ZAGREB, 6 March, 2021 - In the last 24 hours, Croatia has conducted 5,838 coronavirus tests, and 658, that is 11.3%, have returned positive, the country's COVID-19 crisis management team reported on Saturday.

In the said period, there have been 15 deaths linked to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 5,585.

Currently, Croatia has 3,770 active cases, of whom 738 are hospitalised patients, including 72 placed on ventilators.

Since 25 February 2020, when Croatia recorded its first case of infection with coronavirus, 1.38 million persons have been tested and 246,120 have contracted the virus. Of them, 236,765 have recovered, including 482 in the last 24 hours.

There are now 15,312 people self-isolating in the country.

ZAGREB, 5 March, 2021 - Croatia has recorded 590 new coronavirus cases and six related deaths in the last 24 hours, the national COVID-19 response team reported on Friday morning.

The number of active cases currently stands at 3,609. Of them, 744 are receiving hospital treatment, including 76 who are on ventilators.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 245,462 have contracted the novel virus, of whom 5,570 have died and 236,283 have recovered, including 533 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 14,812 people are in self-isolation.

To date, 1,373,877 people have been tested, including 5,429 in the last 24 hours.

ZAGREB, 3 March, 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Wednesday that during his talks with a Russian delegation he had called for expediting the delivery of documentation on the Russian COVID-19 vaccine so that Croatia's HALMED regulator could evaluate the vaccine's safety and efficiency.

"The meeting yesterday with the Russian ambassador does not indicate that we are abandoning the European Commission's common procurement but is rather a sign that we are looking for complementary methods that will be in line with the EC and Croatian regulations," the minister told a news conference.

He said that it was possible to obtain the vaccine without the approval of the European Medicines Agency and that the analysis by HALMED would take some time, but that he was talking about days and weeks, not months.

Yesterday's meeting was held at the proposal of the Russian ambassador, it was pleasant, constructive and friendly and focused on possibilities of obtaining the vaccine, Beroš said.

It was stressed that procuring the vaccine from Russia was a possibility and that it had to be in line with EU and Croatian regulations, Beroš said.

He noted that the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has sent a note to the Russian Embassy specifying the 11 documents HALMED needed in order to be able to evaluate the safety of the vaccine.

"I thank our Russian friends for their efforts to help us in the fight against the pandemic because vaccination, along with restrictions, is the main weapon in preventing the spread of the infection," he said.

He noted that it had already been said that HALMED could evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine without the approval of the European Medicines Agency if so requested by Croatian health authorities, in order to secure emergency vaccine imports.

"I believe it is a legitimate government effort to ensure for citizens everything that science can offer, but the main criterion must be safety, efficacy and quality," he stressed.

As for the debt to drug wholesalers, which have limited drug deliveries to hospitals because of their debts, Beroš said that it was a problem that had persisted for decades and that it should be dealt with through a reform of the health system as well as talks with drug wholesalers.

He said the government would do its best to secure an unobstructed supply of drugs for citizens and that it would hold talks with drug wholesalers.

The Croatian health system is financially unsustainable and the crisis year 2020 accentuated the negative financial effects due to an increase in health spending as well as the cost of procuring the COVID-19 vaccine, which amounted to more than two billion kuna last year, said Beroš.

ZAGREB, 3 March 2021 - By this morning 36,013 people have registered online to be vaccinated, which indicates that citizens have recognised that vaccination is an unavoidable step in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic, Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Wednesday.

More than 50% of those who registered for vaccination were from Zagreb, followed by Split-Dalmatia and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties. There were also 948 phone calls by people interested in getting vaccinated, Beroš told a regular press conference by the national COVID response team.

The head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) Krunoslav Capak underscored that in the first three days of this week there were 11.7% more new cases of coronavirus compared to the same period last week.

The share of positive cases among those tested is 10.2% while in the past seven days that was 7.9% and in the past 14 days that share was 7.2%.

Croatia ranks 3rd in the European Union with regard to the incidence rate, with Germany and Denmark recording lower incidence rates while the Czech Republic has the highest rate.

The HALMED medicines agency has received 1,186 reports of side effects - 891 to the Pfizer vaccine, 222 to AstraZeneca and 71 to the Moderna vaccine.

