November 4, 2020 - The Arena Zagreb operating headquarters are ready to receive 100 COVID-19 patients with a mild to initial moderate clinical picture. They will be cared for by 60 nurses and technicians and 18 doctors.

Jutarnji List reports that the Arena will house patients with a milder form of the infection who need rehabilitation before being discharged home, head nurse Snjezana Krpeta told reporters on Tuesday after the presentation of the COVID hospital.

In the beginning, the Arena will be able to accommodate one hundred patients. Still, there is a possibility of expanding the capacity to 290, and it will cover the area of Zagreb and parts of the county.

Krpeta explained that only agreed patients will come to the COVID hospital, which means that the institution that transfers such a patient must arrange the transfer.

Patients will be admitted to the hospital according to a pre-established protocol. Thus, the ambulance that brings the patient to the counter will show their documentation; they will then receive a bar code bracelet, after which they will be picked up at the hospital by a doctor and a nurse who will triage them and place them in a hospital bed.

The center currently has 33 oxygen bottles, two bottles in the intensive care unit, and one in the admission clinic, and in the event of an expansion of the hospital, new staff and equipment are planned.

Krpeta said that KBC Sisters of Charity has currently provided 60 nurses and technicians, logistics that will change oxygen bottles, bring food and water and take away dirty laundry, and all other ancillary activities needed for a functioning COVID hospital.

She explained that people with milder forms of the infection would be accommodated in the hospital, and these are people who are not yet for discharge home but are not for KBC Dubrava either.

"These are mostly older people who still have other comorbidities, internist and surgical patients who have a harder time recovering and then they have extended care and treatment," Krpeta said, adding that these are people who will need basic health care and basic needs, like food and changing because they sweat a lot.

In the ambulance for patients, all needs were taken into account, and the civil protection provided enough disposable bottles of water for each patient. Showering places were provided for people who will not be unwashed or malnourished. Food will be packed in disposable boxes so that it can go to waste after use.

However, before the center opens, the chief sanitary inspector has yet to take a water and air sample.

Krpeta, who will lead the nursing section, claimed that they are fully medically and technically equipped, have enough workforce and necessary materials, including a handy laboratory and a pharmacy, and have 24-hour communication with the parent KBC Sisters of Charity.

The coordinator of the organizational headquarters for the construction of Arena Zagreb, Davor Vagić, said that 18 doctors would work on one hundred beds. Three doctors would be provided by the HV, seven by KBC Sisters of Charity. In comparison, the minister would appoint eight doctors.

Colonel and neurologist Berislav Dalic, who has completed four missions in Afghanistan, said the HV was happy to respond after receiving calls from the Sisters of Charity because they saw they could help with their experiences.

Igor Milić from the Directorate of Civil Protection said that everything needed by health professionals from the non-medical work is provided with colleagues from the Armed Forces. 

Minister of Health Vili Beroš said that the Arena would not be a health facility but an auxiliary health institution that will relieve the health system.

He thought about the idea and role of the Arena as a tertiary center, he said, with comparative analyzes of what was happening in the surrounding countries and reflections on what could happen in Croatia.

He explained that they are trying to think ahead and be a step, if possible, in front of this threat, and expressed hope that the Arena will not be operational, although now the numbers are much more serious, and it may be filled with patients.

He also pointed out that each of us can contribute to the Arena's capacity to be filled as little as possible.

The coordinator of the organizational headquarters for the construction of Arena Zagreb, Davor Vagić, thanked his team for making it possible in an incredibly short time, the civil protection and the Croatian Army, which participates logistically and with the work of medical staff.

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

November the 4th, 2020 - We recently wrote about the introduction of rapid coronavirus testing which has become available at three separate Zagreb locations. Now that things have officially ''kicked off'' with this rapid coronavirus testing process, let's take a look at the Croatian prices, regulations and procedures involved.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the assistant Director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Marija Bubas, PhD, was recently a guest of the show "Good Morning Croatia/Dobro Jutro Hrvatska" on HRT, during which she commented on how things were going with the new rapid coronavirus tests which are now available to the public. She explained that antigen testing is fast, but that the people who will be tested in this way will not see any difference in the process themselves. She added that they will be sampled as before by conducting a PCR test and the testee will receive their result by e-mail.

