Slovenia to close some Italy border crossings, perform health checks at others

Slovenia will close some border crossings with Italy and perform health checks at those remaining open in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Health Minister Ales Sabeder said on Wednesday.

The number of confirmed cases of the virus in Slovenia rose to 47, the minister told a news conference. The total reported on Tuesday was34. He said citizens would only be able to cross the border in six places. "All other roads (that cross the border) will be closed," the minister said. Normally more than 20 crossings are open.

The government said earlier on Wednesday that border controls would focus on non-Slovenians, adding authorities would be empowered to prohibit foreign citizens from entering the country who did not carry a certificate showing they had tested negative for coronavirus during the previous three days. It said there would be no controls for cargo traffic.

Sabeder was unable to say when the controls would come into effort but that a decree implementing them had to be enforced within five days.