Asked why fairs are not allowed, Capak said that that was being considered and added that it was not the same to have a farmers' market fair in downtown Zagreb and the usual village fairs where pigs are roasted on the spit and the festivities continue until late into the night.

The head of the response team, Interior Minister Davor Božinović, said that measures were being relaxed gradually. He added that the measure to limit the number of people at funerals to 25 had brought about results.

There are some deviations and we are trying to respond to that in situations of funerals or some other organised event. Anyone organising such an event needs to do everything they can to keep it under control, said Božinović.

He added that as far as spontaneous gatherings like those in Zagreb are concerned, he recalled that a decision was adopted yesterday which is not repressive but rather preventative and that messages are being sent that large gatherings are not a good idea.

ZAGREB, 27 February, 2021 - In the past 24 hours 520 new coronavirus cases and eight COVID-19 deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 response team said on Saturday.

There are 3,126 active cases, including 760 hospitalised patients, 75 of whom are on ventilators, while 14,442 people are self-isolating.

To date 1,338,842 people have been tested for the virus, including 6,002 in the past 24 hours.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was registered in Croatia, 242,617 cases of infection have been registered, including 5,511 deaths and 233,890 recoveries, 342 of which in the past 24 hours.

ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - In the past 24 hours Croatia has confirmed 505 new cases of coronavirus and 14 related deaths, the national COVID response team said on Friday.

There are currently 3,046 active cases in the country, including 780 hospitalised patients, 73 of whom are on ventilators, while 13,534 people are in self-isolation.

To date, a total of 1,332,840 people have been tested for the virus, including 5,071 in the past 24 hours.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was identified in Croatia, there have been 242,097 registered cases of coronavirus and 5,503 COVID-related deaths.

A total of 233,548 people have recovered from the disease, 378 of whom in the past 24 hours.

February 26, 2021 - New rules for cafes, restaurants, and sports in Croatia will take effect from March 1. Index.hr finds out the details. 

Index.hr reports that on Monday, March 1, the measures will definitely be relaxed, and the much-anticipated opening of cafe and restaurant terraces will take place.

This is clear after Thursday's government session at which Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced the opening of terraces and concessions in sports.

"By all indications, the situation is better, but it still requires great caution. To remain responsible in protecting citizens from the coronavirus epidemic, after a series of consultations with several departments, the intention is that from March 1, the work of catering facilities, in addition to what has been relaxed so far, will be opened on terraces and open spaces," said Plenković and announced that training would be held indoors, with some exceptions when it comes to contact and collective sports.

Strict epidemiological rules will be prescribed for both terraces and concessions in sports, which the Headquarters will talk more about on Friday.

New rules for cafes and restaurants
As Index has learned, music will be banned on the terraces of cafes and restaurants. Sources close to Headquarters said that this was insisted on to prevent people from speaking louder by shouting over the music, which they believe increases the risk of spreading the infection. Terraces must be open, not closed with glass, plexiglass, or otherwise.

The distance between the tables should be as before, three meters. Different groups of guests will need to maintain a distance of at least a meter and a half to two. 

Guests will be able to go to the toilet inside the restaurant and cafe and must wear a mask. 

Opening hours, as before the closure of cafes and restaurants, will be until 10 pm.

Details of concessions in sports
As far as sports are concerned, team sports training such as basketball will be possible, but not competitions. In agreement with epidemiologists, the Headquarters decided on this option because the same group of people trains together, and there is not much interference.

The use of locker rooms and showers will be prohibited.

In sports where close contact is made, neither training nor competition is likely to be allowed.

Fairs, however, remain closed
The Headquarters discussed the reopening fairs for a long time, but it was decided that they would not open in the end.

When thinking about opening fairs, the Headquarters primarily considers Zagreb's Hrelić, where items are sold or exhibited. Still, they feared fairs in smaller places, including the consumption of food and drinks and even festivities, where compliance with measures would be difficult to control.

Božinović on concessions
Chief of the Headquarters and Interior Minister Davor Božinović spoke about the new measures valid from March 1.

