ZAGREB, Dec 8, 2020 - Scientist Ivan Djikic on Tuesday again sent an open letter to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, asking him to say why the government did not define rules to regulate the issue of conflict of interest for members of the government's Scientific Council as some of them are in a conflict of interest.

"It is evident that some of the members of the Scientific Council are in a classic conflict of interest as they have a private firm (Gordan Lauc), a private institute (Miroslav Radman) and a private hospital (Dragan Primorac) which they have not declared publicly since the Council was formed," Djikic says, wondering why a code of conduct for members of the Scientific Council for the fight against COVID-19 had not been defined.

Membership of Council continues despite conflict of interest

In his letter Djikic asks PM Plenkovic why he has allowed Lauc and Primorac, who in November declared a conflict of interest, to continue sitting on the Council, noting that the government has failed to comment on the matter.

Djikic notes that Lauc owns Genos d.o.o., a company that has validated a PCR test for COVID-19 and sells the GlycanAge biological age test, which is a good predictor of severe forms of COVID-19.

Lauc informed other members of the Council of this only on November 14, eight months after the Council was formed, even though during that period he discussed the types of testing that should be promoted and publicly spoke about these matters, Djikic says.

As for Primorac, Djikic says that the private hospital which he heads has been charging HRK 350 (approx. €46) per antigen test since October 17.

That price is among the highest in the country, he says, noting that the government has made it possible for a private business to earn very high amounts on testing without being subject to any rules or restrictions.

Suspicion of coronavirus profiteering must be confirmed or dismissed fast

"Do you feel any personal responsibility or responsibility on the part of the Croatian government for the fact that your advisers Lauc, Primorac and Radman should have declared a conflict of interest and you should have reacted to it, but did not?," the scientist asks in his letter, noting that citizens need quick answers that can confirm or dismiss suspicion of conflict of interest in healthcare and coronavirus profiteering.

In a comment on reports that the government no longer needs the services of five members of its Scientific Council who signed a public appeal while keeping the three members suspected of conflict of interest on the Council, Djikic says that confusing and contradictory claims about the coronavirus pandemic have been sent to the public for quite a while.

"With your latest act you have shown, probably most clearly so far, what you base your choice of advisers on, what you value about them and to what you are indifferent. But regardless of everything, my advice to you is to think well if the five top experts, who have worked free of charge and wholeheartedly for this country, are the ones who should be replaced," Djikic asks in reference to Andreja Ambriovic Ristov, Nenad Ban, Petra Klepac, Branko Kolaric and Igor Rudan.

Ban says no longer member, others without comment

Molecular biologist Nenad Ban told the media on Monday that he was no longer a member of the government's Scientific Council for the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that his statements were based on scientific arguments.

He noted that he did not wish to criticise anyone but rather just communicate the situation and predictions based on scientific data.

There has been no comment so far from the other researchers.

Late on Monday evening, the government refuted claims that PM Plenkovic had decided to dismiss the five members of the Scientific Council who had signed a public appeal expressing their concern about the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.

ZAGREB, Dec 8, 2020 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Pedja Grbin on Tuesday condemned the expulsion of five scientists from the government's Scientific Council for combating the coronavirus pandemic, saying that in dealing with the coronavirus the government was not guided by science but by the political needs of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party.

"Are we living in the 16th or 17th or 21st century? The prime minister expelled the scientists from the Science Council because they insisted on working on the basis of science and scientific facts and not on the political views and convictions of the prime minister," Grbin said in parliament.

"You decided to silence the scientists because they gave science priority over politics. This is reminiscent of the 17th century, but it won't change scientific facts," Grbin said, addressing the HDZ lawmakers.

Noting that Croatia's response to the coronavirus pandemic was among the worst in the world, Grbin said that this was no surprise because in combating the crisis the government was not guided by science but by "the impressions and daily political needs of the HDZ and its leader Plenkovic, which is bad because this won't help the country overcome this difficult situation."

According to media reports, five scientists have been kicked out of the Scientific Council after 26 prominent Croatian medical doctors and scientists issued an appeal to the public expressing concern about the spread of the pandemic and a large number of deaths in Croatia. Late on Monday, government spokesman Marko Milic denied the reports of their expulsion.

