April 23, 2020 — Days spent in isolation. Socially-distancing through limited, lazy movement. Plenty of staring at the same handful of faces. A mere wave from a safe distance serving as friendly interaction. It sounds a lot like a holiday at sea.

At least that’s what Croatia’s nautical tourism industry hopes as it plots a course towards a “new normal” in the coronavirus era. Several reports show the marina and charter sector of the economy ready for a little shove via government incentives to help it set sail, and a little luck to help it pass stormy seas.

Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli and other officials suggest any restart of the summer season will prioritize activities light on interaction, predisposed to social-distancing, and big on wide-open spaces. Campsites and vacation homes first, with charters and nautical offerings near the top of the list.

Plans are already in the works. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković’s government reportedly will introduce measures targeting catering and tourism: establishing free movement within Croatia; reaching deals with neighbors whose citizens often who drive to the Adriatic coast (provided the epidemic is under control in their countries); then opening restaurants and cafes with terraces; reintroducing camps and private apartments and then various shops and crafts.

The Croatian National Tourist Board Council concluded that, regardless of the current situation, it’ll prepare advertising campaigns for both foreign and local markets. Everything will restart the moment epidemiologists give the green light, it said.

A plan for cash and bureaucratic redefinition

Members of the marine and charter industry advocate several measures which they argue could help nautical tourism survive the pandemic while setting the foundations for long-term growth. First, they want exemption from some portion of concession fees for this year and next, freeing funds for what promises to be a dismal season.

The government will discuss a new set of measures targeting concession prices.

Croatia’s charter fleet of 4,500 vessels is the largest in the world, taking up 26 percent of all marina space in the country.

“The whole fleet is now useless,” Sean Lisjak, president of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce’s Marine Association, reportedly said. “We are justifiably waiting to receive direct incentives from the government and ministries.”

Advocates’ second proposal would let marinas take part in subsidized minimum wages for workers. The industry’s inherent seasonality means it cannot show a decline in revenue, a requirement for such assistance. Most of the staff of about two thousand who work in the marina system are now sitting at home.

The final suggestion would classify marinas as a branch of tourism, ditching the current designation of sports and recreation. Advocates point to a growing trend called “boat & breakfast,” with visitors using boats in place of luxury furnished cottages by the sea, as evidence of marinas’ disassociation from sports.

In the pantheon of Croatian bureaucratic gibberish, the distinction between tourism and sports matters, according to Lisjak. Mainly, one has a dedicated ministry, and the other doesn’t. It leaves the charter and marinas industries homeless, floating between the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of the Sea and the Ministry of Finance.

Swapping designations would also lower marinas Value Added Tax levies and clear up some administrative headaches.

An Epidemic of Nixed Reservations and Rock-Bottom Prices

The coronavirus pandemic caused cancelations and requests for refunds, Paško Klisović, president of the Association of Providers of Accommodation on Board Vessels, reportedly said. Others are re-scheduling their trips, moving May and June outings to August and September, getting peak summer appointments at off-season prices. Sometimes, it means a 50 percent discount from the usual rate, according to Klisović.

Rock-bottom pricing will dig into revenues, while disinfection protocols may add to costs. The government hasn’t yet added new sanitary regulations, but it may, according to the president of the Association of Croatian Skippers and Yacht Crew Members Vicko Ozretić. Charter companies and skippers can use squeaky-clean boats in their marketing materials, he said. But it’ll also add costs.

Marinas will reopen and function within days of a go-ahead, according to Kristijan Pavić, CEO of ACI, a chain of 22 marinas, the largest in Croatia.

“ACI's marinas are not working, but are not actually closed,” he reportedly said. “It may be a better term to say that they are ’preserved.’”

The chain’s locations are quiet, save for security. The lack of receptionists means boat owners cannot board their vessels, for now. But they can come and view them.

“We are ready to activate the marinas at full capacity,” Pavić added. “A good deal of the work has already been done in the preparation phase of the season. We only need a few days to prepare the marinas for operation in special conditions, in accordance with all the preventive and health measures prescribed.”

Croatia’s oldest Marina, Punat, has pulled back operations but is ready to restart. Workers, mechanics, and electricians still mind the vessels while following all the required procedures, according to Director Renata Marević.

“Despite everything, Marina Punat works,” she said. “As expected, after the measures were announced, we had intense communication with our boat owners. Of course, the most common question is when they will be able to come again and enjoy the boat, navigation, and sea.”

Marević said the government can only do so much, as neighboring countries also have to control the pandemic enough to open their borders.  The marina’s prospects for a salvageable season rest with the epidemiological fates of others. Most of Punat’s guests come from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy, and until their situations stabilize, none of their citizens will arrive.

