August 19, 2020 - German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung explains to its readers that a large part of the Croatian coast has a small number of newly infected people and that Zagreb and Dalmatia are recording their growth.

"The decision is based on real trends, not the current picture," the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement regarding the introduction of measures against the spread of the coronavirus for people coming from Croatia, Jutarnji List reports.

The statement was quoted by the renowned Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), which concluded: "So German tourists do not have to face mandatory tests at the moment."

In this regard, the newspaper reminds that "those at risk are those in which more than 50 newly infected people per 100,000 are counted for seven days in a row", while the rest of the country is not problematic: "Large parts of favorite coastal areas are recording extremely low numbers."

In the article entitled "When the party-tiger roars", SZ also reminds of the cases of German tourists, mostly young people, who obviously brought the coronavirus from their Croatian vacation back home.

"Croatia, with its countless islets in the Adriatic Sea, actually seems ideal for avoiding the masses and escaping the virus. Apartments are more widespread than large hotels. It is known more as a paradise for campers and sailors than as a destination for parties," the German newspaper points out. It is also stated that the average age of those infected in Croatia is 34 years.

It also reminds of the fact that Croatia had a minimal number of infected people before the borders opened, and that in order to facilitate the entry of tourists into the country, it organized registration online, and quotes Croatian doctor of infectious disease, Alemka Markotic, who points out that the situation is under control and that Croatian healthcare is well prepared.

However, the highest-circulation German newspaper Bild considers the situation in Croatia worrying because, in its online edition, it asks: how much longer will we be able to spend our holidays in Croatia?

The article primarily provides information for potential German tourists about the situation and regulations in Croatia, but like SZ, it states that an increasing number of new infections have been registered in the Split and Zagreb regions and that infections are most widespread at parties and nightclubs.

However, it points out that the Split area, with an average of 46.45 new cases a day in the last seven days, has almost reached the limit of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

August. 18, 2020 - After the Croatia water polo team held preparations in Korcula from August 10 to 15, news has now broken that one player, Ante Vukicevic, tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Federation issued a statement, which is transmitted below. 

"The COVID-19 virus, which has unfortunately been present all over the world for half a year, did not bypass the Croatia water polo team, which was preparing on Korcula from August 10 to 15, with all the precautions taken.

All players and members of the professional staff have acted to prevent it, and in agreement with Dr. Krunoslav Capak, director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, a certain measure of isolation has been recommended, although some were not in close contact with the person who tested positive and is not part of the HVS delegation," the Croatian Water Polo Federation said in a statement.

Over the past 5 days, as the experts suggested, coronavirus testing was carried out, a positive result was found in the sample of national team member Ante Vukicevic, part of the results of several players was negative, while the test results of the remaining players and members of the professional staff are expected within 24 hours.

Incorrect information circulated in some media, and Barakuda coach Ivica Tucak released a statement to set the record straight:

"First of all, I kindly ask that misinformation not be spread. It is true that within the Croatia water polo team we have a player positive for the coronavirus, which unfortunately has infiltrated all sports and the rest of regular life all over the world. But the players of our water polo team were not, and could not have been, at any birthday party that is said to have spread the virus. Namely, it took place on August 6, and the national team only gathered on Korcula three days later, i.e., on the evening of August 9," coach Ivica Tucak began, and added:

"As part of the preparations and training on Korcula, on Wednesday, August 12, we played an exhibition match at an improvised swimming pool in the sea in front of Moro Beach bar in Stupa, where we had a short gathering with lunch organized for the Croatia national team in the open. Immediately after lunch, the national team returned to the hotel. Also, it is true that on Tuesday, August 11, we played an official friendly match against our junior national team, but not in the sea, but in the KPK pool in Korcula. On Friday, August 14, at a time when none of the players showed any symptoms of infection, but bearing in mind that some other people outside the national team, who were previously in contact with us, are now positive, we reacted promptly and responsibly by stopping training in Korcula.

A day later, on Saturday, August 15, in the morning in agreement with the Croatian Water Polo Federation and the Epidemiological Service, we disbanded the national team under strict supervision, not wanting to risk anything. It is important to note that no one has any symptoms, nor did they recommend any isolation measures due to the nature of the contact, but as a precaution, we entered self-isolation," Ivica Tucak concluded.

Source: HRT

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages!

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

To read more coronavirus news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

August 18, 2020 - Italian newspaper Il Giornale published an article stating that Croatia has found itself under the magnifying glass of Europe after the increase in the number of new coronavirus infections, although Croatian figures are significantly below the number of new cases in Italy.

T.portal reports that the Italian newspaper claims the most probable cause of the deteriorating health situation in Italy is the return of those who decided to spend a few relaxing days on the Adriatic.

