For the latest March 20 update click here.
March 10, 2020 - There are 15 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia, 3 of whom are in serious condition. President of the Civil Protection Staff Davor Bozinovic said on Monday that foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots (China, Italy, South Korea) will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Croatian citizens will receive an order for a 14-day self-isolation.
They also recommended postponing rallies attended by more than 1,000 people.
More than 4,088 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 116,166 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 35,409 cases outside of mainland China and 9,172 in Italy.
*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.
Fifteen Coronavirus Cases in Croatia
As of March 10, 2020; fifteen Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 5 in Rijeka, 4 in Zagreb, 4 in Varaždin and 2 in Pula.
- The first patient is from Zagreb who became infected during his stay in Italy (Milan, Lombardy province). The two other patients from Zagreb are close contacts of the first patient. The third Zagreb patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria.
- A patient from Rijeka became infected during a stay in Italy (Parma). The four other patients from Rijeka are close contacts of the third patient.
- The first patient from Varaždin stayed in Milan with three friends. The second confirmed case from Varaždin is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth Varaždin cases are close contacts of the driver.
- In Pula, two cases of the coronavirus infection were confirmed yesterday evening and today. Both had worked in Italy and are currently hospitalized.
UPDATED: March 10, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)
Croatia National Coronavirus Update
At 16:00 CET the National Civil Protection Headquarters held their daily press conference, led by Ministers Davor Bozinovic and William Beros who provided updates on the coronavirus.
In addition to discovering another confirmed case of the coronavirus in Croatia, they also announced that all Italians will be quarantined if they decide to enter Croatia, regardless of which Italian region they arrive from.
"As of today, quarantine measures are being implemented for everyone coming from Italy. This is because Italy has declared a quarantine throughout the country," Bozinovic said.
"Our daily conversation was obviously well received in the field. I think everyone realized that events larger than 1000 people should not be held. This does not apply smaller gatherings. They must ensure high hygiene standards and follow the HZJZ instructions. There are many events which are postponed and I think that's good," Bozinovic pointed out.
Croatian Schools Stay Open
“Of course, not all counties are equally exposed. So far, there has been no need to make a recommendation (to close schools)," Bozinovic explained.
"There isn’t any reported transmission on the local level, so we believe that there is no need to close schools, colleges and kindergartens. If the situation changes, we will act accordingly," said Krunoslav Capak the head of the HZJZ.
Bozinovic Explains Consequences of Lying About Travel
"These people could be criminally prosecuted for misdemeanors. The penalty for a misdemeanor is from 3,000 to 8,000 HRK (397 to 1060 EUR). Sanitary inspectors would be accompanied by police when making a report and would ensure that the person is quarantined," Bozinovic said.
"Since we brought the measure to the Italians yesterday from the focus of the epidemic, about 20 people have turned back. As of today, it is important that all Italian citizens know that they will be quarantined (in Croatia) or they must go home," Capak explained.
Passengers on Dubrovnik Planes and Ancona Ferry Subject to Measures
"There were 149 reported passengers and 100 of them have cancelled their flight. You know that at this time of year, the average number of entries from Italy is around 500. There were 193 yesterday. We assume that this number will be even lower tomorrow," Bozinovic said. He added that the passengers on the ferry, which is due to arrive from Ancona tomorrow, will be subject to the same protective measures as road and air travelers.
Croatia Civilian HQs Have Opted for Additional Restrictions
Split-Dalmatia County decided to suspend rallies over 1,000 people. They went a step further in Istria.
"By the decision of the headquarters, all public, cultural and sporting events in Istria, regardless of who is the organizer or the type of event, are suspended until April 14," explained Chief of Istrian Staff Dino Kozlevac, adding that border police and sanitary inspection are implementing measures at the border.
Croatia and Regional Daily Updates
19:00 - 15 Coronavirus cases in Croatia. The 4th Zagreb patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria.
18:34 - Fifth case of coronavirus infection confirmed in Serbia.
18:26 - In the last 24 hours, 168 people have died from the coronavirus in Italy.
17:55 - Slovenia is closing its borders with Italy, Slovenia's Prime Minister announced.
16:32 - The civil protection headquarters has released new details on the coronavirus in Croatia, and new measures are being introduced.
16:19 - Authorities in the Republika Srpska decided to close all schools in the area and introduce a measure banning all planned mass gatherings.
Entity Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic told reporters in Banja Luka that primary and secondary schools will be closed by March 21, and the decision applies to all RS colleges. Kindergartens will not be closed for the time being, but health monitoring of these facilities will be increased.