She added she hopes the government recognizes the nautical industry as a tourist activity and free up much-needed help.

“Because help will surely be needed,” she said. “The losses will only start to add up.”

Stay at home may not apply

Many nations now encourage citizens to enjoy local vacations within their own countries. The “vacation here, don’t leave” incentives will bite into Croatia’s tourism take this year, as otherwise-generous guests keep their Euros close to home.

The marinas think boaters are a special tourist. Austrians, Germans, Slovenes, and others have been keeping their private vessels docked in Croatian for years. The temptation to widen the definition of “stay at home” to the Adriatic sea may be too strong to resist. 

Or at least Croatia’s marinas hope so. Otherwise, they might sink.

14. travanj 2020 — Mnogi iz dijaspore vjerojatno osjećaju potrebu pomoći Hrvatskoj u borbi s pandemijom koronavirusa i višestrukim potresima koji su pogodili Zagreb gotovo istovremeno, ali se ipak suzdržavaju.

Lako je dopustiti da prevladaju ciničnost i potištenost, posebno kad se čini da postoje vrlo upitne "dobrotvorne organizacije" koje glume da se bore protiv virusa, a zapravo varaju donatore i uzimaju njihov novac diljem svijeta.

Ipak, postoje dobro provjerene, učinkovite međunarodne i lokalne humanitarne organizacije koje pomažu na terenu u Hrvatskoj. Njihovi postupci zaista čine razliku na terenu, te zaslužuju vašu podršku - bilo financijsku, bilo neki drugi oblik.

Hrvatski crveni križ — Crveni križ nastavlja svoju ulogu kao organizacija koja pomaže kod gotovo svake nezgode. Organizacija za pomoć radi zajedno s najžešćim navijačima Dinama Zagreb, Bad Blue Boysima Plavom Srcu, humanitarnom programu pomoći onima kojima je teško ostvariti normalan život nakon potresa.

Volonteri Crvenog križa također pomažu na terenu s dostavama i drugim oblicima pomoći starijim i bolesnim osobama diljem svijeta.

Donirajte ovdje.
Ili im novac pošaljite direktno na
IBAN: HR8523600001502750000

UNICEF — Najvažnija organizacija za pomoć djeci Ujedinjenih naroda pokrenula je krajem ožujka kampanju za pomoć medicinskom osoblju i obrazovnim institucijama, kao i za pomoć djeci i obiteljima. Ova akcija uključuje medicinsku opremu, maske, rukavice i respiratore.

Donacija UNICEF-u također ima utjecaj širenja na zajednicu, jer organizacija pomaže djeci i obiteljima s provlemima da dobiju psiho-socijalnu pomoć.

Donirajte ovdje.
Ili im novac pošaljite direktno na
IBAN: HR1723600001501092524 ; uz poziv na broj 2063-989

Jedni Za Druge i Potres Hrvatska — Ove Facebook groupe odgovor su na dvostruku nedaću koja je zadesila zemlju, pri čemu se jedna uglavnom bavi koronavirusom, a druga na potres u Zagrebu. Obje se temelje na razmjeni, spajajući one koji nešto trebaju s onima koji to (uslugu ili proizvod) nude. Bilo da se radi o odlasku u kupovinu namirnica ili nekom drugom manjem zadatku, cilj je spojiti ljude kojima pomoć treba s onima koji su je spremni pružiti. Ako ste u Hrvatskoj i možete nekome ponekad pomoći, priključite se grupi - možda baš nekome od vaših susjeda nešto treba.

Priključite se grupi “Jedni Za Druge” za vaš grad na Facebooku, ili krovnoj grupi kako bi ste saznali kako možete pomoći.

Hrvatska Mreža za Beskućnike — Uz starije i osobe lošega zdravlja, beskućnike čeka teža borba protiv COVID-19 od većine. Ova grupa obavila je mnoštvo posla na terenu, distribuirajući hranu i odjeću beskućnicima u Hrvatskoj, uglavnom u Zagrebu.

Donirajte ovdje.
Ili im novac pošaljite direktno na
IBAN: HR1723600001501092524 

Ako želite ostvariti veći utjecaj sa značajnijom donacijom, humanitarne organizacije možete provjeriti kroz Charity Navigator (Navigator humanitarnih organizacija), koji ocjenjuje te organizacije prema njihovoj učinkovitosti.

April 14, 2020 — With the coronavirus pandemic and repeated earthquakes hitting Zagreb in rapid succession, the diaspora and others watching from afar may feel the urge to help, but hold back.

