Zagreb, Nov 30, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has tested positive for coronavirus, government spokesman Marko Milic said on Monday evening.

Following recommendations by epidemiologists, the prime minister did another test for coronavirus on Monday and his result is positive, the spokesman said.

Plenkovic was earlier ordered to self-isolate because his wife had tested positive for the novel virus, and now he will have to spend 10 days in isolation.

"The prime minister feels well. He performs his duties from home and will continue to follow instructions from doctors and epidemiologists,"  Milic said.

The news comes as Croatia has announced changes to the rules on those entering the country, with travellers coming from a non-green EU zone now required to have a negative PCR test or face self-isolation. 

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November 30, 2020 - Croatia announces new border rules for travelers coming into the country. 

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY THAT IS BEING UPDATED AS WE RECEIVE CONFIRMATION 

Index.hr reports that at today's government session, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic announced new measures at the borders.

"A new decision has been made on border crossings, and it is tied to European regions. Passengers coming from EU green areas do not need a PCR test or any other condition to enter Croatia. All others need a negative PCR test that is not older than 48 hours or they can be tested on arrival in Croatia and await their test result in self-isolation. 

But at the moment, the only green region in the EU is the island of Fasta in Finland," Bozinovic said.

The new rule also applies to Croatian citizens. 

The new set of rules combines two criteria for entering Croatia: the citizenship of the traveler, and where they've been prior to arriving in Croatia. So, anyone coming from the ECDC-defined "Green Area", no matter what their passport is, are allowed to enter freely. However, those arriving at the Croatian borders from elsewhere in the EU will need to present the negative PCR test, not older than 48 hours (or self-isolate in Croatia until they get tested). EU citizens + Schengen + visa/residence permit holders in the EU countries are allowed to enter Croatia from any third country if they have a negative PCR test (or self-isolate in Croatia until they get tested here). Travelers arriving from the countries on the EU safe list are allowed to enter Croatia freely without a test if they can prove they haven't spent any time in other countries, rather just transited through them. 

Third-country nationals arriving from elsewhere, not the EU, can enter Croatia if they present a negative PCR test (or self-isolate in Croatia until they get tested here) AND are coming to Croatia as sailors, or for personal/family reasons or business. 

Entry without a negative PCR test for EU citizens is allowed, for example, for seafarers and workers in the transport sector, transport providers, diplomats, staff of international organizations, persons traveling for urgent reasons, passengers in transit with the obligation to leave the country within 12 hours and patients traveling for necessary health reasons. 

Border health workers, pupils, students, and interns who travel every day do not have to have a negative PCR test, provided that they do not stay inside or outside Croatia for more than 12 hours.

Odluka o Privremenoj Zabran... by Antonija Petkovic

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

ZAGREB, November 30, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros wrote on Monday on Facebook that he had recovered from the coronavirus infection and that he was working in his office again, calling on citizens to comply with anti-coronavirus restrictions.

In the first week of the new anti-COVID measures, the minister said that no sacrifice was too great to protect health and lives.

"We are denying ourselves a lot, but I believe this will result in fewer infections and deaths," Beros wrote, expressing gratitude to health workers for their self-sacrificing work.

Beros said on November 19 that he was positive, and two days later he said that he had probably got infected at the ministry despite the fact that he had been trying to protect himself.

November 30, 2020 - At today's government session, which Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic led from home in self-isolation, the fines for violating measures in Croatia were announced. They have yet to be confirmed by parliament.

Index.hr reports that Minister Beros read the proposal of new fines. Thus, a natural person can be fined HRK 500 for non-compliance with the prescribed measures, i.e. the obligation to properly wear a face mask or medical mask.

A fine of HRK 5,000 to 10,000 is prescribed for the owner of private property if they organize or allow a private gathering against the provisions of the law.

Bozinovic also announced new measures at the borders, and Maric, Aladrovic, and Coric presented new measures to help entrepreneurs.

In the beginning, Plenkovic expressed regret over the incident in Vukovar.

"As for the pandemic, the numbers are still high today. Unfortunately, 74 people have died, the most so far, due to the high numbers in recent weeks. We are still in a very serious phase of the epidemic, I call everyone to be responsible, so we have taken restrictive measures," he said.