Bubas said that for testing at the Rockefellerova 2 location, ie in the Croatian Institute of Public Health, people must book in advance online. She stressed that doctors will decide based on the presented symptoms of the new coronavirus who will get to have a rapid test, and which people will get the classic PCR test. She added that all negative results from antigen testing will be repeated by taking a sample with the classic PCR test.

What about Croatian prices for this new rapid testing for SARS-CoV-2?

The assistant director of the CNIPH said that the price for a quick test is around one hundred kuna. "I don't know the exact amount at the moment, but it will be found out during the day," she said.

Testing with a quick antigen test will be possible in Rockefellerova, and in a few days at the Andrija Stampar Institute. In certain health systems and in certain circumstances, these tests aren't new, as they've already been being used in the Sveti Duh Hospital and at the Clinic for Children's Diseases in Klaiceva, as well as at the Dr. Fran Mihaljevic Clinic for Infectious Diseases.

Bubas said that all people who come for testing should adhere to the prescribed epidemiological measures and should answer questions responsibly and honestly. "If we adhere to the measures, in three to four weeks we will have lower numbers than we've had over recent days,'' she concluded.

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ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - PM Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday that his government did have a strategy to fight coronavirus and that it was yielding results, noting that the opposition Social Democratic Party was challenging the constitutionality and legality of the government's and the COVID-19 response team's work.

"We do have a strategy and it is yielding results. The Opposition wants to impose on us the topic of a curfew and an extremely restrictive lockdown with the clear political agenda of criticising us already tomorrow that we have additionally restricted human rights or have caused even bigger economic or financial damage," Plenkovic told reporters in the parliament, adding that the government would not fall for that or make the mistakes someone would want it to make.

He underlined that since February the SDP had been challenging the constitutionality and legality of the government's and the COVID-19 response team's actions.

"That operation is still underway and some still regret that the Constitutional Court did not rule as they had hoped it would," he said.

He added that the SDP's second goal was to question the government's ability to secure the necessary protective equipment for the health system, noting that his government was the one to secure that equipment, including through his direct talks with the Chinese prime minister.

Plenkovic also recalled that the SDP had announced an economic collapse, the loss of jobs and the collapse of the budget.

"Unlike them, we, who do not 'have a strategy', have invested HRK 8.1 billion to retain jobs in the private sector... and we have provided financing for companies to weather this difficult economic situation, through HBOR or HAMAG," he said, adding that the government had also made it possible for civil servants and public sector workers to continue receiving their wages and pensioners to continue receiving pensions.

We have made it possible for the budget to function and secured a financial lever for Croatia for the next ten years in the amount of €24.2 billion, said the PM.

Asked to comment on today's protest of medical staff at Zagreb's KB Dubrava hospital, which has been converted into a COVID-19 hospital, Plenkovic said that the hospital had been converted into a hospital for coronavirus patients because it was the best and most modern hospital in Zagreb, with the best technical conditions.

He said that he did not believe that conditions in the hospital are inhumane and noted that he had asked Health Minister Vili Beros to investigate the situation and report back to him.

ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - All European Union citizens, including Croatian citizens who want to be vaccinated, will be vaccinated, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said while presenting a report on European Council meetings to the Sabor on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister informed lawmakers of European Council meetings held in October in Brussels and of an informal meeting last Thursday. The main topic was the coronavirus pandemic.

He underlined that the main "solution" to the pandemic is a vaccine and that once it is approved, it will be available to all Croatian citizens.

A few vaccines are in the final stages of testing and whichever one the European Medicines Agency approves as "efficient and safe", a sufficient quantity will be ensured for Croatian citizens, Plenkovic stressed and added that efforts were being made to make sure the vaccine has an acceptable price for everyone.

He said that the European Commission has recommended a European framework for antigen tests that will be mutually recognised, which currently is not always the case.

The Commission also advocates a mobile application to trace contacts via a common operating system and Croatia is in the process of joining that initiative, he added.

Plenkovic recalled that the government is preparing a national recovery programme and that a draft should be finished in a month or two.

Digital transformation

The main topics during European Council meetings in October were climate change, sustainable development and digital transformation, said Plenkovic.

