A year has passed since the announcement of the new coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia. The Energy Industry Chamber of Slovenia (EICS) is pleased to note that all this time the energy system of Slovenia in relation to electricity and natural gas supply has been working excellently. No disturbances were recorded. This means that Slovenian energy sector is robust, it is able to prepare itself for unexpected events and it also takes good care of its employees. No major outbreaks of COVID-19 were detected among EICS members. If individual infections occurred, companies were able to curb them and there was no spread. We must emphasize that the energy companies, members of the EICS, constantly monitor the epidemiological situation in the country and follow the guidelines of the authorities. In addition, the companies also cooperate with each other.
At the end of 2020, the largest vaccination campaign in history began worldwide – vaccination against the new coronavirus. To date, around 180,000 people have been vaccinated with the first dose in Slovenia. In January 2021, the EICS submitted an initiative to the relevant authorities (Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Health, National Institute of Public Health) to include the energy industry sector among the priority vaccination groups. The National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy was approved by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on 1 March 2021 (press statement) and it indeed includes employees in the energy sector (including workers in critical infrastructure) among the priority vaccination groups.
Background
On 12 March 2020, Slovenia declared an epidemic (in accordance with Article 7 of the Contagious Diseases Act) which entered into force at 6 p.m. At the same time, the national emergency response plan for COVID-19 was activated. On that day there were 96 coronavirus cases in Slovenia, and the number was growing. To date, there have been more than 200,000 confirmed cases in Slovenia.