It’s easy to let cynicism and despondency reign, especially when there seems to be a rash of dubious “charities” ostensibly fighting the virus but actually bilking donors for money all around the world.

But there are some well-credited, effective international and local organizations making a difference on the ground in Croatia. They’re making a real difference on the ground, and worthy of your support - monetary or otherwise.

Croatian Red Cross — The Red Cross has continued its role as the catchall for nearly every calamity. The aide organization is working along with Dinamo Zagreb’s Bad Blue Boys ultras in Plavo Srce (Blue Heart), a humanitarian aid program to help those unable to piece together a normal life after the earthquake.

The Red Cross’s volunteers are also helping on the ground with deliveries and other help for the elderly and handicapped, all around the country.

Donate here.
Or wire directly them directly.
IBAN: HR8523600001502750000

UNICEF — The United Nations’ main children’s organization in late March launched a campaign to aid medical professionals, educational institutions and to help children and families. This includes medical equipment, masks, gloves and respirators.

A donation to UNICEF has a trickle-down effect, as the organization helps struggling children and families with psychosocial assistance.

Donate here.
Or wire directly to:
HR1723600001501092524 
Routing No. 2063-989

Jedni Za Druge and Potres Hrvatska— These Facebook groups are a response to the dueling calamities hitting the country, the former mainly focused on coronavirus, the latter on Zagreb’s earthquake. Both work as exchanges, connecting those in need with those ready to help. Whether it be grocery shopping or some other menial task, the goal is to match people who need help with those willing to help. If you’re in Croatia and can make the effort someone, join the group. You might find a neighbor in need.

Join the “Jedni Za Druge” group for your city or town on Facebook, or join the umbrella group to find out how you can help.

Hrvatska Mreža za Beskućnike (Croatian Homeless Network) — Aside from the elderly and already-sick, homeless persons face a bigger battle with COVID-19 than most. This group has done plenty of on-the-ground work distributing food and clothing to Croatia’s homeless, mostly in Zagreb.

Donate here.
Or wire directly to their Croatian accounts:
IBAN: HR6823600001102347110, Zagrebačka Banka

If you’re looking to make a broader impact with a bigger donation, run your charity of choice through Charity Navigator, which rates organizations based upon their effectiveness.

April 14, 2020 - Head of the Croatian Institute for Public Health and a member of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, Krunoslav Capak, spoke about loosening measures in Croatia and when. 

Like much rest of the world, Croatia has been living with special measures because of the coronavirus pandemic. It seems, however, that the epidemiological situation in Croatia is quite good, so the question arises when the rules will be lifted, or at least loosened. 

We've already heard the news in Austria, which first announced that it was phasing out of the measures in place, as is Slovenia, Germany, but also Italy and Spain, the two countries most affected by the coronavirus in Europe.

Index.hr discussed loosening the measures and the epidemiological situation in Croatia with the head of the Croatian Institute for Public Health and a member of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, Krunoslav Capak.

Capak first commented on the fact that some countries, particularly those that were severely affected by the coronavirus, were already lifting measures.

"This situation cannot last indefinitely, especially in the economy, so that there is no economic collapse because then we have not done anything. The measures can be relaxed, but it must not be as before, special conditions such as distancing must be introduced," Capak said.

He announced that he would consider loosening some measures in Croatia in the next period as well.

"One of those things is public transport. When public transport comes back, social distance measures will be prescribed. But before relaxing measures, such as normalizing public transportation, we think the epidemiological situation must be stabilized so that, God forbid, we don't have a jump in the number of new cases as it happened in Serbia," said Capak.

Capak said that there should be a consecutive number of days without new cases or a drop in new cases, or, more preferably, a drop without sudden leaps. The Head of the National Headquarters and the Minister of Interior, Davor Bozinovic, also gave a concrete time interval. A drop in the number of new cases should occur for five to seven days for them to begin loosening restrictions. 

Krunoslav Capak revealed which of the measures represented the least risk and could be loosened in the first wave. 

"It will definitely be economically good, good for the recovery of the economy and not a big risk. The business people will also help us a little by telling us which measure will most help the economy without creating chaos in terms of spreading the infection and increasing the number of new cases," Capak explained, noting that the decision to loosen measures, when the time is right, is to be made by the Headquarters.

Capak confirmed that the public transport mentioned earlier could be one of the first measures to be eased.

"We will certainly consider public transportation and think very carefully about how we will do it. Our best people from the Public Health Institute use public transport to get to the lab, and they have no other option than public transportation. Some people just have no other options. We will certainly consider public transport soon, but under stringent conditions," Capak revealed.