"The Croatian Institute of Public Health will soon issue special recommendations on the conditions for easing measures. We can expect those classic measures, the distance between tables, especially if people come from different households. This will have to take into account the number of people who can be on the terraces. The terraces must be open," Božinović said.

"However, we have seen growth in recent days, and we must be careful. We cannot experience this as if the epidemic is coming to an end or is over. We are not at that stage yet. We urge everyone to be careful, especially those responsible for organizing work in their facilities. We know that in recent months they have called for opening under certain measures," he said, adding that the Headquarters has been seeking a balance between epidemiological measures and the preservation of the economy since day one.

Minister of Health Vili Beroš also spoke about the relaxation of measures on Thursday night.

"Local headquarters can adopt more restrictive measures, so we agree with Dubrovnik-Neretva County. We are in everyday communication, and their move is an indicator of responsibility. Today, the Prime Minister announced new measures; they will be presented tomorrow. There should be an epidemiological framework for many of our activities, and it will be the same as before - space between tables, guests, hygiene… Probably not everyone will open, depending on the location, size of the terrace. Still, we can now relax this measure," Beroš said for Dnevnik N1 and added that the circumstances are in favor of preventing the spread of the epidemic.

"After opening the terraces, if the situation worsens, we will have to take other steps," he concluded.

To read more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 25 February, 2021 - Interior Minister Davor Božinović said on Thursday that since the first case of coronavirus was identified in Croatia, the national COVID response team had adopted 300 decisions on epidemiological measures and issued about 41 million pieces of protective and quarantine equipment.

Of the 300 decisions the response team made between 19 March 2020 and 19 February this year, 28 are currently in force and of those 17 are in force at the national level, nine at the regional level and one at the local level, Božinović said while  speaking of the key activities of the response team in the past year.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Božinović said that when the first case of coronavirus was identified in Croatia, for the first time in history all 577 civil protection associations with 4,600 members had been mobilised.

During the most difficult days an additional 14,000 people were engaged on a daily basis as well as 7,000 police officers, he said.

He underlined that about 41 million pieces of protective and quarantine equipment had been issued by the Civil Protection Authority for the purposes of health and social welfare institutions, the Croatian Red Cross and state administration authorities.

"The majority of protective equipment was delivered by 12 ships and nine planes from China while 85% of the funds for this purpose was obtained from the European Union, totalling about €62 million," he explained.

There are currently about 15 million articles of protective equipment or about 600 tonnes stored in the Logistics Centre and regional warehouses.

ZAGREB, 25 February, 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Thursday today was one year since the first COVID-19 case was registered in Croatia and that over 28,000 COVID-19 patients had been hospitalised and that a little under 13,000 health workers had been infected.

"The health system was ready for the virus and continued healthcare has been ensured through good reorganisation and adjustment," he said at a cabinet meeting.

"The health system's resilience is also characterised by the ability to plan for and adjust to unplanned circumstances in order to maintain a vital activity. Although occasionally significantly overwhelmed, the health system remained stable and vital functioning was not in danger. That shows the strength of our profession, the medical personnel and organisation."

Beroš went on to say that last year saw a rise in cancer hospitalisations and that this showed the health system's special care for those patients.

251,070 vaccine doses in Croatia to date

Regarding the current epidemiological situation, he said there was a mild increase in new coronavirus cases.

To date 251,070 COVID-19 vaccine doses have arrived in Croatia and 135,756 people have been vaccinated - 77,245 once and 58,511 twice. In Zagreb, 926 older persons and chronic patients have been vaccinated as part of the second vaccination stage.

To date 991 side effects to the vaccines have been reported, mainly mild and passing reactions, Beroš said.

ZAGREB, 25 February, 2021 - In the past 24 hours 544 new coronavirus cases have been registered in Croatia and 12 COVID-19 patients have died, the national COVID response team said on Thursday.

Currently there are 2,933 active cases, including 790 hospitalised patients, of whom 70 are on ventilators.

A total of 12,869 people are self-isolating.

To date 1,327,769 people have been tested for the virus, including 6,433 in the past 24 hours.

Since 25 February 2020, when the new virus was first registered in Croatia, 241,592 people have been infected, of whom 5,489 have died.

A total of 233,170 people have recovered, including 278 in the past 24 hours.