ZAGREB, Dec 8, 2020 - Croatia has registered 2,613 new coronavirus cases after 8,782 tests carried out in the last 24 hours, and 64 people have died from COVID-19, the national coronavirus response team reported on Tuesday morning.

The number of active cases currently stands at 21,685. It includes 2,660 hospital patients, 278 of whom are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in the country, 154,852 people have been infected with the novel virus, of whom 2,298 have died and 130,869 have recovered, including 2,987 in the last 24 hours. A total of 825,023 people have been tested to date.

Currently, 53,062 people are in self-isolation.

ZAGREB, Dec 8, 2020 - Rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Zagreb schools has revealed the presence of the novel virus in 1.6% of pupils and 3.3% of school staff tested, the city authorities said on Monday evening.

The purpose of the testing was to show the current presence of antigens in pupils and staff in selected primary and secondary schools in Zagreb. The testing was conducted in 12 primary schools (Grades 5-8) and seven secondary schools between November 30 and December 4.

All pupils in these schools, whose classes were not in self-isolation at the time, were invited to do a test, and 1,925 pupils did so. They included 1,073 primary school pupils (40.1%) and 852 secondary school students (33.1%).

Negative results were not additionally verified, while positive results were sent for further verification by PCR testing.

The presence of coronavirus antigens was found in 31 pupils (1.6% of the pupils tested), of whom 19 were secondary school pupils and 12 were primary school pupils.

In six of the primary schools none of the pupils tested had a positive result, while in the remaining six schools up to three pupils were positive.

In two of the secondary schools none of the students had a positive result, while in the remaining five schools up to seven students were positive.

The primary school pupils tested accounted for 26.9% of the Grade 5-8 pupils in the selected schools, while the secondary school students tested accounted for 20.6% of students in their schools.

School staff who were not in isolation or self-isolation at the time were also invited to do a test, and 365 did so. Twelve of them (3.3%) were positive for the coronavirus and most of them were secondary school staff.

December 8, 2020 - A beautiful humanitarian gesture by Stari Plac pancake house, which will send pancakes to Split Hospital's hardworking infectious diseases department every week. 

Stari Plac pancake house launched a humanitarian action on Monday in which they will send pancakes to the infectious diseases department staff of KBC Križine in Split every week. On Monday, the Stari Plac team prepared more than twenty portions of these popular pancakes and delivered them still warm to the KBC staff.

"Today, we were diligent, and we prepared and sent more than 20 portions of our best pancakes to KBC Križine. We will do this every week from today to thank our brave doctors, nurses, and technicians for everything they do for the sick. We invite other catering facilities to do the same. These days, nothing is the same, except love. Love is always the same," Stari Plac wrote on their Facebook page.

"It is a cruel time, and one should think more of others, especially those who are currently sacrificing their time and health for the benefit of others. We can’t do much for our medical staff, but we can make them happy with pancakes. In fact, what is better than a hot pancake in one hard day?" Stari Plac added.

"We invite all restaurants from Split to join us in this gesture and for them to do the same. We need to get something positive out of the hardship that has befallen us and make others happy. There is no hardship that can be stronger than togetherness and love," they said.

The head nurse of the Respiratory Intensive Care Center Split, Mihaela Pfiefer, also spoke about the gesture:

"The Respiratory Intensive Care Center Split, which cares for patients with the SARS CoV-2 virus, is located in 3 locations. The Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases for COVID-19 and Respiratory Syndromes at the Firule site, and the Department of Infectious Diseases within the Križine hospital. We are grateful from the bottom of our hearts, and if anyone joins your action, we will refer you to these other two locations. The quantity is not important to us. Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart," said Pfiefer.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - The government adopted four decisions on Friday under which public health and social welfare workers catering for COVID patients would be given a bonus in the amount of 10% of their monthly basic pay.

Army medical staff and prison staff looking after COVID patients are also entitled to this bonus.

Health Minister Vili Beros said that medical professionals currently reassigned to COVID hospitals would be given a monthly salary in the amount of their average monthly take-home pay in the last three months before their reassignment to COVID hospitals if that amount is more favourable for them.

This refers to the salaries already paid for November.

The workers concerned have been offered this option after the Croatian Medical Chamber (HLK) warned that some of the doctors reassigned to COVID-19 hospitals received lower monthly pay for November than what they used to be paid before their reassignment.

