Slovakia will ask other European Union member countries for medical staff to help with the surge in Covid-19 cases, the Health Ministry has said.

According to Reuters, the plea is the country's first, after the previous plan to have large-scale testing followed by targeted measures in the hardest-hit regions did not tame the epidemic.

Bratislava is seeking 10 doctors and 25 nurses for one month at least, the ministry said, putting it alongside Portugal, which asked Germany for medical staff help in January.

“New variants caused a rise in number of patients and bigger demand for personnel. The request is meant mainly for intensive care units and anesthesiology and intensive medicine departments,” the ministry said in an emailed statement.