First school closed in Slovenia as teacher tests positive for coronavirus

Ljubljana, 11 March - The Fran Albreht Primary School in Kamnik is the first school in Slovenia to be closed because of coronavirus after a teacher there has tested positive for the virus. The school will be closed for two weeks, the Education Ministry told the STA on Wednesday.

Dobrepolje
Primary school children at school.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA
File photo

The parents and the principal of the school have already received instructions from an epidemiologist and the Kamnik mayor has been informed of the situation, the newspaper Dnevnik reported.

Education Minister Jernej Pikalo tweeted that even though the chance of transmission was small, the measure was needed to prevent the virus from spreading.

"Given the large number of negative effects on the life of the community and on the economy, the closure of schools is a measure we will be using only after careful reflection and consultations with experts," he added.

Pikalo explained the measure had been taken in cooperation with the National Public Health Institute (NIJZ), Health Ministry, epidemiologists and local representatives.

The children have been told to stay in self-isolation and the parents asked to closely monitor their children's and their own condition and follow the instructions of health authorities.

"We call on all to limit the children's contact with the elderly, meaning grandparents, as they are a vulnerable group," Pikalo added.

More information will be released at a press conference this afternoon.

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Slovenia has increased to 47.

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© STA, 2020