He said extending the opening hours of shops, like before Easter from 7 am to 8 pm, is not currently being considered.

"We will stay part-time from 8 am to 5 pm. When we agreed to that, we wanted to make it one shift, that people working in stores rotate and reduce the number of people going to work. I think that it is very important and that it is a successful measure," Capak said.

Was there any feedback at the Headquarters as to whether the shops were organizing one shift?

"According to the information we have, most are. There may have been some shifts, but work is not two shifts, and that was important to us. I think it is very important to reduce the number of people, workers in stores, and customers," he added.

When asked about complaints from those who work from 9 am to 5 pm, who are left with little time to go to the shops, he said that those in the Headquarters understand this best, but that it is still a good and efficient solution.

"Of course, I'm pleased. We considered the scenarios and comparisons with other countries and I always thought we wouldn't have an Italian scenario. We did all the estimates on the number of beds and ventilators according to the Italian scenario, but I always thought it would be a lot milder here. If it were not for this situation in Split, we would have had a much calmer situation with less than 50 new cases a day," Capak said.

Can we expect that the tourist season will begin by the end of July or August?

"It is very difficult to predict. We do not know what will happen in Scandinavia, although it looks promising there, and we do not know what will occur in central Europe. We have a particular advantage here because of the favorable epidemiological situation.

However, the tourist season depends a lot on the situation in the countries from which tourists come to Croatia. We will certainly not allow people from countries where the situation is not good to come. That is why it is tough to predict the tourist season at the moment. I think it would be good to think about attracting local guests," Capak said of the tourist season.

Capak was asked if Croats who were planning holidays could then expect the movement ban within the country to be lifted.

"If it is a favorable situation, why not, we will see how we can ease it. For the time being, we are keeping that measure, but we will surely get there," Krunoslav Capak concluded.

Follow TCN's live updates on the coronavirus crisis in Croatia 

April 8, 2020 — A golf course, villas and a hotel next to Prokljansko Lake have been a dream for over 15 years, outlasting several economic booms and two potential investors. The Croatian government waited instead until a global pandemic collapsed the tourism industry and caused a painful recession to attract investors, according to Jutarnji List.

A binding tender for the long-awaited project "Prukljan in Skradin" opened on April 1, (with little irony). It offered interested investors 54 hectares of land for sale, and an additional 150 hectares in a concession to realize the €300 million project.

The Ministry of State Property announced a non-binding tender for Prukljan in March 2018, answered by two investment funds, one from Germany and one based in the Netherlands.

The Ministry announced at the time that a binding tender, given the interest of investors, should be announced as soon as possible The whole matter was extended so the state’s bureaucracies and administrative obstacles disappeared. Two years later…

Croatia’s on-again, off-again relationship with the luxury tourism market — especially golf — has been a hobby horse for Total Croatia News. The list of 30 - yes, 30 - proposed and unrealized golf projects has been languishing for seven years. Then, a pandemic hit.

"Better now than never," Skradin’s Mayor Antonijo Brajkovic told Jutarnji when asked if timing was aggravating.

“Look, certainly other circumstances would be better for the realization of the project,” he reportedly said. “If it is well-conceived, prepared, and the money is secured for it, then I do not see why investors would not respond.”

Brajkovic didn’t know why it took two years between announcing a non-binding and binding tender. The project originated during former Mayor Nediljko Dujic term in 2006, and was the put on hold until 2018. It was included in the catalog of state investment projects.

According to the tender, the investor will buy 30 hectares of land within tourist zones to build a hotel complex with a maximum of 1,500 beds. Another 136 hectares of land will be included in a concession for the investor, slated to become an 18-hole golf course. An additional 24 hectares are also for sale for the construction of tourist villas.

In addition, the project also envisages a concession over the maritime domain and the construction of a nautical tourism port, as well as the construction of two beaches for hotel guests.

The deadline for completion of the construction of the project is five years from the signing of the contract, within which the investor must obtain all necessary permits and start construction.

April 5, 2020 - Part 3 of Ivica Profaca's Diary of a Split Tour Guide in the Age of Corona - and some good news!

This is an easy job to do. I can just start every part of this series with something announced, or predicted in the previous one. Last time I was hoping that my application for financial aid through the Government's program aiming to help industries affected by COVID-19 would be accepted. And it was. It was great to get an e-mail with a PDF document attached saying "your request has been accepted", or something like that. Sure, it's nothing even close to those notes, now almost forgotten, with sentences from another world: "Are you available on that-and-that day for a tour?". From time to time, I read some of those still sitting in my inbox, just as a reminder.

