ZAGREB, October 10, 2020 - A total of 486 coronavirus infections and four fatalities have been registered in the past 24 hours, the national COVID-19 response team said on Saturday.

The number of active cases now stands at 2,662, including 382 people who are hospitalised and of whom 29 are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case of the infection was reported in the country, 19,932 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 317 have died while 16,953 have recovered, including 258 in the last 24 hours.

Currently 12,424 people are self-isolating.

To date, 353,526 people have been tested for the virus, including 4,576 in the last 24 hours.

October 10, 2020 - Are masks mandatory in Croatian gyms from next week? A closer look at the potential new measures as coronavirus cases spike in the country.

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the large increase in new coronavirus cases in Croatia prompted the Headquarters to hold an emergency meeting, and new measures, as they announced, should start early next week. As announced by Krunoslav Capak, it is increasingly likely that we will be obliged to wear masks in all indoor spaces from Monday.

This also applies to gyms, which would not be too surprising for someone who lives in Latin America or other parts of the world, because wearing masks in gyms has been in force elsewhere for some time. 

"Masks indoors are being considered because the spread of the infection has been noticed in many workplaces among colleagues who are in close contact, for example, sharing the same office, and are unable to adhere to physical distance measures," Health Minister Vili Beros told Index.hr.

Miroslav Venus, president of the Croatian Epidemiological Society, points out that lockdown is the worst option.

"Therefore, it is better to wear masks in gyms, because at this moment we have to do everything we can to prevent the closures again," Venus said.

Coach Vladimir Pavlinovic also commented, who agrees with Venus.

"Everything is better than closing fitness centers again, because who knows how long all this will last. Users will get used to it over time. Although masks as a prop will certainly bother and interfere with their breathing, they may also feel nauseous, so they will need to pay attention to the signals sent by their body," Pavlinovic believes.

Wearing a mask when exercising, whether indoors or outdoors, can certainly be demotivating because it is harder to get air during exercise. Still, it also has many advantages, especially when we know that it is impossible to maintain the prescribed social distance of one meter in gyms.

While it may take a few weeks of regular exercise to get used to it, in the end, you will feel more comfortable exercising with a mask, experts say, noting that it is imperative to listen to your own body’s pulse.

If you start feeling dizzy or tired, it is advisable to take a break and remove the mask and, at that point, stop other exercisers. Also, certain medical conditions can make exercising in a mask potentially dangerous, for example, for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease, heart disease, or angina.

In these situations, if your doctor has advised you not to wear a mask during exercise, it is advisable to exercise at home or in an outdoor environment where there is enough ventilation and space to maintain an appropriate social distance. After all, the question arises, is it safe to exercise with a face mask?

"In general, most people certainly exercise while wearing a face mask," says Grayson Wickham, a physical therapist. "You will need to monitor how you feel during exercise and watch for specific symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, tingling, or shortness of breath," warns Wickham.

Over the course of a few weeks, your body will certainly adjust by becoming more efficient at oxygen metabolism, but this will take time.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 9th of October, 2020, Croatia recently recorded 542 newly infected people, and as such there was an extraordinary meeting in the Government, and what moves the national crisis headquarters plans to make was discussed by Professor Alemka Markotic.

Most likely from next week on, masks will be mandatory in all indoor spaces across Croatia, and most likely in some outdoor areas where a lot of people gather together. Krunoslav Capak and Davor Bozinovic said that they would do everything to prevent a new lockdown, but that possibility wasn't entirely ruled out either.

"Nobody is in favour of a new lockdown, we know how difficult this measure is. In the first wave, it was justified, it saved us, now we all have to work to prevent that from happening again,'' said Professor Alemka Markotic.

For those who don't wear masks, Professor Alemka Markotic has one very clear message: "Everyone who doesn't want to understand that this isn't just some stupid virus, those who don't realise that they can endanger others, harm all of us, our health, and ultimately themselves."

Asked whether they should be punished, Professor Alemka Markotic said that they and the entire staff are more for ''endless conversations and persuasions. We think that any person who has any sense can understand what this is all about, especially when they look at recent figures, and that with a normal approach we can get those who don't yet understand what it is about to do so,'' she explained

If that doesn't work, there are other measures, the professor says, but she pointed out that she is convinced that a large number of people are responsible, but they have just relaxed a little too much. The increase in the number of patients could be a big burden on the Croatian health system, which is currently still under control, but if it continues like this, the Zagreb Arena hospital could soon be reactivated.

