Small Business Owners Demand Urgent Reforms
ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - The Voice of Entrepreneurs association laid a wreath outside the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on Monday, calling for "urgent and brave" reforms and the replacement of Minister Tomislav Coric.
Cars and buses briefly blocked the traffic in the street in front of the Ministry as protesters lit lanterns and laid wreaths and flowers at the entrance to "pay their last respects" to small and medium-sized businesses hit by the partial lockdown imposed as part of government efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
They once again appealed to the prime minister to fire "the worst economy minister Croatia has ever had." They drew attention to the "intolerable absence of concrete aid and compensation" for all businesses experiencing a sharp decline in their activity.
The association's head Hrvoje Bujas said that Croatia had lacked key reforms over the last 30 years. "It is high time we organised ourselves to ensure the implementation of key reforms. It is also high time that the reforms become the key topic for every economy minister and for every minister in the Croatian government, including the prime minister," he said.
Bujas said that Croatian small business owners were leaving the country in search of better business conditions abroad. He stressed the need for a better functioning judiciary, optimisation and digitalisation of public and local government, lowering VAT and scrapping various parafiscal charges.
The association's executive director Drazen Orescanin said that they had good dialogue with some of the ministries and state institutions, but not with the Economy Ministry. He complained that Minister Coric was not communicating with them at all.
Orescanin said that the present government should represent all people and not just voters of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. If the party cannot find an appropriate person to serve as Economy Minister, there are many competent experts for this post who are not members of any party, he added.
At the end of the protest, two police officers approached Bujas and Orescanin and took down their details as well as the registration numbers of the vehicles that blocked the entrance to the Ministry building.
"We'll see what the police will do. We won't be surprised if we get fined," Orescanin told Hina, adding that this was not a protest rally but a gathering because protest rallies were not allowed in the present time of the pandemic. He noted that about 20 members of the Voice of Entrepreneurs and partner associations were present, which is in line with the epidemiological measures, while the rest were representatives of the media. They all wore face masks and did not violate any measures, he stressed.
People Who Have Recovered from COVID-19 Will Have to Wear Masks As Well
ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - Face masks will be compulsory also for persons who have recovered from COVID-19 since it is still not known how newly-acquired immunity affects transmission, and masks will continue to be compulsory also after vaccination, Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ) head Krunoslav Capak said on Monday.
"If the virus settles in a mucous membrane, there is no evidence as to whether immune persons can transmit the disease, and that is why those who have recovered from the infection should wear masks as well. That will remain so also after the vaccination," Capak said at a news conference held by the national COVID-19 response team.
He said that Croatia still had a high incidence rate, with 1,154 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, and that Luxembourg was the only other EU country with a higher incidence.
As for the mortality rate, Croatia is 14th in the EU, with 515 fatalities per one million inhabitants.
The share of positive cases among tested persons in the last 14 days has been 35.6%, with Bulgaria and Poland having higher rates.
In the past 24 hours, there have been 1,886 new infections and 59 fatalities.
A total of 2,629 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, including 277 who are on ventilators, which is 40 more than on Sunday.
In the past 24 hours, 254 people have been hospitalised and 133 have been released.
The number of active cases stands at 22,124.
The death toll is 2,231.
Currently 52,764 people are self-isolating.
So far 816,241 people have been tested for the novel virus, of whom 5,356 have been tested in the last 24 hours.
Capak said that 136,000 fast antigen tests had been procured, of which 80,000 would be distributed among retirement homes to test 40,000 residents and staff members. The rest will be distributed among emergency medical services for fast diagnostics.
Health Minister Vili Beros said that telemedical centres would be set up in all COVID-19 facilities to establish expert cooperation between all institutions treating COVID-19 patients. The central facility will be Zagreb's Hospital for Infectious Diseases and the goal of the project is to harmonise practice in the application of new information on coronavirus in the treatment of patients.
The head of the national COVID-19 response team, Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic, said that in the last 24 hours civil protection inspectors had carried out 2,442 inspections of businesses and public gatherings, issuing 544 warnings and a fine in the amount of HRK 30,000.
"A total of 1,778 checks have been carried out as well, 265 irregularities have been established and 92 reports have been made that will be submitted to the relevant institutions to decide on possible launching of misdemeanor proceedings. A total of 8,743 facilities have been checked and violation of epidemiological restrictions has been found in seven," he said, noting that 63 people had been found to have violated self-isolation rules and that three criminal reports would be filed.
