Some European Union countries report cases of coronavirus 2019-NCOV. In Slovakia, the disease called COVID-19 (new coronavirus) has not yet been confirmed in any of the reported suspicions. In total, 41 suspected cases of disease caused by a new coronavirus with a travel history and clinical symptoms were laboratory investigated; all results were negative, said Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini in charge of the Ministry of Health. The first samples of patients with suspected COVID-19 (new coronavirus) were sent to Germany for examination. From 3 February 2020 the laboratory diagnosis of the new coronavirus is also carried out in Slovakia. The investigation of samples is conducted in the National Reference Center for Influenza established at the Slovak Public Health Office in Bratislava (ÚVZ SR). The results of the laboratory tests are known earlier, within a few hours, than when they were sent to the Berlin laboratory, which set an estimated time horizon of 48 hours,– stated Chief Hygiene of the Slovak Republic Ján Mikas the ÚVZ SR will continue to cooperate with the virological institute at the Charité University of Medicine in Berlin. If the samples are positive for the new coronavirus, we will send them to the Berlin laboratory for confirmation. By order of Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, headed by the Ministry of Health, the resort has made funds available to the ÚVZ SR for the purchase of additional laboratory equipment to improve the possibility of laboratory diagnosis of viral and microbial diseases. The high-specialised equipment will complement the existing instrumenting technique, improving the laboratory diagnostic capabilities not only for new coronavirus but also for a wide range of both viral and microbial diseases. stated Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini. Instrumental equipment could be supplied to the SR SPA in the second half of February 2020. New measures are still being taken with regard to coronavirus. The priority remains for the patient to be immediately diagnosed with a suspected disease caused by a new coronavirus (clinical symptoms and travel history) to prevent the virus from spreading. This is also why the main health care professional Ján Mikas sent updated guidance to all regional public health authorities in Slovakia and

a key department to inform healthcare establishments of the correct management of the patient in case of suspected disease, including the procedure for laboratory diagnosis of the disease and the collection of biological material. In faculty hospitals, model exercises were also carried out to identify a suspect of a disease caused by a new coronavirus. The health department does not neglect the information of citizens, in cooperation with ÚVZ SR established a continuous call centre in all regions of Slovakia. Experts on telephone lines provide information on the current situation regarding the presence of a new coronavirus or recommendations to persons located in the areas or returned from countries where the new coronavirus has been confirmed.Currently, nine telephone lines are available to the public 24/7:Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic - 0917 222 682Regional Public Health Office based in Banská Bystrica - 0918 659 580 Bratislava-based Regional Public Health Office - 0917 426 075 Regional Public Health Office based in Nitra - 0948 495 915Trnava-based Regional Public Health Office - 0905 903 053Trenčín-based Regional Public Health Office - 0911 763 203Košice-based Regional Public Health Office -based in Prešov - 0918 389 841Regional Public Health Office based in Prešov -© 0911 908 823Regional Public Health Office based in Žilina (Zilina).