"The system is still under control, however, a few days of such large numbers in about 10 days will certainly result in a large number of patients. If we take the City of Zagreb, which has had the largest number of patients for a few days now, the capacities we currently have in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and in the Dubrava Clinical Hospital, which is more than half full, won't be enough. The scenes we had when we set up the Zagreb Arena hospital... well, you remember what effect it had on all of us,'' said Markotic.

We will also need to wear masks outdoors in places where a large number of people gather.

Professor Alemka Markotic also noted that she is talking intensively with the representatives of the Church because we will soon have holidays like All Saints' Day. The professor says that they are aware of the seriousness of the situation and that the proposed measures will be accepted and implemented.

"We can definitely expect big numbers in the coming days. In the coming days, we still have a chance to decide whether we're going to be responsible, whether we'll decide on health, on life, for the economy, for a more or less normal life and work and jobs, or we'll decide to be irresponsible and decide on disease and chaos,'' warned the professor, adding that she believes that Croatia's residents will decide for the former and "that we will reverse the game currently led by the virus with 1: 0", reports Dnevnik.hr

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October the 9th, 2020 - Esteemed Croatian scientist Igor Rudan is planning to release yet another book, Prvi val (The First wave), which will offer an expert's take on the unfolding of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic across the world.

When it comes to the topic of coronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, more ''affectionately'' known as ''Rona'', there is a whirlwind of information that you can easily be bombarded with. In the day and age in which we live, there is no excuse not to be informed about, well, just about anything. It's all right there at the tips of our fingers in a way that was impossible to imagine not so long ago.

Everything, however, has a down side, and the negative side of having so much information freely and easily accessible is that human nature tends to cause some to only seek out information which benefits and confirms beliefs they already hold, rather than perhaps open their minds to something new and in some cases - more factual. This sort of dogma leads to an infodemia of sorts, which scientist Igor Rudan has already spoken about extensively in his many texts on the new virus and the pandemic caused by it.

Croatian scientist Igor Rudan is everything but a slacker. Having come to know each other since the outbreak of the ongoing pandemic, I have been consistently impressed at his ability to knuckle down. They say that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life, and I'd dare to suggest this is the case for Rudan, who effortlessly pens texts explaining the ins and outs of not only this virus but of many others, with an enviable ease. These texts could be boring, full of scientific jargon that only a select few might understand, and as such lead more people to come to their own conclusions about the pandemic. Instead, he manages to convey it in a simplistic, interesting, and dare I say even entertaining way which grips the reader with, yet again, apparently very little effort.

One tends to think of scientists and immediately picture Albert Einstein locked away in an office struggling to understand the often superficial reality of the world around him. Quite on the contrary to that image, Croatian scientist Igor Rudan knows how to ''speak to the people'' as it were, very well indeed.

 His texts, which he wrote freely and with care and love, were crucial back when the virus penetrated Croatia's first line of defense and gradually began to spread among the population back in spring. His texts excellently calmed any anxieties, fears, and panic in an educated, easy to understand and compelling manner. Conspiracy theories will always be rife, as will perfectly reasonable people who have different views, but if you want to really understand this virus (in as much as anyone can at the moment), and the way pandemics happen, Rudan is the person to watch and read.

For Croatian speakers, watch Igor Rudan discuss coronavirus back in March this year:

If you're not confident in English and would prefer to read Igor's texts published by Vecernji list on the pandemic and other scientific matters, you can do so by clicking here.

We at TCN were instantly captivated by scientist Igor Rudan's texts when he first began publishing them, entirely at his own will, and I took to translating them, feeling that someone so educated who can still be so down to earth must be heard by the English speaking community who read our portal. You can read his incredible texts in English on his Medium profile here.