All public gatherings are prohibited until March 30. Four cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in the RS so far.
There is no decision to close schools in that in the Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina, but a ban on visits to hospitals and social care institutions and recommendations to cancel mass rallies are in effect.
16:15 - 14 Coronavirus infections have been confirmed in Croatia.
15:45 - A plane from Rome was scheduled to land at Dubrovnik Airport at 16:15 CET.
From Dubrovnik Airport, Dulist learns that they have followed all the instructions issued by the National Civil Protection Headquarters.
15:19 - Slovenia bans indoor gatherings with more than 100 people. The ban, however, does not apply to shopping malls, smaller establishments, weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies.
15:16 - British Airways has canceled flights to and from Italy.
15:05 - The Republika Srpska has closed all schools, there are no classes until further notice.
14:55 - St. Peter's Square and Basilica of St. Peter's were closed to the public due to the epidemic, said the Vatican.
14:45 - According to Slovenian Television, three patients with visible signs of infection came to a local ambulance in the third largest Slovenian city and alarmed healthcare staff and patients in the waiting room.
14:40 - One person suspected of being positive for coronavirus as of yesterday is in isolation at a Sibenik hospital. Findings are pending.
14:35 - In Dubrovnik, they expect a 30-40 percent weaker tourist season during the first six months, and the number of arrivals and nights is already declining. The city claims that daily bookings are 45 percent lower than in the same period last year.
14:30 - Slovenes criticised Croatia at the end of February because of the measures they introduced. They have a lot more infections than Croatia.
14:06 - 31 infected with the coronavirus in Slovenia.
13:41 - The Serbian government has temporarily banned entry to the country by foreign nationals coming from areas with high transmission of the coronavirus infection - from Italy, hotspots in China, South Korea, Iran and parts of Switzerland.
13:23 - Five cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported throughout Bosnia, of which only one is in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, or in Zenica, and the rest are in Republika Srpska. These are members of two families whose fathers work in Italy and they have been carriers of the virus.
13:13 - The Istrian Institute of Public Health on Tuesday issued special recommendations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which further postpones all outdoor and indoor gatherings, from children's events and birthdays to sports, cultural, business, excursions and other events.
The decision was made after the first case of coronavirus disease was confirmed in Istria yesterday and due to the rapid spread of the epidemic in neighboring Italy.
13:10 - Ferry from Italian Ancona arrives in Split tomorrow, all passengers will be screened.
14:44 - Split and the County forbid gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
Although the National Civil Protection Headquarters yesterday issued a decision recommending the postponement of public gatherings with more than 1,000 people, the Split-Dalmatia County headquarters decided to ban all gatherings of more than 1,000 people in the county.
12:41 - As of today, Croatia Airlines temporarily suspends flights from Zagreb to Rome and vice versa.
12:33 - Austria bans indoor gatherings of over 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 people.
Anyone who arrives from Italy is also forbidden to enter the country, except those who are medically certified to be healthy.
11:57 - In Italy, 463 people have died, and in terms of numbers infected, Italy has the highest coronavirus mortality rate in the world.
11:55 - Several measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus are being introduced in EU countries and more flights to Italy are canceled.
11:45 - Due to the new situation in Italy, where preventive quarantine has been extended to the entire country due to the spread of coronavirus, the Slovenian company HIT from Nova Gorica has closed some of its casinos along the border, in which Italians are the most frequent guests.
11:25 - Davor Huic, president of the Lipa Taxpayers Association, commented on N1 television regarding the possibility of a recession due to the emergence of coronaviruses and what measures Croatia could take.
11:15 - Speaker of the European Parliament David Sassoli has announced that he will be performing his duty from home preventively in the next two weeks, as he was in Italy last week, the hardest hit by the coronavirus.
10:01 - Malta has suspended all passenger lines with Italy.
8:25 - Two new cases of infection have been confirmed in Serbia, with a total of four.
8:03 - There is considerable chaos in Italy and renewed fear that food supplies might disappear. Footage arriving from Rome shows huge rows of citizens with carts waiting to enter the supermarket late at night. Coronavirus riots have erupted in several prisons in Italy.
(Updates provided by Index)
Live World Coronavirus Updates
- Live world updates from CNN here.
- Live world updates from The Guardian here.
- Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.
Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates
- Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
- Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
- Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.
UPDATED: March 10, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)
For the latest March 20 update click here.
*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.