He then said he would discuss amending the Infectious Diseases Protection Act so that fines for individuals could be defined.

"We have based our fight against coronavirus on trust between citizens and the state. We are convinced that most fellow citizens understand the circumstances, but we also think that such a tool is necessary given that certain irresponsible individuals endanger the health of others. That is why we will propose changes to the law to the parliament," said Plenkovic, who chaired the government session via a video link from self-isolation.

Furthermore, Plenkovic revealed details of new measures for entrepreneurs.

"The new package of measures to help the part of the economy whose activities have been suspended because of COVID-19 will amount to HRK 2.1 billion, and will include subsidies for salaries, fixed costs and COVID loans," said Plenkovic.

These measures, he said, are in line with the policy of preserving jobs in the private sector. He claimed that the government has so far preserved 630,000 jobs and helped 107,000 companies, paying a total of HRK 7.4 billion.

He announced the continuation of support of HRK 4,000 for workers' salaries during the suspension of operations, with the exemption from paying contributions. This is a total net amount of HRK 320 million, and when the contributions are added up, it is HRK 470 million.

The government will also cover part or all of the fixed costs during the suspension of the sectors affected by the measures, if their turnover in December falls by at least 60 percent compared to last December. According to government estimates, the measure should cost HRK 250 million. In addition, he added, in cooperation with HAMAG-BICRO, a new package of COVID loans was prepared in the total amount of HRK 1.3 billion.

"We base our support for the private sector on these three points, i.e., those affected by the anti-epidemic measures currently in force. All in all, the package will amount to HRK 2.1 billion," Plenkovic said.

"In this way, the government meets the needs of the economy, entrepreneurs and employees and strives, as before, to help citizens, the economy and entrepreneurs in the very specific year of 2020," he added.

Minister Beros read the statistics on the number infected.

"The Ministry of Health called on the Headquarters to submit amended plans for the care of people suffering from COVID-19, as well as a notification on additional care," Beros said.

“Everything we do will not yield results if the personal responsibility of each individual remains,” he said, adding that the HQ’s measures are there for a reason.

Bozinovic reiterated the latest measures taken this weekend.

"As far as supervision is concerned, inspectors and the police have made over 4,000 inspections, they have issued 605 warnings. Forty-four misdemeanor orders have been or will be submitted," Bozinovic read.

"A new decision has been made on border crossings, and it is tied to European regions. Passengers coming from EU green areas do not need a PCR test or any other condition to enter Croatia. All others need a negative PCR test that is not older than 48 hours or are tested on arrival in Croatia and in self-isolation to await the test result.

But at the moment, the only green region in the EU is the island of Fasta in Finland," Bozinovic said.

“As for third-country nationals, they can cross the border with a negative PCR test,” he said. "EU citizens coming from third countries can enter Croatia with a negative PCR test," Bozinovic added.

Entry without a negative PCR test for EU citizens is allowed, for example, for seafarers and workers in the transport sector, transport providers, diplomats, staff of international organizations, persons traveling for urgent reasons, passengers in transit with the obligation to leave the country within 12 hours and patients traveling for necessary health reasons.

Border health workers, pupils, students and interns who travel every day do not have to have a negative PCR test, provided that they do not stay inside or outside Croatia for more than 12 hours.

Beros continued on fines for violating the measures.

"The bill prescribes a new security measure of the obligation to wear a face mask or medical mask properly, a ban or restriction on holding public events and gatherings, and a ban or restriction on holding private gatherings," Beros said at the government session.

The amendment to the law points out that according to the current course of COVID-19, the need to properly wear face masks or medical masks so as to cover the mouth and nose is unequivocally indicated, which reduces the possible risk of transmission. Proper use of masks is most important when people are indoors and when social distancing is difficult to implement or maintain.

The bill stipulates that the implementation of supervision over the application of safety measures for the protection of the population from infectious diseases is also carried out by police officers, inspectors of state administration bodies responsible for civil protection, inspectors of the State Inspectorate and inspectors of other state administration bodies.

Also, a fine for misdemeanors is prescribed for legal entities in the amount of HRK 10,000 to HRK 40,000 in case of non-compliance with measures prescribed by law, i.e., if they do not respect the ban or restriction on holding public events and gatherings or disrespect the ban or restriction on private gatherings.