He's no stranger to writing books, having already published several. I'd highly recommend reading Zao zrak (Evil air), which is currently only available in Croatian, which discusses health and disease in the 21st century in a way that reaches people in a way that is quite remarkable. That brings me to the point (yes, finally). Of course, that point is English. Rudan, having the type of mind that he has, was quick to understand the need for his extensive and truly impressive works (both articles, longer texts and indeed books) to be available to the English speaking world during this utterly unprecedented time. It is, however, far from the first time that he has dipped his toes into that, having lived for a long time in Edinburgh and having made documentaries in English which excellently discuss survival against the odds. You can view this captivating YouTube series below, with the first video linked:

His next book, which will be translated into English and made widely available to all those for whom the name Igor Rudan is still new, is certain to impress all those who read it. The texts in it, many of which I have worked on, have garnered an enormous level of interest from our readers who were consistently asking when the next one was coming. They too were surprised at how interesting and in depth yet easy they were to follow and they did excellently each and every time a new one was published. Being an English language portal in Croatia, tourism is never far from the surface, and with the endless questions and indeed often confusing instructions issued to would-be travellers back when we knew much less about the virus than we do now, scientist Igor Rudan's texts acted as a calmant of sorts for those wishing to better understand the situation in Croatia, and indeed the world.

If you'd like to learn more about Rudan, click here. You can follow scientist Igor Rudan on his English platforms, you can follow his Twitter, his Medium (linked above), and his English language Facebook page. Keep your eyes peeled for the release of his next book, we'll be certain to provide the update as soon as it can be found on the shelves and online.

ZAGREB, October 9, 2020 - In the last 24 hour, of 4,417 tests performed for coronavirus in Croatia, 457 have returned positive, and there are currently 2,438 active cases, the national COVID-19 crisis management team reported on Friday.

A total of 385 COVID-19 patients are receiving hospital treatment, including 28 who are placed on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, this infectious disease has claimed three more lives, bringing the total number of fatalities to 313.

Since February 25, when Croatia registered its first case of the coronavirus infection, 19,446 people have contracted the disease, and 16,695 people have recovered, including 222 in the last 24 hours.

Currently, 11,729 people are self-isolating.

To date, a total of 348,950 people have been tested for the virus.

October 9, 2020 - The latest travel news during the corona era, as Italy removes Croatia from the red list of countries requiring a negative COVID test to enter the country.

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that according to the information that can be read on the website of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was reported to Slobodna Dalmacija from Milan by Rea Karnincic from Split, who owns the travel agency "Solo Croazia", Croatian citizens can now travel to Italy without a COVID-19 test, which was required from August 12 if they wanted to enter that country.

Specifically, in order to enter Italy, travelers had to bring a COVID test from Croatia not older than 72 hours to enter Italy, or they were required to take the COVID test in Italy within 24 hours of entering the country.

"It is a great thing for everyone in Croatia. Now our people will be able to study in Italy without testing, and also Italians will be able to, say, come to Istria over the weekend and after returning to Italy they will not have to take a test," Rea Karnincic said.

Apart from Croatia, Greece and Malta were removed from Italy's "red list", while Spain was left on the red list, and the whole of France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom were added.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia also confirmed the news on Friday.

"The Ministry of Health of the Italian Republic abolished the obligation to test for all passengers traveling from the Republic of Croatia to Italy on 8 October 2020."

Likewise, all passengers who have stayed or transited in the last 14 in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Spain are required to a) present a negative swab test not older than 72 hours or b) take a swab test within 48 hours after arriving in Italy, says the Ministry.

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ZAGREB, Oct 8, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros on Thursday announced, after a meeting of the Covid response team with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, that decisions on restricting public gatherings and mandatory masks in all closed premises are being prepared in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

"We informed the Prime Minister of the epidemiological situation in Croatia and of new clusters, and we considered new measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus," Beros told reporters after the meeting in Government House.

Being considered are restrictions on public gatherings and mandatory masks in all closed premises and outdoors where close contact with others is unavoidable.

Croatia recorded a record number of 542 new cases of the virus today and one new fatality, while the number of active cases currently is 2,206.

The newest measures need to be applied in addition to the usual measures of physical distance and hygiene, said Beros.

New measures as of next week

The head of the Croatian Institute for Public Health, Krunoslav Capak, announced that the new measures would be in force as of the start of next week.

By the weekend we will prepare new recommendations and decisions and complete talks with our partners such as the Croatian Bishops' Conference and the hospitality sector, he said.