Anyway, me and a whole bunch of fellow guides (and thousands of others) will get State aid, and with the second package that the government prepared, now things look a little better. Or, if you want, as well as can be expected, because I guess nobody is too excited at being on State aid. With the second package, the monthly payment will go up to 4,000 kuna, with paid tax, health and pension insurance, for a wider population affected by these measures. It means that the government finally accepted the demands coming from people in the business world. Problems are probably yet to come, because the national budget masters will have to find that money somewhere. We'll think about it tomorrow, Scarlett O'Hara would say, hopefully someone is making plans.

Speaking of plans, everything really depends on how long the pandemic will last. That's a zillion dollar question, and only a few dare to give any prognosis. I mean those who might really know something. There is a whole army of those others, much louder, making it difficult to differentiate what is worth listening to. Will it be June, or we can't expect any good news before September, with prospects of a second wave next autumn and winter? The phrase "anything is possible" these days has a special meaning. Besides, with the death toll rising minute by minute, what's the point of looking for anything else, but how to stop this horrible chain of events? 

When it's done, other things should come back, including tourism. easyJet, an extremely important airline for tourism in Split and Dalmatia, is already advertising Summer 2021 Holidays. Just a little bit more optimistic is their Winter 2020/2021 advertising. Unfortunately, still no sign of an extension of seasonal flights to Split by any airline. Maybe when that priceless question gets some more firm answers there will be someone who will come up with the idea of turning November into the new April, just like Zoran Pejović suggested in his Total Croatia News article. There are still no ideas how to do it by  the Croatian tourism authorities, but maybe they could take this idea into consideration. In previous parts of this series I have already mentioned that I still have more postponements than cancellations, and that trend is still the same. Maybe it will change sooner than I want, but so far it's like that. Some of those bookings still don't have a new date, but are waiting to see how the situation develops, but they are still active. The last one I got of that kind is a group of hikers from Taiwan who wanted to hike Kozjak mountain mid-June. The date is cancelled, but with a note "they will definitely come when crisis calms down". It's a thin hope, but what else do we have?

Speaking of easyJet, like all other airlines, they have their planes grounded (except for emergency flights). However, you can still book a flight from London to Split from May 1. All those before that date are marked as "sold out", it's probably some IT solution for not to delete flights. I can only try to imagine the level of lack of information with someone who would really book a flight as early as the beginning of May. Or perhaps they know something we don't know. But seriously, who can even remotely believe anyone would travel in just a few weeks from now? Not only by air, but by any means of transportation. It would be fun to make that booking, just for the sake of imagining the faces of those who would receive a notification that someone wants to fly. I would offer a free tour.

Of course, this little anecdote about easyJet is not something that should be taken as a strategy foundation. When I get first queries for availability, or at least some info request, that will be something to build on. Everything else is still in "one day it will pass" domain. For example, recently I saw an article on Travel Pulse, US-based website specialized in travel news. Pledging that "all is not lost", they found five destinations as "beacons of hope". Guess what? Croatia is one of them, and main photo of the article is the one from Split. Or, what about predictions made by Luxury Travel Advisor?

It worked twice so far; I mentioned something in these articles, and it happened before the next part of this series. Maybe the same will happen with those two. Stay posted, and if you know someone who would need a tour this summer, let me know. Until then, #StayHome.

We will be following Ivica Profaca's journey through the rocky weeks ahead.

If you find yourself in Split, or are planning a post-corona visit, check out his range of tours on his website - families, look out for the kids tour of Diocletian Palace. It will not only entertain your kids while allowing you to absorb this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it will bring out the inner child in you too. Learn more about it here. 

You can read other parts of Ivica's Split Tour Guide in the Age of Corona series here.

(To be continued)

April 3, 2020 - Even with the warm weather this weekend, citizens should not be tempted to ignore the measures of the National Civil Protection Headquarters. A message from the Split Police.

“Given that sunny and warmer weather is announced for the weekend, we would like to draw our attention once again to Decision on strict restraint on streets and other public places. This Decision applies to streets, squares, waterfronts, parks and all other public areas where a large number of persons can move and gather,” began today's statement by the Split-Dalmatia Police Directorate, in which they urge citizens to abide by the rules, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

“We know that Znjan, Bacvice and the Split waterfront are favorite places for citizens to gather, but in this situation, you cannot stay in these public areas. Especially not in large numbers because then you are not able to adhere to the rules on the distance between people.

Given the current situation, to prevent the spread of the infection, adjust your habits and exercise your leisure and outdoor activities in a shorter time, in places that you know are not visited by a large number of people. If you want to go outside, go to places where you are sure that more citizens will not gather.