Commenting on an appeal by scientists that was signed over the weekend by half of the government's scientific council, Bozinovic said that some of their recommendations had already been translated into decisions and restrictions introduced by the national COVID-19 response team as well as that measures would continue to be adopted.
"We are having discussions with representatives of the retail sector in order to limit the number of customers who can be in a shop at the same time. As for schools, (Education) Minister (Radovan) Fuchs will discuss possible corrections of initial plans with county heads today. We have already said on several occasions that all decisions are made based on the epidemiological situation, after we establish that the previous ones have either not helped reduce the number of infections or that certain increases have been identified," he said.
Commenting on the scientists' appeal, in which they presented their recommendations to deal with the current health and social crisis in the country, the head of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Alemka Markotic, said that opinions were different but that communication was ongoing.
"We have been in touch with our colleagues abroad and have been communicating and exchanging experience with them on a daily basis. It is important to ask questions and seek solutions," she said.
Zagreb Secondary Scools to Switch to Online Classes as of Dec 14
ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - Secondary schools in Zagreb will switch to online classes as of Monday, December 14, the head of the city department for education, Ivica Lovric, confirmed on Monday.
Partial results of a preliminary testing of students and teachers in 19 Zagreb schools were presented at a regular press conference of the City of Zagreb's civil protection team.
Slightly more than 2,000 Zagreb secondary school students were tested, and preliminary results show the presence of asymptomatic infection in 1% of primary school and 2.23% of secondary school students. As for school workers, 365 were tested, and 3.29% have an asymptomatic infection.
"This confirms that students are not mass carriers of COVID and that the virus is not spreading in classes and schools," Lovric said. "In 75% of Zagreb classes with COVID, only one student is positive, and in others two. We have concluded that it would be good to introduce Model C for all secondary school students as of December 14," he added.
Model C refers to distance learning.
"This will indicate how much that measure will contribute to curbing the spread of COVID," he said, noting that it would surely contribute to reducing crowds in public transport.
Swedish Travel News: Croatia Most Sought After Holiday Destination for 2021
December the 7th, 2020 - The ongoing coronavirus pandemic all but wrote off international travel for tourism this year, and Sweden, which made headlines across the world for its unique approach to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, has highlighted just which countries are high on the list for Swedes needing some sun in 2021. The Swedish Travel News tourist portal has transmitted information that Croatia is high on that list.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, according to the data published by the tour operator TUI Nordic, which has also transmitted by the Swedish Travel News tourism portal, Croatia is currently among the most sought-after tourist destinations for would-be Swedish tourists, according to Vedran Susic, the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Representation over in Sweden.
Namely, twice as many trips were booked in Sweden last week than were booked just one week before, and when these figures are compared with those from a month ago, the number of bookings has tripled. At the same time, Croatia, along with Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus and Antalya, stands out as one of the favourites when it comes to the most common choice of tourist destinations for the Swedes next year.
The announcement also states that travel bookings were positively affected by the news of the coronavirus vaccine which is now closer than ever, while Adam Gyorki, Head of Communications at TUI, added that the increased number of bookings, in addition to the news about the vaccine, has positively affected the great desire to travel on Northern European markets such as that of Germany or the United Kingdom, and as such, the Swedish market as well.
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Civil Protection Headquarters Hint at New COVID-19 Measures for Shops in Croatia
December 7, 2020 - In their regular press conference held this morning, the National Civil Protection Headquarters hinted at new COVID-19 measures for shops in Croatia, which we could see implemented already this week.
Croatia recorded 1886 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours and the number of active cases in the country today is 22,124. Among them, 2629 patients are in hospital, of which 277 are on respirators. 59 people died.
Since February 25, 2020, when the first case was recorded in Croatia, a total of 152,239 people infected have been recorded to date, of which 2,233 have died. A total of 127,882 people recovered, of which 3,443 in the last 24 hours. There are currently 52,764 people in self-isolation.
To date, a total of 816,241 people have been tested, of which 5,356 in the last 24 hours.
"A week ago we had 1830, and 2 weeks ago 1973 new cases, so we are staying at the same numbers. Our incidence rate is 1154 per 100,000 in the last 14 days, which puts us in 26th place of EU countries, and only Luxembourg has a higher incidence rate. We are 14th in terms of mortality, at 515 per million inhabitants.
On Saturday, 136,000 rapid antigen tests were delivered to us. 80,000 were distributed to homes for the elderly. This will assess the epidemiological situation in the homes," the Headquarters revealed at the beginning of the press conference.