"But what are the real numbers in Croatia? First of all, we must emphasize that the number of new daily infections is significantly below the values recorded in Italy. On Sunday, Croatia had 151 new infections, while in Italy, there were 479, or more than double. This gives rise to debate: Are Croats really a time bomb, or has someone exaggerated? The real answer could be the latter. And for a straightforward reason. Infections in Europe have risen almost everywhere. Croatia did not have to fight with significantly higher numbers, as is the case with Spain or France. But it still ended in the middle of a storm," writes Il Giornale.

On August 15, as reported by the Adnkronos agency, Croatia recorded 162 new cases of infection and two deaths. Admittedly, the current numbers are worse than in February, during the first wave. But on the other hand, it is a reduction in numbers given that there were 208 infections on August 14 and 180 on Thursday. The peak of the first wave, discovered on April 1, stopped at a maximum of 96 newly infected in one day.

Minister of Health Vili Beros was very clear in explaining the situation to RTL: "We consciously accepted the risk and decided to continue our life with tourism. Without tourism, one of the key sectors for Croatia, things would be worse for us."

President Zoran Milanovic is of the same opinion. In order not to lose control of the situation, a decision was made that bars, restaurants and nightclubs must close at midnight.

The number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic has exceeded the threshold of 6,500 people, while the number of deaths is a total of 166. There are 1,062 active cases, while for comparison, in Italy, there are 14,404. This shows that it makes no sense to consider Croatia a dangerous destination. 820,000 foreign guests are indeed in Croatia, and the movement of these tourists may spread the infection from one country to another. But figures show that the risk is not higher than in other locations.

Infections of returnees from holidays or from abroad can be a cause for concern. Several young people who returned home from Croatia transmitted the coronavirus to relatives and friends, creating real hotspots. This was also the reason for the alarm and the decision of the Italian government to introduce measures for the return of tourists from Spain, Greece and Croatia.

"But what is indisputable is that we need to emphasize the attitude of some of the tourists, both in Croatia and in other countries. Several young Italian men said that only a few wear masks in clubs in Croatia. Some of them, as in the case of young people with whom Tg1 spoke on Pag, show that they significantly reduce the real danger of coronavirus. In any case, it would be good to silence the alarm towards Croatia," they concluded.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

ZAGREB, Aug 17, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours there have been 85 new cases of the coronavirus infection in Croatia, and there are 1,236 active cases, the national COVID-19 management team said on Monday.

Since February 25, when the first case of the infection in the country was confirmed, 6,656 people have contracted the disease, the press release said.

Of the total number of active cases 126 people are now hospitalised, including 11 who are on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, 990 people have been tested for the virus. To date, a total of 138,647 people have been tested for the infection. To date 5,254 have recovered, and 166 have died.

ZAGREB, Aug 16, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, out of 1,377 tests performed for coronavirus, 151 have returned positive, the Croatian national COVID-19 management team reported on Sunday.

The number of the active cases stands at 1,185, reads the team's press release. Of them, 126 patients are being treated in hospitals, including 11 patients placed on ventilators.

The team reported one more COVID-related fatality, and the death toll stands at 166.

Since 25 February when Croatia reported its first confirmed case of the infection, 6,571 people have been diagnosed with this communicable disease, and of them 5,220 have recovered.

The country's health authorities have to date performed 137,657 tests for the infection to date.

ZAGREB, Aug 15, 2020 - The Croatian Tourism Association (HUT) has warned that giving up on the tourist season in the current economic situation due to recommendations by some neighbouring countries restricting travel to Croatia would be irresponsible towards the tourism sector and citizens. 

"The foundation of this year's season has been a good epidemiological situation, and in the month and a half that we have had a favourable epidemiological situation across the country, we have shown that we can be winners in the Mediterranean," HUT director Veljo Ostojic told Hina on Saturday.

Statements that can be heard lately about the need to give up on the tourist season because of the imminent start of the new school year "are simply unacceptable to the tourist sector," said Ostojic.

"Giving up on the tourist season in the current economic situation would be irresponsible, not only towards those who work in that sector, which generates around 20% of Croatia's GDP but to all citizens. We believe that urgent action is needed to communicate facts through all available channels and to adopt measures to reduce the number of new infections," Ostojic said.

He noted that the situation in Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties is still more favourable than in many European countries, including the countries which generate the most tourist arrivals in Croatia.

"That fact should be constantly stressed in our communication with those key markets, including through diplomatic channels and the media," he said.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages!

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

ZAGREB, Aug 15, 2020 - A total of 162 cases of the coronavirus disease have been identified in Croatia in the last 24 hours, two more patients have died and there are 1,062 active cases, the national COVID-19 response team said on Saturday.

Of the total number of COVID-19 patients, 106 are hospitalised, including ten who are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case of the infection was confirmed, 6,420 people have contracted the disease. Of that number, 165 have died and 5,193 have recovered.

Currently, 3,702 persons are in self-isolation.

To date, 136,280 people have been tested for the virus, including 1,538 in the last 24 hours.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages!