We know that you follow the recommendations of doctors and epidemiologists, and we just want to remind you of their advice that when you are outdoors, keep the recommended distance. In this way, we will positively all contribute to reducing the spread of the infection.

Police officers supervise and implement the measures of the Headquarters daily, including these Decisions on the measure of strict restraint on streets and other public places, and will continue to do so throughout the weekend. Please follow the advice and warnings of police officers on the ground.

We thank all citizens who respect the Decisions of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia. With responsible behavior, they protect themselves and all of us,” the police bulletin says.

The police also responded to a request from a Dalmatinski Portal journalist about playing picigin at Bacvice.

“Such behavior is contrary to the decision of the National Headquarters. Had police officers been there, they would have certainly warned the participants to disperse. You can walk, but picigin cannot be played under these circumstances,” Split police said.

Follow TCN's live updates on the coronavirus crisis in Croatia

April 2, 2020 —  The coronavirus often causes spikes in body temperature and a prolonged, dry cough. It also leaves some patients with a social stigma that’s hard to shake in the midst of a pandemic.

Complaints of lost jobs, finger-pointing and passive-aggressive condemnation are common, making an already-difficult situation worse, according to various reports.

Nenad Katić, 40, his wife Ivana, 38, and their son and daughter all have tested positive for COVID-19. The Nincevići residents remain in isolation at home, while Katić’s mother is in hospital. They claim they’ve been ostracized by neighbors and blamed for the virus’s rapid spread within the village.

While Katić cannot pinpoint where exactly they were infected, he suspects a mass on March 19 for the feast of St. Joseph, held in violation a prohibition on public gatherings.

“No one speaks about this mass in public, as if it was not even held and as if the church was not nearly full,” Katić told Slobodna Dalmacija. Instead, he says locals have labeled his currently-hospitalized mother Finka as “patient zero.”

Even the local priest, Ante Matesan, reportedly told another news portal that the infection was transmitted by a parishioner who helped clean the church — alluding to Katić’s mother, who volunteered to tidy up along with other parishioners.

The town now has an outsized number of confirmed cases, mostly people who attended the mass.

“Some members of the church congregation were infected. The faithful who were in the church were also in mortal fear, yet only the story of us spread,” Katić told the paper. “We were neither at mass nor did we transmit the coronavirus; we most likely received it from my mother.”

Father Matesan told Slobodna Dalmacija he had a fever lasting over a week, and was awaiting test results. He claims he did not know about the ban on public gatherings and did not wish ill upon the Katić family.

A new scarlet letter

Others have seen news a positive spread almost as quickly as the virus itself.

A list of COVID-19 test results began circulating the island of Murter, the only locale in the country to be in full quarantine, according to ŠibenikIN. Sources told the news site a full list of those tested, along with their results, circulated the small island via text message. It was later confirmed by local police.

ŠibenikIN’s source reportedly found out he had coronavirus via the list — not a medical professional.

“The names were […] sent all over the place and all over the island, possibly even further, which is a violation of the right to privacy and the right to confidentiality of patients' data,” the source said. “This is something really disturbing from a moral point of view; that the entire village will know before the families of those tested as well as the patients; that it must be known who are ‘the infected' them in order to stigmatize them.”

Testy Reactions

Some have a hard time getting tested at all. After they do, treating the symptoms becomes just one of a growing list of problems.

Goran Radulović had a random selection of COVID-19 symptoms: the telltale cough and a mild fever barely crossing the 37℃ threshold. He called all the prerequisite numbers: the epidemiologists and Croatia’s coronavirus dedicated number. No luck. 

He went to the Infectious Disease Clinic Dr. Fran Mihaljević, the clinical heart of the nation’s coronavirus response, only to be sent home, he told Vecernji List. He was told his symptoms didn’t merit testing; to call his doctor.

“Ninety-nine percent of people would give up seeking further medical help,” he told the paper. “Thanks to my neighbor, I was able to [get a] test at half past ten in the evening.” The results the next morning came back positive for COVID-19.

Later testing showed his wife and two children were infected as well. The kids are asymptomatic, Radulović said, and his wife has a mild case, with only one feverish day.

Radulović can’t say for sure where he was infected. There were no skiing trips. No family members who were abroad.

The reaction of some neighbors and acquaintances hit as hard as the virus itself. Some asked if they can help. Others called Radulović and his family “irresponsible” and worried they would infect others. One neighbor, he said, even asked for a copy of his positive test results to include in a request for sick leave.

The illness itself, he said, is bad enough. “The cough is deadly, something indescribable.”