He warned that the pandemic will have lasting consequences for European and global economies and that it is necessary to restore as soon as possible the normal functioning of the single market.

EU leaders emphasised the importance of a greener and more competitive economy and digital transformation "in the service of citizens," said Plenkovic.

There was also talk of 5G technology and artificial intelligence. "These are topics that have political, legal, social and ethical implications," he underscored.

It was concluded that "potential suppliers of 5G technology need to be evaluated based on common, objective criteria."

Climate change 

Plenkovic said that it is necessary to "increase ambitions for the coming decade" and instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, reduce them by 50%.

"That is of the greatest importance for the future of our continent," he said.

The European Council also discussed China, the protests in Belarus, and the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he added.

Plenkovic once again condemned the terrorist attacks in France and Austria and expressed solidarity with those countries.

ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Pedja Grbin said in parliament on Tuesday that the only way to avoid a lockdown in Croatia is with a systematic strategy, which the country does not have.

"We cannot avoid it spontaneously but with a systematic strategy, a model that will have checkpoints, transition times, a model that foresees how the situation will develop and an implementable operational programme...Is the government prepared to adopt and implement such a programme?" Grbin asked during Question Time in the Sabor.

He believes that Croatia does not need a new lockdown as that would be destructive, but it is necessary to talk and think about it considering that a number of countries have already gone into lockdown.

"There is no strategy. It does not exist. Measures are being adopted ad hoc, with the most stringent one being the ban on serving alcohol after midnight. There is talk of a tidal wave of patients but we do not have a strategy in case the numbers increase," said Grbin.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic did not agree that there is no strategy. "You consider the strategy that we have been implementing since February as improvisation. That is not the case," said Plenkovic.

"We will not fall into media and political traps that we are heading towards a lockdown and curfew that will restrict rights and cause economic damage that will not affect the dynamics of the disease spreading. We will avoid that and that is the objective of our policy," said Plenkovic. 

Asked by MP Bojan Glavasevic about the attack in St. Mark's Square and the announced fight against hate speech and extremism, Plenkovic siad that the armed attack on Government House had crossed  the line.

"Imagine that after the decapitation of that teacher in France and yesterday's attack in Vienna certain political figures said that that occurred as a result of the general political situation and as a sign of rebellion," said Plenkovic and added that a document is being prepared by the coordinating body for homeland security with a series of recommended measures in the fight against radicalisation and extremism.

Agriculture Minister Marija Vuckovic said that Croatia's food supplies are not threatened during the epidemic, underlining that supplies are functioning well and production has been maintained.

ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - During Question Time in the Sabor on Tuesday, referring to the situation at the Dubrava Hospital, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that he believes in the quality, expertise and professionalism at the hospital and that it is necessary to differentiate between the picture on the Internet and the real situation.

"I believe in the quality, expertise and professionalism of all the staff at KB Dubrava and in the decisions that will enable the hospital's efficient functioning and quality health care," Plenkovic said responding to a question by MP Mirela Ahmetovic (SDP) who claimed that the hospital was in chaos, disorganised and falling apart.

"We will make a clear distinction between the perception that is circulating on social networks, on the Internet, and the real picture of the situation in that respectable health institution. (Health) Minister Beros and all those responsible have the duty to ensure that anyone who comes to KB Dubrava receives adequate care at the highest possible level," said Plenkovic.

Ahmetovic was not satisfied with his answer, claiming that the results of the Croatian Democratic Union in government can be seen in KB Dubrava.

"Dubrava doesn't even have a decent generator. The generator of this situation exists, and that is you as the sponsor of this grotesque system, which is why the health system is falling apart now when it is most needed. Who is to blame for that? Corruption, Mr Plenkovic," claimed Ahmetovic.

Replying to lawmakers' questions, Health Minister Vili Beros said that he agrees that it is necessary to resolve the problem of employing interns in healthcare.

Access to health treatment by chronically ill and oncology patients 

As far as accessibility to the health system for chronically ill and oncology patients is concerned, Beros said that this extreme situation requires a different way of providing health protection. However we are endeavouring to do what we can so that sufficient care is available to whoever needs it, he added.

ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - A new protest rally by hospital staff was held outside the KB Dubrava Hospital in Zagreb on Tuesday following a decision by the hospital's administration to convert the entire hospital to treat COVID patients only.

Following a protest rally on Friday, several dozen doctors, nurses and carers protested once again on Tuesday outside the hospital, because patients in Zagreb's eastern suburbs would be left without an emergency service that caters to a population of about 350,000.

They called on Health Minister Vili Beros to once again reconsider his decision to turn KB Dubrava hospital into a facility to treat Covid patients only.

Assistant director at the hospital Josip Curic read a proclamation on behalf of the protesting staff.

The proclamation underlines that patients are being treated in inadequate premises without proper electricity installations and with donated ventilators that are old and that patients in the eastern suburbs will be left without emergency and acute care services.

The hospital building is the only health institution in Zagreb and Zagreb County that is sound enough to withstand even the strongest earthquake and that is why the hospital should be treated as a location where all groups of citizens can be given medical attention at any given moment, Curic said.

Newly-appointed president of the hospital's Administrative Committee Silvio Basic, who is also a state-secretary in the Health Ministry, during the protest on Friday confirmed that all patients who are not infected with Covid would be transferred from Dubrava Hospital to other hospitals in Zagreb and that an additional 200 beds had been secured for Covid patients.

Basic added that there was the sufficient number of medical professionals and sufficient ventilators at the hospital.

During today's protest Dr. Antonija Djuzel expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that oncology patients will not be treated at Dubrava Hospital. "The public has to know - beds do not heal people. People heal people," she said.

ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - Addressing the parliament during Question Time on Tuesday, Minister Vili Beros said that the Croatian healthcare system was being successfully adapted to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic.

"We have 20,000 hospital beds, including 14,460 acute care beds and more than 1,450 intensive care beds," the health minister said.

We also have a relatively sufficient number of specialists, there are more than 1,190 infectious disease specialists, 1,439 internists, 915 anesthesiologists, 182 pulmonologists and we are trying to distribute them so as to respond to the current circumstances, the minister said.

He said that "the formula is clear: if we have 2,500 new cases of the coronavirus infection per day, and if we can forecast that 10% of them will need hospitalisation, we have the necessary number of beds, it only remains to be seen how they will be distributed."

We are braced for higher numbers, and we will do our utmost to be adjusted to the new circumstances, the minister said while reassuring lawmakers about the preparedness of the healthcare system. 

Beros said that there was also the sufficient number of ventilators.

In response to criticism from the Opposition, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic reiterated that all the actions taken by the government and the COVID-19 crisis management team were in compliance with the law and the Constitution and were conducted to contain the epidemic.

He recalled that also during the summer, that is between 23 May and 16 June, when Croatia had a mere 12 infected persons, the Opposition also questioned the constitutionality of the crisis management team and wondered whether there would be enough protective gears.

ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - The Croatian Parliamentstarted its new, 4th session on Tuesday adhering to special epidemiological measures.

At the beginning of Question Time, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic asked lawmakers to be responsible and show solidarity to each other so that they can do their job properly.

Due to measures of protection against coronavirus, some deputies will sit in the Grand Chamber while others will be dispersed in five other meeting rooms. Also, those who are coronavirus positive or in self-isolation will participate in debates via video-link.

In an effort to minimise the possibility of the infection spreading, the parliament will have a 10-minute-long break every two hours so the chamber and meeting rooms can be aired out.

Lawmakers first defined the agenda which contains almost 80 issues, prior to opening Question Time, for which 39 parliamentarians have submitted their questions to government members.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will present an annual report to the parliament on Wednesday and a day later the budget revision is expected to be debated.

ZAGREB, Nov 3, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, 7,013 coronavirus tests have been performed and 20% of them, that is 1,427, have returned positive, while 34 COVID patients have died, Croatia's COVID-19 crisis management team reported on Tuesday.

In the last 24 hours, there have been 2,048 recoveries, and currently there are 14,079 active cases, including 1,191 patients who are receiving hospital treatment. Of them, 112 are placed on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 54,087 people have been infected with the novel virus, of whom 628 have died and 39,380 have recovered.

Currently, 26,888 persons are in self-isolation. To date, 514,176 people have been tested.