"In the last 24 hours, inspectors carried out 2,042 inspections of business entities, and public gatherings, issued 544 warnings, and one fine of HRK 30,000. They carried out 1,788 inspections, and 265 irregularities were found. Police officers inspected 8,743 facilities, and seven violations of measures were found. 63 citizens who violated self-isolation measures were identified, three criminal charges will be filed," said Davor Bozinovic.
The Headquarters on further restricting customers in stores
"Talks are being held, they are being run very well, and I'm sure this week will bear fruit. There will certainly be some new decision, and it will be adjusted to the size of the store. The numbers are not specified. It could be one person per 10 m2," the Headquarters said.
About easing measures
"A document on easing measures is being drafted. Our average incidence rate is more than a thousand, some figures mentioned in Europe for easing measures are about 15 to 20 times lower. Our incidence is too high to discuss easing measures. It is being considered which measures could be relaxed and at what figures," Capak said.
Source: Index.hr
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Daily Says Coronavirus Epidemic Weighing on Healthcare Budget
ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - The coronavirus epidemic has been weighing on the healthcare budget, with the cost for the HZZO health insurance institute in 2020 expected to amount to one billion kuna, the Jutarnji List daily reports on Monday.
Over a period of only one week, the costs of the health system related to the coronavirus epidemic have risen by a staggering HRK 80.5 million (€10.73 million), and they are expected to be even higher on a weekly basis in the coming period and exceed one billion kuna by the end of the year, the daily says.
According to HZZO data, the total costs related to COVID-19, which cover the costs of testing, treatment and sick-leave allowances, amounted to HRK 258.2 million in the period from February 25 to September 2.
In the last three months, the costs have tripled and on December 4, they totalled HRK 766.3 million.
Considering the epidemiological situation, the growth of costs is as expected, yet their growth rate, as indicated by a weekly analysis, is higher than the one predicted by experts.
In the week between November 20 and 27, COVID-19-related costs grew by around HRK 50 million, and already in the following week they totalled more than HRK 80 million.
In the first six months of the epidemic, the costs for the HZZO totalled HRK 258.2 million, the daily says.
The newspaper collected the latest data over the past three weeks considering that they are updated every Friday, and according to the latest indicators, in the period between the start of September and December 4, the costs grew by as much as HRK 508.1 million.
Both in the first and the second wave of the epidemic, the cost of testing accounted for the largest portion of the total costs, Jutarnji List says.
(€1 = HRK 7.543619)
Croatia Reports 1,886 New Coronavirus Cases, 59 Deaths
ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - A total of 1,886 new coronavirus cases and 59 infection-related deaths have been confirmed in Croatia in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team said on Monday.
A total of 2,629 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, including 277 who are on ventilators, which is 40 more than on Sunday.
In the past 24 hours, 254 people have been hospitalised and 133 have been released.
Currently 52,764 people are self-isolating.
So far 816,241 people have been tested for the novel virus, of whom 5,356 have been tested in the last 24 hours.
Since February 25, when the first case of the infection was confirmed in the country, 152,239 people have been infected with the virus, of whom 127,882 have recovered, including 3,443 in the last 24 hours.
The number of active cases stands at 22,124.
Flights to Croatia: Air Serbia Operates Twice Weekly to Zagreb in December
December 7, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Air Serbia operates twice weekly to Zagreb in December, slightly reducing its winter flight schedule to the Croatian capital.
Croatian Aviation reports that Air Serbia will operate only twice a week this month between Belgrade and Zagreb. There are also four additional return flights on sale around the holidays.
Namely, in December, the Serbian national carrier operates only twice a week between Belgrade and Zagreb, every Monday and Friday (Monday mornings, Friday evenings).
In November, three flights a week were generally available on this route, but due to reduced demand, the company further reduced its flight schedule to Zagreb, canceling flights on Tuesdays.
However, during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the company will offer, in addition to the already mentioned two flights a week, four more return flights. Flights are announced on Saturday the 19th, Sunday the 20th, Wednesday the 23rd, and Sunday, the 27th of December.
ATR72-200 aircraft operate on all routes. Air Serbia offers a total of 1,584 seats between Zagreb and Belgrade in December.
This summer, Air Serbia operated to Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, to a lesser extent than in the summer of 2019, while direct flights from Belgrade to Zadar, Pula, and Rijeka did not operate.
This news comes after Windrose Airlines canceled certain departures on the route Kyiv - Zagreb - Kyiv.