"We will definitely introduce mandatory masks in all closed premises and in the open where close contact is unavoidable," he said.

We are also discussing more frequent and more stringent controls of whether restrictions are being adhered to, underlined Capak.

He added that the Covid response team would do all it can to avoid another lockdown, although that cannot be entirely excluded.

ZAGREB, Oct 8, 2020 - In a comment on the new record high number of 542 coronavirus infections, PM Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that the virus posed a serious threat and that downplaying it resulted in non-compliance with restrictions and irresponsible behaviour, which threatened both public health and the economy.

A record high number of 542 new coronavirus infections were reported in Croatia today, which is the highest single-day number of new infections since the start of the epidemic and the largest jump day-on-day, 179 more new cases than the day before, Plenkovic told the government.

He underlined the importance of trusting scientists and the national COVID-19 response team instead of following "petty political speculation and improvisation in giving people advice."

The onset of cold weather favours the spreading of the virus. Due to such conditions, people will increasingly stay home or indoors, where the probability of infection is higher, he said.

The national COVID-19 response team is therefore taking measures so that we can cope with this biggest challenge in the best possible way, the PM said, underlining the importance of finding a balance between health protection and the functioning of the economy and social life and calling for responsible behaviour.

"We will maintain economic activity, the economy must function, but to make that happen, each one of us needs to be responsible and disciplined. Giving up a little of one's comfort ensures normal work and health. That is the key formula for success in this fight," he said, warning against big gatherings, including family gatherings, and calling for solidarity and respect.

"If we must keep the economy running, we must work, go to school and keep society functioning, and that requires health, so let's make an effort to each give our own contribution," Plenkovic said, calling for contributing to "economic patriotism with responsible behaviour."

Speaking of coronavirus statistics, he said that after the number of new infections was halved from 2,800 to 1,200 in the period from 5 to 20 September, a worrying trend appeared in recent weeks.

In less than ten days, the number of active cases has jumped by 1,000 and it now exceeds 2,200, he said.

The trends are similar in most European countries. For example, in Italy there are more than 60,000 active cases, Germany has 30,000 active cases, Hungary 22,000, Greece 10,000, Austria and Slovakia 9,000 each, Bosnia and Herzegovina 5,500, Montenegro 3,800, Slovenia 2,200, and Serbia 1,800 while Belgium has 100,000 active cases and France 500,000, he said.

Plenkovic noted that more than 36 million people around the globe had contracted the disease and more than a million had died.

The pandemic has been accelerating, on Wednesday alone there were 343,000 new cases, double the number at the end of June. More than 5.6 million people have contracted the disease in Europe and the number of fatalities stands at 228,000, which is more than in the United States, said Plenkovic.

ZAGREB, Oct 8, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros said on Thursday that today's record daily increase in the number of coronavirus infections was somewhat expected since private and public gatherings, where epidemiological measures had not been adhered to, had lately been the main source of infection.

"Public gatherings and large family gatherings, attended by people with mild symptoms of infection, are the most common cause of hotspots developing. (...) There are currently numerous such hotspots in nearly all counties," said Beros.

A similar trend is to be expected in coming days, especially if non-compliance with measures in public space and daily life continues, the minister said.

Not adhering to the measures and ignoring symptoms of respiratory infection is a particularly undesirable behaviour, and it is necessary to behave responsibly in such situations, Beros said.

Croatia today registered a record number of 542 new cases of the coronavirus infection.

Last week, 116 health workers got infected, and 844 are self-isolating.

In the last week, 343 patients have been admitted to hospital, while 255 have been released, so the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals is steadily increasing, Beros said.

ZAGREB, Oct 8, 2020 - Croatia on Thursday registered a record number of 542 new cases of the coronavirus infection, as well as one fatality, and the number of active cases now stands at 2,206, the national COVID-19 management team said on Thursday.

There are 361 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, including 27 who are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when Croatia registered its first case of the coronavirus infection, 18,989 people have contracted the disease, and 310 of them have died, while 16,473 people have recovered, including 165 in the last 24 hours.

Currently, 10,908 people are self-isolating.

To date, a total of 344,533 people have been tested for the virus, 5,939 of whom have been tested over the past 24 hours.

Until now, the record daily high in Croatia was 369 new cases of the infection, registered on September 3.