The HLK has been informed that the November salary for some of the doctors who are treating COVID-19 patients was considerably lower than their take-home pay before they started working with this category of patients. In some cases this reduction was 20%.

The HLK dismissed the "bureaucratic explanation" about them having worked fewer working hours in November, as it has been made clear that the protective gear necessary for doctors working with COVID patients makes it impossible for them to work the full hours specified for that month.

ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - Stricter anti-epidemic measures for Varazdin Country that were introduced on November 21 have resulted in the number of new infections stagnating in recent days, the head of the COVID-19 management team for that county, Robert Vugrin, said on Monday.

Vugrin recalled at a press conference that three weeks ago they had been registering 1,500 new infections per week, they had had 172 patients with severe cases of COVID in hospitals, and the percentage of positive coronavirus tests had been 37%.

It was obvious then, he said, that the epidemiological measures in place were not effective, and recommendations made to the national team were either not accepted or were made more lenient.

The 7-day incidence rate in Varazdin County was twice and half times higher than the national one, and the county team had to react and propose stricter measures which entered into force on November 21. The same day, all secondary school and higher education institutions in the county accepted the proposal to switch to online classes.

Vugrin added that they had had to wait at least two weeks for the first results.

During the first week, the number of new infections rose to 2,100. The number of hospitals in patients was also increasing, to 272, while the percentage of positive tests was 44%.

However, he said, two weeks after the stricter measures were introduced, the numbers have started to stagnate.

Vugrin said that the number of new infections in a week was under 2,000, and in the last three days there has not been an increase in the number of patients in hospitals, so the number of patients admitted to and released from hospitals is balanced.

"Over the past three days, we have come from 272 to 262, and today we have 258 patients in hospitals," Vugrin said.

ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - Face masks will be compulsory also for persons who have recovered from COVID-19 since it is still not known how newly-acquired immunity affects transmission, and masks will continue to be compulsory also after vaccination, Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ) head Krunoslav Capak said on Monday.

"If the virus settles in a mucous membrane, there is no evidence as to whether immune persons can transmit the disease, and that is why those who have recovered from the infection should wear masks as well. That will remain so also after the vaccination," Capak said at a news conference held by the national COVID-19 response team.

He said that Croatia still had a high incidence rate, with 1,154 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, and that Luxembourg was the only other EU country with a higher incidence.

As for the mortality rate, Croatia is 14th in the EU, with 515 fatalities per one million inhabitants.

The share of positive cases among tested persons in the last 14 days has been 35.6%, with Bulgaria and Poland having higher rates.

In the past 24 hours, there have been 1,886 new infections and 59 fatalities.

A total of 2,629 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, including 277 who are on ventilators, which is 40 more than on Sunday.

In the past 24 hours, 254 people have been hospitalised and 133 have been released.

The number of active cases stands at 22,124.

The death toll is 2,231.

Currently 52,764 people are self-isolating.

So far 816,241 people have been tested for the novel virus, of whom 5,356 have been tested in the last 24 hours.

Capak said that 136,000 fast antigen tests had been procured, of which 80,000 would be distributed among retirement homes to test 40,000 residents and staff members. The rest will be distributed among emergency medical services for fast diagnostics.

Health Minister Vili Beros said that telemedical centres would be set up in all COVID-19 facilities to establish expert cooperation between all institutions treating COVID-19 patients. The central facility will be Zagreb's Hospital for Infectious Diseases and the goal of the project is to harmonise practice in the application of new information on coronavirus in the treatment of patients.

The head of the national COVID-19 response team, Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic, said that in the last 24 hours civil protection inspectors had carried out 2,442 inspections of businesses and public gatherings, issuing 544 warnings and a fine in the amount of HRK 30,000.

"A total of 1,778 checks have been carried out as well, 265 irregularities have been established and 92 reports have been made that will be submitted to the relevant institutions to decide on possible launching of misdemeanor proceedings. A total of 8,743 facilities have been checked and violation of epidemiological restrictions has been found in seven," he said, noting that 63 people had been found to have violated self-isolation rules and that three criminal reports would be filed.

Commenting on an appeal by scientists that was signed over the weekend by half of the government's scientific council, Bozinovic said that some of their recommendations had already been translated into decisions and restrictions introduced by the national COVID-19 response team as well as that measures would continue to be adopted.