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

August 15, 2020 - Opatija Mayor, Ivo Dujmic, asked the Croatian Government and National Headquarters to divide Croatia into epidemiological regions as soon as possible. Dujmic believes that the counties of Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar should not bear the consequences of the unfavorable situation in Split-Dalmatia County.

We have transmitted his post on Facebook in its entirety:

"Urgently divide Croatia into epidemiological regions"

"This way, I must express my dissatisfaction with the current situation, i.e., that the Civil Protection Headquarters is avoiding dividing Croatia into regions and thus save the tourist season in those counties that have a favorable epidemiological situation.

I am primarily thinking of Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria counties, which have, by far, the most tourists in Croatia and, in addition, have a very favorable situation with the coronavirus. We must keep these good tourist figures, that is, take care of the existence of many families, entrepreneurs who depend on tourism, but also the budget of our cities, counties and the state itself.

I don't even have to say how many problems the citizens of Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria counties have who work in neighboring countries and go to Italy or Slovenia daily or weekly. Why do the new measures of the Headquarters apply to the whole of Croatia, i.e., why do our entrepreneurs have to bear the consequences of the bad epidemiological situation in Split-Dalmatia County?!

Therefore, I ask the Government and the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia to urgently divide Croatia into epidemiological regions, i.e., green, orange and red regions, which would be a clear message to other countries, especially those on which our tourism depends. I also ask that the measures be determined by regions and not linearly for all counties.

We don't have time anymore; decisions must be made as soon as possible!”

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages!

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

ZAGREB, Aug 14, 2020 - Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said about the warnings from abroad concerning a resurgence of COVID cases that efforts were being made to point out the particularity of epidemiological situations in different regions of Croatia.

The situation is not the same in counties where more than half of today's new cases were registered or in some others, he underscored.

In counties where there are mostly Austrian and Slovenian tourists, the epidemiological situation is good, Bozinovic told a press conference of the national COVID crisis management team.

He said they were communicating this to authorities in Vienna and Ljubljana.

10 counties with the incidence of fewer than 10 cases per 100,000 people in 14 days

Croatian Public Health Institute head Krunoslav Capak said that in 14 days 10 counties had an incidence of fewer than 10 cases per 100,000 people, which is by Slovenian criteria a green zone. These are Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Istria County, Koprivnica-Krizevci County, Krapina-Zagorje County, Medjimurje County, Pozega-Slavonija County, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Sisak-Moslavina County, Varazdin County and Virovitica-Podravina County.

Vukovar and Split Counties with more than 40 cases  per 100,000 people in 14 days

Two counties are in the red zone, with more than 40 cases in 14 days, and they are Vukovar-Srijem and Split-Dalmatia County.

Other countries are in the so-called orange zone, between 10 and 40, which Capak underscored as a good and favourable situation.

As for comparisons with other EU countries, he said that of the 27 countries we were not at the top or at the bottom, but in the middle, as the 13th country by incidence. The Netherlands, which has introduced measures for us, is below us, as one of the countries with a worse situation.

Commenting on the fact that the number of infected foreigners does not match data from abroad, Capak said that they had data they received officially and that since June there had been 54 persons for whom we had received a notification through the EWRS system that they had become infected in Croatia.

"We communicate with everyone, whoever officially sends us a report, we respond to it and conduct an investigation," Capak said.

ZAGREB, Aug 14, 2020 - Istria County and Istrian cities called on the Croatian government on Friday to immediately send a request to the Italian government to carry out the obligation to test all arrivals from Croatia selectively, in accordance with the real epidemiological situation in different parts of Croatia.

They called for the same request to also be sent to the Slovenian government, which had announced that entire Croatia could be put on the red list of epidemiologically unsafe countries.

"We are sure that you yourself understand that such a unilateral move by Italy, as well as announcements from Slovenia, are seriously jeopardising the tourist season, especially at a time when tourist arrivals are most numerous and a large proportion of guests are from Italy and Slovenia themselves," representatives of Istria county and cities said.

They underscored that Istria was keeping the health situation under control, just as it had been in the previous months, and that it had great results in tourism and the biggest portion of Croatia's overall tourism turnover, as a result of great effort and responsibility of all Istrians.

"Our county is safe health-wise and successful in tourism - we call on you to enable it to stay that way," Istrian officials said, noting that the state budget, which had already suffered a massive blow because of the crisis caused by the coronavirus, also depends on the results of the tourist season.

They, therefore, request that at the moment when Dalmatia's epidemiological situation has significantly worse, it should be made possible for Istria, as a safe destination, to save Croatia's this year's tourism results.

A prompt reaction by the government, the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry and the Tourism Ministry to Italy's decision and Slovenia's announcement has also been requested by the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS).

"Italy's decisions has far-reaching negative consequences for the Croatian economy and requires maximum engagement of all relevant institutions. Croatia must use all available diplomatic channels, extremely well-developed bilateral relations with Italy and diplomatic channels at the EU level to revise Italy's decision," IDS said.