The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Slovenia on 4 March 2020, with one case. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Marjan Šarec. The infected person had come to Slovenia from Morocco, via Italy.On 5 March, five more cases were confirmed, two of whom were in close contact with the first reported case.On 6 March, two cases confirmed also in Maribor, both medical personnel in the main hospital who contracted the illness on skiing holidays in Italy. Another patient is a medical doctor from Metlika; the source of his infection is also a trip to Italy. Total number of infected cases was 8.On March 7, four more cases were confirmed. One of the patients was in contact with the doctor from Metlika, while the others have returned from traveling abroad (one each from Italy, Austria and Spain). The government banned all public gatherings in closed spaces with 500 people or more.On March 8, four more cases were confirmed. One of the patients was infected at her workplace in Switzerland, and has self-quarantined before she was tested. Among the new cases were also three medical personnel from Metlika, who were in contact with the infected doctor.On March 9, nine more cases were confirmed. One of the patients returned from Venice, others were medical personnel, some in contact with the doctor from Metlika. The government further restricted public gatherings in closed spaces to events of 100 people or more. Events in the open are restricted to 500 visitors. Additionally, temperature checks were introduced at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport and the border with Italy.On March 10, nine more cases were confirmed. The government banned all incoming flights from Italy, South Korea, Iran and China to prevent further spread. Land border with Italy was closed for all but freight transport. The infected municipalities were Ljubljana, Maribor, Metlika and Piran.On March 11, the Slovenian minister of health confirmed 23 more cases. The primary school in Kamnik was closed for two weeks, to prevent spread from a teacher that tested positive. New infections were also reported from Murska Sobota and Postojna.On March 12, the Slovenian minister of health confirmed 39 more cases. First cases were reported from Nova Gorica and Kranj. The government announced that all educational institutions will be closed from March 16 onwards. Medical personnel were banned from traveling to countries where there is an outbreak ongoing. The outbreak was officially declared an epidemic.On March 13, the government confirmed 45 more cases. The biggest increase of infected cases took place in Ljubljana. Hospitals cancelled scheduled visits, while medical personnel were forbidden from going on holiday.