November 9, 2021 - Minister of Science and Education, Radovan Fuchs said that the Ministry of Science and Education is currently agreeing on a mechanism and method of testing for COVID in the education system, three options are being considered for testing teachers, and the exact method of testing will be known by Friday.

"A testing variant will be introduced for all who need to be tested. So, those who have covid-certificates will show certificates and will not need to be tested," the minister said.

The mechanism and method of testing are currently being agreed upon, and there are three options on the table, said Fuchs, testing teachers in authorized institutions, such as laboratories, testing in schools, and the possibility of self-testing, reports Index.hr.

"We will know by Friday, after taking into account all the pros and cons in terms of the possible and most effective. We will define and write this in the decision, as well as the decision to act and test in health facilities," Fuchs told reporters on the eve of the sessions of the National Council for Monitoring the Implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy.

It's about 120,000 people

He noted that this is a total of 120,000 people, when kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and the higher education system are taken into account, and in the primary and secondary education system itself there are slightly less than 60,000 employees.

"If 45 percent of them are unvaccinated, and I don't know exactly how many got over it, then we're talking about testing about 30,000 people. That's not so little'', he noted. 

It must be taken into account, he added, that testing teachers should be done every two days, but also that it should be done before the teacher enters the classroom and starts teaching.

"It's not quite simple, but we intend to write it all down in the instructions so that there aren't too many problems," Fuchs pointed out.

He also said that testing of children is not being considered at the moment, but that it will be considered if necessary.

“Teachers are certainly responsible people,” he pointed out. "I don't think they'll just go by the 'I really care about my students and my kids' system. I believe most of them will, if necessary, conduct rapid antigen tests," he added.

Boras: The University will respect the decisions of the Headquarters

Rector of the University of Zagreb Damir Boras pointed out that the University cooperates well with the Civil Protection Headquarters and that it will "always strictly adhere to things concerning COVID", noting that the University can make an autonomous decision on the introduction of covid certificates.

The university has its own headquarters which is currently sitting and considering the possibility of introducing covid-certificates. "In any case, we must protect ourselves and we will respect the decisions of the Headquarters. So, there will either be covid-certificates, or vaccination certificates or prescribed testing," the rector said.

"My personal opinion is that everyone should be vaccinated. Of course, I accept that there is a right of people not to be vaccinated, but some categories of employees, professionals, no longer have that right. I would say, for example, that medical professionals made their decision when they started practicing medicine and since then they have to respect the profession, "Boras told reporters.

Asked whether the University will give a stronger recommendation than before, Boras replied that the University has already given a strong recommendation, and it is to respect the decisions of the State Staff, which, he reiterated, communicates excellently and daily with members of the University Staff. The university was founded before the state ".

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

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ZAGREB, 7 Nov 2021 - The Homeland Movement (DP) party on Sunday condemned the plan to require COVID certificates and testing for entry into the Croatian Parliament building, saying that under the Constitution power derives from the people and not from the national coronavirus response team.

"The Homeland Movement considers the announced violent introduction of so-called COVID certificates and testing in the Croatian Parliament by a para-state body called the national response team as the nullification of the will of the people expressed in elections and the most dangerous encroachment yet upon basic human and political freedoms, civil rights and the most important values of Croatian parliamentary democracy," the party said in a statement.

The DP said that decisions by the national coronavirus response team can by no means be above Croatian laws, in particular the Constitution, condemning any form of segregation of citizens on any grounds, including on the grounds of whether someone has been vaccinated or not.

"Despite the media hype and censorship, it is an undeniable fact that the virus is spread both by people who have been vaccinated and by those who have not, so this cannot be used as an argument by the response team to nullify the will of the people," the statement said.

The party said that relevant studies questioned the efficiency of the vaccines and that this was also confirmed by case numbers. "We are not saying that the vaccine helps or does not help, but why are those who are imposing it by force not willing to accept responsibility in the event of possible side-effects?"

The Homeland Movement expects the president of the republic, church dignitaries, and all members of Parliament, regardless of their ideological views, to oppose this "violent act that is being prepared."

"Those who fail this test must be aware that by doing so they take their part of historic responsibility for nullifying the fundamental values on which the modern and democratic Croatia is based," the party said.

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November 6, 2021 - 'It is my right to have a virus, I did not and I will not be vaccinated or tested', said Homeland Movement MP Zlatko Hasanbegovic, as he announces that he will not comply with the new measures imposed by the government, and will stop attending parliament indefinitely.

As reported by Net.hr, Homeland Movement MP Zlatko Hasanbegovic said after the introduction of new measures that include covid confirmations that he would no longer come to Parliament.

"That is impossible. Even if the deputies themselves made such a decision by a two-thirds majority, it would be marginal, and to prevent us from coming to Parliament on the basis of an administrative decision of some headquarters is completely unacceptable. Someone will certainly file a constitutional complaint because of that. The Constitutional Court will rule. I have not and will not be vaccinated, and I do not want to be tested. It is my right to have the virus. As long as these measures are in force, my foot will not step into Parliament'', Hasanbegovic told Novi list.