"We are having discussions with representatives of the retail sector in order to limit the number of customers who can be in a shop at the same time. As for schools, (Education) Minister (Radovan) Fuchs will discuss possible corrections of initial plans with county heads today. We have already said on several occasions that all decisions are made based on the epidemiological situation, after we establish that the previous ones have either not helped reduce the number of infections or that certain increases have been identified," he said.

Commenting on the scientists' appeal, in which they presented their recommendations to deal with the current health and social crisis in the country, the head of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Alemka Markotic, said that opinions were different but that communication was ongoing.

"We have been in touch with our colleagues abroad and have been communicating and exchanging experience with them on a daily basis. It is important to ask questions and seek solutions," she said.

December 7, 2020 - In their regular press conference held this morning, the National Civil Protection Headquarters hinted at new COVID-19 measures for shops in Croatia, which we could see implemented already this week. 

Croatia recorded 1886 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours and the number of active cases in the country today is 22,124. Among them, 2629 patients are in hospital, of which 277 are on respirators. 59 people died.

Since February 25, 2020, when the first case was recorded in Croatia, a total of 152,239 people infected have been recorded to date, of which 2,233 have died. A total of 127,882 people recovered, of which 3,443 in the last 24 hours. There are currently 52,764 people in self-isolation.

To date, a total of 816,241 people have been tested, of which 5,356 in the last 24 hours.

"A week ago we had 1830, and 2 weeks ago 1973 new cases, so we are staying at the same numbers. Our incidence rate is 1154 per 100,000 in the last 14 days, which puts us in 26th place of EU countries, and only Luxembourg has a higher incidence rate. We are 14th in terms of mortality, at 515 per million inhabitants.

On Saturday, 136,000 rapid antigen tests were delivered to us. 80,000 were distributed to homes for the elderly. This will assess the epidemiological situation in the homes," the Headquarters revealed at the beginning of the press conference. 

"In the last 24 hours, inspectors carried out 2,042 inspections of business entities, and public gatherings, issued 544 warnings, and one fine of HRK 30,000. They carried out 1,788 inspections, and 265 irregularities were found. Police officers inspected 8,743 facilities, and seven violations of measures were found. 63 citizens who violated self-isolation measures were identified, three criminal charges will be filed," said Davor Bozinovic.

The Headquarters on further restricting customers in stores

"Talks are being held, they are being run very well, and I'm sure this week will bear fruit. There will certainly be some new decision, and it will be adjusted to the size of the store. The numbers are not specified. It could be one person per 10 m2," the Headquarters said.

About easing measures

"A document on easing measures is being drafted. Our average incidence rate is more than a thousand, some figures mentioned in Europe for easing measures are about 15 to 20 times lower. Our incidence is too high to discuss easing measures. It is being considered which measures could be relaxed and at what figures,"  Capak said.

More on this soon.

Source: Index.hr

Illustration by Little Shiva, see more at littleshiva.com

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

ZAGREB, Dec 7, 2020 - The coronavirus epidemic has been weighing on the healthcare budget, with the cost for the HZZO health insurance institute in 2020 expected to amount to one billion kuna, the Jutarnji List daily reports on Monday.

Over a period of only one week, the costs of the health system related to the coronavirus epidemic have risen by a staggering HRK 80.5 million (€10.73 million), and they are expected to be even higher on a weekly basis in the coming period and exceed one billion kuna by the end of the year, the daily says.

According to HZZO data, the total costs related to COVID-19, which cover the costs of testing, treatment and sick-leave allowances, amounted to HRK 258.2 million in the period from February 25 to September 2.

In the last three months, the costs have tripled and on December 4, they totalled HRK 766.3 million.

Considering the epidemiological situation, the growth of costs is as expected, yet their growth rate, as indicated by a weekly analysis, is higher than the one predicted by experts.

In the week between November 20 and 27, COVID-19-related costs grew by around HRK 50 million, and already in the following week they totalled more than HRK 80 million.

In the first six months of the epidemic, the costs for the HZZO totalled HRK 258.2 million, the daily says.

The newspaper collected the latest data over the past three weeks considering that they are updated every Friday, and according to the latest indicators, in the period between the start of September and December 4, the costs grew by as much as HRK 508.1 million.

Both in the first and the second wave of the epidemic, the cost of testing accounted for the largest portion of the total costs, Jutarnji List says.

(€1 = HRK 7.543619)