As the virus progressed, the asthmatic Radulovic grew worried and called emergency services. He hoped for a lung x-ray at the hospital and perhaps some oxygen. He ended up in a tent in a parking lot and was told to sit on a bench.

“While I was waiting, a hundred people passed by,” he said. “Some were certainly negative, but after their stay there it was very possible to ‘collect’ the virus.”

Doctors measured Radulović’s blood’s oxygen saturation and pulse and told him within an hour that he had no need for hospital treatment, he said. Given Radulović’s asthma, doctor’s suggested he call an ambulance if he began feeling shortness of breath or choking.

All that was bad enough. Then Radulović and his wife were both laid off. She a hairdresser, he a driver for ride-sharing services like Uber and Bolt. Tenants, their landlord has extended their stay — but that’ll only last for so long.

“So if you get sick, no one cares and you're left alone,” Radulović said. “I do not know what would happen to my wife and me, would anyone in this society care for our children?”

April 2, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros answered questions about the coronavirus on N1 television Thursday morning. 

Index.hr reports:

"We are evaluating the situation day by day, the figures are sometimes like this, sometimes the same, but we still recommend that everyone adhere to the measures. I expect the numbers to get better if we adhere to the measures and if there are no extraordinary circumferences," Vili Beros said.

Vili Beros spoke more about the measures.

“The pandemic curve is linear, which gives us optimism. But there must be no looseness. You saw how many patients flew in from Turkey.

Personally, I don't like talking about loosening measures; it's not okay to announce it now. We need to be strictly focused on self-care and hygiene measures. Only when we are without new cases or fewer patients for 5 to 7 days can we think about loosening measures.

We never ran excessively and acted with rigorous measures.”

What might be the first measures?

"One is staying out outside, and the other is economic activity. At this point, we are thinking about how markets can function and follow directions. We are often thinking about how we can enable something and have everyone adhere to the measures. We will always base our estimates on the expert views.”

Travel recommendations

“I recommend that the Croats refrain from traveling for Easter. Everyone should stay where they are, because there are restrictions. I recommend traveling only in exceptional situations.”

25 people died from the flu this year. Even a child. Why the restrictions for the coronavirus?

“The thesis is unfounded. The fact is that flu is a disease that has been present for decades, some of it has immunity, and there is a vaccine.

Comparing this with a new disease where the population has no immunity and no vaccine, that is the reason for the measures. So I think the measures are fine. Italy and America are the best examples.

It's okay for everyone to have their say, but I urge that those opinions be grounded. It does not occur to me to make expert comments about something that is not my profession.

It's good for everyone to have their say, but it should still be fact-based.

Speaking physically, more people will suffer from the coronavirus than from economic problems.

If the truth is accessible to all, it is easier to deal with the problem. Very early on, psychologists and psychiatrists were involved in all of this, self-isolation inevitably leaves some trace. All of this is understandable.”

When could a pandemic end globally?

“I would hate to delve into the elaborations of this; there are numerous theses. I hope the virus will be seasonal, but it is impossible to predict how it will behave. We have to be ready for anything.

If it acts like most other respiratory viruses, it could be back in late fall, but I wouldn't talk about it because we don't know yet.”

How does government scientific advice work?

“I welcome the idea of inviting our scientists to participate in all this. A smaller expert team has been formed in the ministry to keep track of all the new information about the coronavirus, gathering important data that can show us how to fight the virus.”

Who could get the vaccine first, America, China, or another country?

“It's tough for me to comment on that.”

Does the health care system suffer?

"We function in a different mode. The Ministry of Health issued instructions concerning the functioning of the system, the restructuring of the system... An additional problem was the earthquake that moved the building of the clinic in Jordanovac, the same thing happened in Petrova; all of these clinics are returning slowly into normal operation mode. Controls must be carried out but under different conditions.”

About testing

“We have already said that there will be an increase in the number of tests by healthcare professionals. We are expanding our testing capacity. For example, Osijek will be able to test 250 people a day for now. We are in contact with WHO leaders to confirm which quick tests are in order. The results must be accurate. Testing is important, but self-isolation is even more important. You can test someone today and it may be negative, but tomorrow may already be positive. Testing is important, but measures of handwashing and distancing, are far more important than testing.”

How long is a person infected with the virus?

“Most often, symptoms begin to appear within 5 to 7 days. When a patient develops symptoms, that is, according to new information, one day before, it is contagious to the environment.”

Recommendations for people with lower immunity

“For them, for the elderly, chronically ill, and cancer patients, extreme caution is worth it. If you can, do not leave your home.”