Namely, because the entry of foreign nationals into the Republic of Croatia is limited after the last epidemiological measures were introduced. Windrose will not fly on the Kyiv - Zagreb - Kyiv line on December 6 and 9 (Wednesday and Sunday), and the normal flow of traffic on this line is expected from December 13. The airline leaves the possibility of additional flight cancellations, which will primarily depend on border measures and decisions of the national headquarters related to the entry of foreign nationals into the Republic of Croatia.
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HNL Round 14 Recap: Rijeka Better than Hajduk in Adriatic Derby at Poljud
December 7, 2020 - The 14th round of the Croatian First League was held on December 5 and 6, 2020. Only three matches were played in this round, the most exciting of which was the Adriatic Derby at Poljud.
Osijek v. Varazdin (1:0)
Osijek and Varazdin opened the 14th round on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at City Garden Stadium.
While the first half went without goals, Bohar gave Osijek the lead and ultimately the win with his goal in the 59th minute for 1:0.
Osijek is currently in first place with 30 points, while Varazdin is in 9th place with 9 points.
Slaven Belupo v. Dinamo (1:5)
Belupo and Dinamo met in Koprivnica on Sunday, December 6, 2020.
Gavranovic scored two early goals for Dinamo in the 5th and 16th minutes, making the score 0:2 for Dinamo at the half. Petkovic increased Dinamo's lead to 0:3 in the 78th minute, while Knoll was able to get one in for Belupo in the 85th. Two more goals for Dinamo in the 4th and 5th minutes of added time by Hajrovic and Ivanusec resulted in a 1:5 victory for the Zagreb club.
Slaven Belupo is currently in 6th place with 17 points, while Dinamo is in second with 29.
Hajduk v. Rijeka (1:2)
Hajduk and Rijeka closed out the 14th round on Sunday, December 6, 2020, with the Adriatic Derby at Poljud Stadium in Split.
Hajduk first took the lead in the 10th minute thanks to a Caktas penalty for 1:0. Rijeka's Loncar equalized five minutes before the half for 1:1.
The second half was reminiscent of a water polo match, as the teams played in pools of water on the pitch during a constant downpour. A goal by Menalo in the 70th minute gave Rijeka the lead and ultimately the 1:2 win.
Hajduk is currently in 5th place with 17 points, while Rijeka is in 4th place with 19 points.
Two 14th round matches, between Lokomotiva - Šibenik, which was to be played on Saturday, and Istra 1961 - Gorica, which was scheduled for Monday, were postponed due to COVID-19 in the teams of Šibenik and Istra 1961. Šibenik and Istra 1961 have six players infected with the coronavirus.
You can see the full HNL table HERE.
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New Round of Croatian Economic Measures Offers Further Relief
December the 7th, 2020 - The latest anti-epidemic restrictions introduced by the National Civil Protection Headquarters have dealt another unwelcome blow to the economy, with certain sectors being hit harder than others. The government has, as such, made some alterations to this new round of Croatian economic measures.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes, Croatian enterprises who use the measures to preserve jobs within their companies during this difficult economic period will be able to apply for new criteria as of this Friday. The new options are in line with last week's decision taken by the Croatian Government to expand the coverage available for those in catering and hospitality, gyms and more who have had to put the keys in the lock until the 21st of this month as a result of the National Civil Protection Headquarters' decision.
The Governing Board of the Croatian Employment Service (CES) has approved that this measure can be used by all those affected by the decision recently taken by the Headquarters, as can the publishers of books and occasional publications, and the novelty is that this new payment which covers up to four thousand kuna net in wage payments will provide an increase in allowances for directors and procurators in companies with less than ten employees.
The CES is leaving the possibility open for the assessment of which conditions are more favourable for employers who have already submitted their applications for support for the month of November. Employers whose application for November was rejected before this correction of the criteria also have the right to submit a new application or supplement their previous application in accordance with these new provisions.
The biggest novelty in this round of Croatian economic measures is the covering of part of or indeed all of the fixed costs of employers which have been hit by the latest decision made by the Headquarters. The ins and outs are still being determined by the Ministry of Finance, so details on what will be possible to be reimbursed by the state and in what percentage it will all be charged will be known in the days to come.
Last week, Finance Minister Zdravko Maric announced that the refund would cover the lease of business premises, electricity, water, gas and heating bills, fees for HRT and ZAMP and possibly even more than that.
As announced after the session of the Management Board, the CES will formally make these payments as it has done in the past, but the cost declarations will be submitted and approved by the Tax Administration of the Ministry of Finance. The competent ministry will publish all instructions to employers who are interested in the new round of Croatian economic measures on its website.
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