Measures apply to everyone

Let us remind you, after the Headquarters yesterday prescribed that COVID certificates are valid for all civil and public servants, Parliament Secretary Davor Orlović said that these measures would also be applied to MPs. Simply put, anyone who wants to be in Parliament will have to be vaccinated, tested, or recovered from the virus.

"It is known what will be the way to enter the Parliament building, either on the basis of COVID certificates or the appropriate test. There is absolutely no difference between officials and employees. No details are known yet, next week the Parliamentary Presidency will discuss new measures'', Orlović said.

''We can’t separate MPs from others'', he added.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš announced on Thursday that the national COVID-19 crisis management team would introduce a new package of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, including wider use of COVID certificates, but there would not be a new lockdown.

"We are completely clear that we must react. A new package of measures is being hammered out and it will be presented at a press conference tomorrow. Epidemiologists will this time again put forward measures which will be agreed on with the goal of preventing the spread of the infection, a further rise in the number of new cases, and ensuring the stability of the health system," Beroš told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

He confirmed that the new measures included a wider use of COVID certificates, although he "certainly hopes that we wouldn't need a COVID certificate to go for a coffee or to a shopping center".

"There are a number of other measures with which we can try to prevent the further spread of the virus. We'll see everything tomorrow," said Beroš, noting that the new measures sought to strike a balance between restrictions and normal life.

He underscored that the citizens who had been vaccinated had been taken into account in the new package of measures.

"There cannot be a new lockdown. Those who are truly protected, those who have recovered from the infection and been vaccinated, we cannot restrict their lives," Beroš said.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - Five members of the government's scientific council -  Andreja Ambriović Ristov, Nenad Ban, Petra Klepac, Branko Kolarić, and Igor Rudan - warned on Thursday that measures against the COVID-19 epidemic are not sufficiently effective and should be adjusted to prevent the further rise in new infections.

"Croatia is faced with the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with a relatively low rate of vaccination compared to other EU countries. This wave is dominated by the Delta variant of the virus which is significantly more contagious than the variants in the preceding three waves, and somewhat more dangerous for all age groups. Any increase in the number of cases from week to week is a sign that the epidemiological measures in force are not sufficiently effective, so they need to be adjusted in scope to prevent the further large rise," the scientists said in a press release distancing themselves from statements by another member of the council, Gordan Lauc.

The scientists said that many countries in the world have shown with their example that it is possible to protect people's lives and preserve the healthcare system through crisis management, confidence in the profession, and the unity of society in understanding the situation, vaccinating as much of the population as possible and the timely introduction of a series of available anti-epidemic measures.

"That experience acquired is not being sufficiently applied in Croatia, while misinformation spread by incompetent people who systematically undermine the seriousness of this pandemic continues to be the main source of information for a large number of citizens. That is why over the next few weeks Croatia will record a very large number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths and will become one of the countries in the world hardest hit by the pandemic," the scientists added. 

They called on citizens to inform themselves from experts and to adhere to measures that can prevent the spread of the contagion, urging those who haven't been vaccinated to do so and in that way help relieve the burden on the health system, which is currently in an extremely difficult situation.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - After Croatia saw a record high daily number of new coronavirus cases, GLAS parliamentary deputy Anka Mrak Taritaš on Thursday called on the government to ramp up the vaccination campaign, saying it was high time for restrictions to be imposed on the unvaccinated.

"The campaign should be further intensified, but that will not suffice. Now is the right time to tell people that they cannot get to work or to cafes and restaurants and shops if they are not vaccinated."

She criticized the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the government for being lenient and failing to take serious steps to encourage people to get vaccinated.

"By next spring we will have the same number of COVID fatalities as the deaths in the Homeland War. Our COVID-19 fatality rate is among the highest in the world," Mrak Taritaš said.

Andreja Marić of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also called for better immunization.

"People, get vaccinated, trust your doctors and experts," she said, accusing the government and the COVID-19 crisis management team of not doing their job well.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

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ZAGREB, 25 Oct 2021 - The national coronavirus response team on Monday discussed the COVID-19 situation in Croatia and the possibility of stepping up checks of the anti-epidemic measures in force, such as wearing face masks inside public spaces, the team's head, Davor Božinović, told a press conference.

Božinović recalled that they had anticipated a rise in the number of new cases in the autumn and addressed the problem by combining recommendations on compliance with the basic anti-epidemic measures with calls for vaccination. "Apart from these measures, there are no special activities that can be used in this situation," he added.

Since nearly a quarter of new cases come from schools, Božinović said that they would look into the possibility of face-to-face classes being suspended for two days in the week around All Saints' Day, 1 November. He said they also discussed the promotion of a booster dose for people whose level of antibodies is decreasing.