Follow TCN's live updates on the coronavirus crisis in Croatia

March 31, 2020 — The Croatian government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak includes several violations of constitutional rights, according to Judge Andrej Abramović, who sits on the nation’s top court, according to Jutarnji List. 

The judge claims the National Crisis Directorate did not have the legal right to limit citizens’ movement, forcing them to stay place in their legal residences. The Law on the Civil Protection System, as well as its amendment adopted by Parliament on March 18, did not give such authority to the National Directorate, he argues. 

Abramović presented his arguments in “Constitutionality in the Age of Virus,” on iusinfo.hr.

Measures to combat the spread of coronaviruses are necessary but should deployed using existing procedures and laws in the Croatian constitution, the judge writes. An amendment to the Civil Protection System Act cannot delegate to the Civil Protection Directorate the powers of all government bodies because it means the suspension of democracy, the de facto dictatorship.

Abramović argues that the purpose of his text is not to polemicize the measures that are being taken but "to warn who is taking them,” arguing bypassing the constitution could cost “those values ​​that are even more important than human lives in a democratic society."

Abramovic, in the published text, also argues against the way the island of Muter was put into quarantine. The decision was made on March 25 by the Civil Protection Staff of Šibenik-Knin County. 

"Physical barriers were put on the access roads. Like during the war,” the judge writes, warning that the decision is illegal on several levels.

According to the Law on the Protection of the People from Infectious Diseases, quarantine, according to the judge, can only be forcibly accommodated individuals, not entire areas. In addition, the quarantine can be determined only by the Minister of Health. Also, those forcibly placed in quarantine are due compensation, he adds.

"None of the above," Abramović points out, "is the case here. If necessary, [the measures] must first be provided for by law and then introduced in the manner prescribed by law. This is how residents are at the mercy of activism of some kind of directorate."

The Constitutional Court judge also discusses the way in which the authorities determine the measure of self-isolation defined by the Law on Infectious Diseases Treatment as "isolation and treatment in the apartment".

It is quite questionable to the judge whether one's constitutional rights can be restricted when it is beyond doubt that there is a test that confirms or denies infection. 

"Detaining people in their own homes without testing puts them in a precarious position: neither healthy nor sick, they are stigmatized to the extent of being threatened by most."

By problematizing the way in which the concrete measures were enacted, Abramović seeks to draw attention to the essential constitutional issues raised by the  COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken by the authorities to suppress it.

In his article, he raises doubts that the ruling majority in Parliament deliberately avoids applying constitutional and legal norms, in order to allow itself to manage the crisis by means of laws passed by a simple instead of a two-thirds majority.

He analyzes the maneuver that the governing have resorted to in order to avoid the automatic activation of Article 17 of the Constitution relating to emergency situations, whose activation of all decisions affecting constitutional human rights would have to be approved by the Parliament by a two-thirds majority, as long as that legislative body can meet.

Abramovic clarifies the amendments to the Civil Protection System Act that was passed by Parliament on March 18, introducing the concept of "occurrence of special circumstances" even though the description of "special circumstances" is identical in substance to the state of "catastrophe" that the law already contains. "Why did the government not declare the disaster foreseen by law?”

Abramovic suspects that by this maneuver, the government sought to avoid the obligation to seek a two-thirds endorsement of the parliament for measures that encroach on constitutional human rights.

Abramović also chastised his fellow constitutional judges. “The Constitutional Court systematically, using lack of an explicit constitutional norm, refuses to participate in interpreting the Constitution in the a time of crisis, insists on deciding post-festum, when the eventual determination of the disproportionality of the measures taken will no longer mean anything to anyone."

The judge says that as a layman he does not know, nor does he dare to predict, what the consequences of such treatment will be to combat the pandemic. But the consequences will be bad in relation to guaranteed human rights - he is quite sure of that.

"There is no such necessity that justifies acting beyond the laws and the Constitution because both the Constitution and the laws regulate the state of emergency,” he wrote. “In the long run, the damage to democracy is greater than the damage caused by any virus. "

There is no doubt for this constitutional judge that Croatia is in a state of emergency as defined in Article 17 of the Constitution. "Where will you find a greater state of emergency than the global pandemic, the cessation of human and commodity circulation, quarantine and isolation of all kinds and every step of the way?”

Abramovic points out that it is frighteningly widespread that Parliament is no longer acting in the event of a state of emergency. "This is a wrong assumption,” he explains. Article 1 of the constitution states that it does not act only if it cannot meet. "Such a false perspective that the Parliament is not functioning in a state of emergency offers the wrong answer: if the legislature is no longer Parliament, then it will be someone else, possibly also a body that manages the crisis on behalf of the Government. And then it is a coup.”