U.S. Embassy, Ljubljana:  Townhall / Earthquake Preparedness / Health Alert

Dear U.S. Citizen in Slovenia:

Srečno novo leto (Happy new year)!  We know that many of you will be happy to leave 2020 in hindsight!  We have some important updates below.

American Citizen Townhall

  • On Thursday, 7 January at 1100 the Embassy will host a virtual townhall for American citizens via Zoom.  Our U.S. Ambassador, Lynda Blanchard will be departing Slovenia this coming month, so it will be a chance for her to say farewell, as well as an opportunity for you to get better acquainted with Deputy Chief of Mission Susan Falatko, who will assume the duties of Chargé d’Affaires upon the Ambassador’s departure.  Details of the Zoom video meeting will be sent in a separate message. 

Earthquake Preparedness

Covid-19

Slovenian Entry Restrictions

  • To avoid required quarantine when entering Slovenia, travelers must have a Covid test taken in the EU within the prior 24 hours.  For those arriving by air, this could require waiting 4-5 hours at the transit airport for the PCR test result.

 

Slovenian Internal/Movement Restrictions:

  • The 9pm-6am curfew remains in force.
  • Gatherings in public spaces is prohibited. Private meetings of up to six adults from up to two households, including their children, are allowed.
  • Residents are generally restricted to their municipality, but may travel outside of their municipality, but within their administrative region, for outdoor recreational activities.
  • Masks are still required indoors, but no longer required outdoors if you are able to maintain a distance of three meters from other people.
  • During the new year’s holidays there some specific relaxation of restrictions.
  • Houses of worship have reopened for services but are limited to one person per 30 square meters.
  • Special needs students will return to school on 5 January. The government has not formally announced when other students will return to school.
  • Routine health and dental services are available.
  • Employers are encouraged to allow their workers to telework to the maximum extent possible.

Vaccinations:

  • Mass vaccination has begun for medical personnel and at elder care homes.  The Slovenian government projects that vaccines for the general population will be available in March or later; possibly sooner if vaccines developed by other producers are approved.

Statistics (as of 30 December 2020):

  • The number of active cases in the country – currently 19, 284  – remains relatively unchanged in the past six weeks.  Likewise the number of hospitalized (currently 1,172) remains steady.
  • The number of Covid-confirmed deaths in Slovenia this past week decreased to 211 (vice 264 the week prior).
  • On a rolling 14-day average, Slovenia has 915 new cases per 100,000 citizens, a small decrease from last week, but still the second highest in Europe.

For additional information from the Slovenian government, including reaching their call center, see their English-language Covid page.   For additional information, see our Embassy’s Covid-19 page.

Assistance