A fine of HRK 5,000 to 10,000 is prescribed for misdemeanors of a responsible person in a legal entity, as well as craftspeople and natural persons who perform other independent activities.

For a misdemeanor of a natural person, a fine of HRK 500 is prescribed in case of non-compliance with the prescribed measures, or the obligation to properly wear a face mask or medical mask.

A fine of HRK 5,000 to 10,000 is prescribed for the private property owner if they organize or allow a private gathering against the provisions of the law.

Also, the provision on collecting fines at the place where the misdemeanor was committed is changed in accordance with the provisions of the Misdemeanor Law. Thus, the fine may be collected at the place where the offense was committed by a person authorized to supervise the implementation of safety measures to protect the population from infectious diseases.

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

ZAGREB, Nov 30, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours, Croatia has registered 1,830 new cases of the coronavirus infection and a record number of 74 deaths linked to the infection, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Monday.

The number of active cases in Croatia stands at 21,457. There are 2,358 COVID patients in hospital, including 255 on ventilators.

Since February 25, when Croatia registered its first case of the infection, a total of 128,442 people have contracted coronavirus, 1,786 of them have died, and 105,199 have recovered, including 3,361 in the last 24 hours, according to a tally kept by the COVID-19 crisis management team.

Currently, 46,802 people are self-isolating.

To date, 749,346 people have been tested for coronavirus, including 5,027 over the past 24 hours.

ZAGREB, November 30, 2020 - Former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Monday called for solidarity in the struggle against COVID-19 pandemic, and underscored the importance of vaccines to immunise the population.

"I believe that it is not easy to those who make decisions on (anti-COVID) measures, since it is necessary to strike a balance between the public health and economic implications. One should make it clear that all this is not about measures but it concerns the responsibility of individuals and the general public. No measure can be successful unless it is respected by citizens," said Grabar-Kitarovic, a member of the International Olympic Committee, before the start of a conference on investments in sports, which is taking place in Zagreb.

She called for the compliance with the measures and for solidarity with those who are at the highest risk of infection.

Considering the matter of vaccination, she said that she and her family would get jabs as soon as it could be possible.

Asked by the press whether she trusted the national COVID-19 crisis management team, Grabar-Kitarovic answered in the affirmative and called for following advice given by experts. 

November 30, 2020 - Brac olive oil producers are coming together during the holiday season to show their appreciation for Croatian hospital workers. 

Morski.hr reports that Brac olive oil producers have decided to lighten the mood in these difficult times with one admirable humanitarian gesture. Thus, they have decided to offer the most precious thing they have, the fruit of their labor - olive oil - to the diligent employees of Croatian hospitals.

"In order to make the holiday season more cheerful, a humanitarian action was launched where Brac citizens can donate their olive oil to the Clinical Hospital Centers in Croatia, or to the hardworking people who work in them, especially in these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. All towns on the island of Brac are included in the action, and the coordination is taken over by the Tourist Boards," announced the Municipality of Bol Tourist Board.

"If you want to participate in this humanitarian action 'Brac oil for hardworking people' (or in the Brac dialect, 'Bročko uje za vridne jude'), please bring the amount of olive oil you would like to donate (minimum 1 liter) to the Tourist Board of Bol office, from Monday, November 30, 2020, to Friday, December 4, 2020, from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.

It would be best if the oil is packaged in glass, but it is not necessary. Place your labels on the packaging, and if you don't have any, the children from the "Little Prince" Kindergarten will draw them for you for this occasion.

After the collection is completed, olive oil will be distributed to the Clinical Hospital Centers in Croatia, and we will of course inform you about the exact destinations and quantities.

Let our oil bring joy and make the holidays more beautiful for all who care about our health and to all who, unfortunately, will spend these holidays separated from their loved ones," said the Bol Tourist Board.

"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who will respond to this truly commendable action!"

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

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 30th of November, 2020, today, rapid antigen tests will be conducted for the first time in Zagreb schools. The institutions in which the testing will be carried out will be both primary and secondary schools.

