.  Stores up to 400 m2 (with the exception of shops in shopping malls) and open-air restaurants are allowed as well.

Gradual and partial opening of education facilities (kindergartens, primary schools, high schools) is set for 18 May.  Universities remain closed, applying online distance learning.

International scheduled and charter air-transport remains is permitted after 11 May.

Precautionary measures that should be implemented for a variety of services and activities are issued by the national Institute of Public Health and can be accessed at: https://www.nijz.si/sl/sproscanje-ukrepov-covid-19 (Slovenian only).

4.       Which governmental authority issued these guidelines, and are they voluntary or mandatory?

The regulations and decisions were issued by the government and ministries.  They are mandatory.

5.       Do these mitigation measures have any consequence, such as, if a person does not abide by these measures must they pay a fine or go to jail?

Police control implementation of the mitigation measures, jointly with, or independently of, the Health Inspectorate.  Any breach of the measures is considered to be a violation of the Law on Infectious Diseases and penalties are imposed in accordance with the Law on Protection of Public Order.

Fines for physical persons for breaching the measures range from 80,000 SIT to 150,000 SIT (340 - 640 EURO).

6.       Has your country adopted any laws or regulations related to COVID-19? 

All guidelines listed above are mandatory and laws continue to be adopted.  The Slovenian government has developed a variety of legal documents related to COVID-19 which can be found at: http://www.pisrs.si/Pis.web/aktualno (Slovenian only).

The data presented here is not a complete analysis of all COVID-19 information; however, our in-country Partner will provide updates as and when considered appropriate and as relevant data becomes available.  If you have any additional questions, or request for country information, please email us at COVID-19@cc-global.com with additional inquiries.