Public transportation services suspended as of Monday
Ljubljana, 15 March - The government is suspending public transportation services in Slovenia to contain the spreading of the new coronavirus, with the measure coming into effect at midnight. Taxis will still be able to operate, but drivers will have to sanitize their vehicles after every drive.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana city buses.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Exempted from the suspension is transportation used by intervention services and other urgent services of the public sector.
In such cases, the organiser and provider of transportation will need to ensure proper protection of divers and passengers and sanitation of the vehicles.
The government decree also suspends transportation in gondola lifts, funiculars and cabin ski lifts as of midnight. These may only be used for search and rescue operations and medical assistance.
All other exceptions in all cases need to be approved by the infrastructure minister, with the suspension and limitations being in force until further notice from the authorities.
The public bus transportation in Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city, was already suspended today at 9am.
Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec has called on municipal and private operators of parking lots to provide their services free of charge as of Monday, as the ban on public transportation is expected to result in an increased use of cars.
Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković meanwhile told the public broadcaster TV Slovenija that all parking lots operated by the municipality were free of charge as of noon today, except for multi-storey car parks.
Commenting on the suspension of the public city bus transportation as of midnight, he said that the monthly tickets for March would remain valid in April.