Iva Milardovic Stimac, assistant head of the Education Office of the City of Zagreb, said that the City of Zagreb wants to conduct a short preliminary or pilot study on the presence of coronavirus in Zagreb schools among students and staff. The testing will be conducted in fifteen schools.

"Today it is time to test in three Zagreb schools. 587 students and staff will be tested. Negative results won't seek to be further confirmed by a PCR test, and positive ones will need to go on to be confirmed again by a PCR test,'' said Milardovic Stimac in conversation with HRT.

“The City of Zagreb, in cooperation with the Dr. Andrija Stampar Institute and the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Medicine, will conduct a preliminary study on the prevalence of coronavirus among students and employees of primary and secondary schools across the City of Zagreb.

Testing with rapid antigen tests will be conducted by employees of the Dr. Andrija Stampar Institute from November the 30th to December the 4th, 2020, in fifteen schools in the City of Zagreb. In each of these fiftee Zagreb schools, eight of them primary and seven of them secondary schools, 120 students will be tested with the prior consent of their parents, as well as 20 employees who will be chosen by random selection.

The aim of this testing is to obtain information on the presence of the virus in Zagreb schools on a representative sample, on the basis of which further epidemiological measures will be determined in the schools of the City of Zagreb,'' she wrote.

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November 30, 2020 - Drive-in COVID-19 testing begins at Split Ferry Port this morning. A closer look into opening day.

Drive-in COVID-10 testing has begun at the Split Ferry Port on the external berth for cruisers.

Dalmatinski Portal reported that on opening morning, there were no significant crowds (yet). Cars enter from the east where they form a row and wait in line. A pedestrian passage is provided for walk-ins on the north side. Ferry port workers are on hand to assist with instructions.

Citizens started arriving at 7 am, and even before the testing began, over 20 cars were waiting in line. By the way, there are two queues for testing, one where you come by car, the other where citizens can come on foot.

The new testing center is open from 7 am to 1 pm, the Split-Dalmatia County Civil Protection Headquarters announced on Sunday. 

Drive-in COVID-19 testing is available to patients who have ordered tests exclusively online with a referral.

Testing from Križine Hospital has been transferred to the Split Ferry Port, so there will be no testing at Križine as of Monday, T.portal added.

Slobodna Dalamacija reports that many Split residents continued coming to Križine for testing, even though they were informed not to.

"Everyone who has been referred through their family doctors must go to the City Port for testing. But many did not listen and came to NZJZ where a huge crowd was created," said Željka Karin, director of NZJZ.

Sources: Dalmatinski Portal, Dalmacija Danas, T.portal 

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

ZAGREB, November 29, 2020 - The head of the prime minister's office, Zvonimir Frka-Petesic, said on Sunday PM Andrej Plenkovic was self-isolating from his wife, who has coronavirus, and their children, adding that he had no symptoms, was continuing to do his job and that the government was working normally.

Plenkovic has been self-isolating since Saturday, when his wife tested positive. His test came back negative.

"The government is working normally. This morning we had two meetings via video link," Frka-Petesic told the press.

He said the prime minister would participate in Monday's cabinet meeting via video link and that as far as he knew, nothing would be cancelled and that all meetings would be virtual.

Asked if the prime minister would get tested again, he said he would when epidemiologists decided that it was necessary.

Vukovar incident condemned

Frka-Petesic also commented on an incident which occurred in a Vukovar bar in the early hours of Saturday, involving the state secretary at the Veterans Ministry, Stjepan Sucic, who violated anti-COVID measures.

"Of course we condemn such an unfortunate event. We regret that something like that happened at a time when epidemiological measures have been prescribed for all of us. There can be no excuse for violating them, notably by government officials who must lead by example," he said, adding that the cabinet would discuss the matter on Monday and "adopt the appropriate decisions."

Asked if Sucic would be sacked, Frka-Petesic it would be considered tomorrow.

He denied that the government had intervened with the Vukovar police station last night. "I know nothing about that. This is a very suggestive question. I don't believe something like that is possible."

Police found Sucic and several other persons in a Vukovar bar in the early hours of Saturday, just after a ban on the work of hospitality establishments went into force. County police said yesterday that two men were arrested for disorderly conduct. Media reported that one of them was Sucic and the other the director of the Homeland War Memorial Centre in Vukovar, Krunoslav Seremet.