"As for the existing measures, notably wearing face masks, checks should indeed be stepped up because this obligation is taken too lightly," Božinović said, adding that the possibility of bringing COVID certificates into wider use is not being considered for now.

He stressed that there are enough vaccines against COVID-19 and that vaccination can prevent more serious forms of the disease. "A combination of the anti-epidemic measures and vaccination can get us out of the crisis," Božinović said.

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August 12, 2021 - Yesterday a meeting was held in Opatija between associations linked to the tourism sector and government authorities. They spoke of the current situation of the catering industry, coffee bars in Croatia for example, and also of its precarious future if restrictions are imposed and financial support is not provided.

The National Association of Caterers (NUU) also participated in the meeting of the tourism sector with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Croatia held in Opatija, reports HrTurizam. The importance of this meeting is shown by the fact that 21% of all companies in Croatia operate in the tourism sector, of which 2/3 are caterers, and whose position was discussed by Jelena Tabak, President of the National Association of Caterers.

According to the press release of the NUU, the meeting in Opatija discussed the successful figures in the booking of foreign and domestic tourists and discussed the burden and damage suffered by the hospitality sector.

"The already fragile catering industry, faced with a high tax burden, illiquidity, and a chronic shortage of manpower, has been put at the forefront of the defense since the beginning of the pandemic by restrictive business measures", the statement said. For all catering companies, such as coffee bars in Croatia, which perform activities of preparation of drinks and beverages only, work indoors is still prohibited.

By working in controlled conditions, limited working hours and enclosed spaces, this part of the sector has once again shown its size and proved that it carries a pandemic on its back in addition to the health system. According to the caterers, further restrictions in the catering business will protect the rest of the tourism sector, which is the basic bread of Croatia, according to the caterers.

Jelena Tabak, President of the National Association of Caterers (NUU) (Photo: Goran Stanzl/PIXSELL)

Given that this attitude further leads to the collapse of coffee bars in Croatia, Jelena Tabak appealed to the Government and the Ministry of Tourism to stand behind this part of the sector as soon as possible and actively participate in its recovery and quality development, with the collegiality of all other colleagues in the sector, to which the caterers did so at a time when the number of paid visits to Croatia must not be jeopardized.

According to the presented results, for now, we have a very good chance to finish the season, fall and winter, but the damage is too great to repair in the foreseeable future without the implementation of tax relief and long-term reforms. The lack of reforms will encourage an already excessive outflow of the qualified catering staff who bring to their senses the quality of service and a successful tourist year.

We hope that more such meetings will be held shortly and that the trend initiated by Minister Nikolina Brnjac with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia will become the rule because only with an interactive approach and joint efforts of all tourism stakeholders and caterers associations it is possible to achieve tourism success.

For more, follow our business section. 

ZAGREB, 30 July 2021 - The national COVID-19 response team said on Friday that COVID-19 measures regarding the compulsory wearing of face masks, shop work as well as public transport and organised gatherings, would be extended until 15 August.
 

Children under the age of 12 will not be required to have COVID-19 certificates when attending gatherings with their parents.

Interior Minister Davor Božinović told a press conference that four anti-epidemic measures were being extended.

The latest decisions refer to the compulsory wearing of face masks, special organisation of work in stores and shopping malls, organisation of public transport, epidemiological measures restricting gatherings and other measures designed to prevent the spread of the contagion.

As for frequent questions as to whether children must have an EU digital COVID-19 certificate when attending gatherings at which such certificates are mandatory, the response team said that children under 12, who attend gatherings in the company of their parents or guardians, are not required to possess the certificate.

Božinović underscored that these restrictions apply to all of Croatia, however, he emphasised that separate, more stringent restrictions, adopted on 23 July, were already in force in Dubrovnik-Neretva, Split-Dalmatia, Šibenik-Knin, Zadar, Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria counties as well as the towns of Novalja, Senj and Karlobag in Lika-Senj County.

The latest COVID-19 measures are to remain in force until 15 August.

Follow the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

ZAGREB, 20 March 2021 - Protests against epidemiological restrictions were held in five Croatian cities on Saturday, drawing several thousand citizens who demanded an end to the mandatory wearing of face masks.

The protests, organized by the Rights and Freedoms initiative, were held in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Šibenik, and Osijek.

Croatians thus joined in protest walks held in some 40 countries worldwide under the slogan "World march for freedom, peace, and democracy."

An announcement of the protest said the initiative was aimed at raising awareness of people's role in decision-making, encouraging citizens to act, and creating a medium for educating citizens about their constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms.

The Croatian protestors rallied to express their dissatisfaction with restrictions imposed to fight the coronavirus epidemic. The protest organizers said they consider authoritarian and brought more harm than benefit.

The World March for Freedom, Peace, and Democracy was held in more than 100 cities in 40 countries today. Its organizers pointed to what they consider an unjustified imposition of epidemiological restrictions and that basic human rights are inalienable.

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