Mach 13, 2020 - Valamar, the largest hotel company in Croatia, has decided to temporarily close its hotels in Porec, Rabac, and Dubrovnik due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Valamar decided to close its hotels in Porec, Rabac, and Dubrovnik temporarily, following the recommendation of the competent authorities and the decision of the County of Istria, which restricted public gatherings, closed schools and kindergartens and restricted use of public spaces, reports Index.hr and T.portal.

The Valamar Riveria Administration's statement is transmitted below in its entirety:

"Following the recommendations of the competent authorities and the decision of the County of Istria, which restricted public gatherings, closed schools and kindergartens and restricted the use of public spaces, Valamar decided to temporarily close the Diamond Hotel in Porec and Sanfior in Rabac. After the crisis headquarters stepped up border controls yesterday for nationals of Germany, Austria and other countries, we also decided to close the Lacroma and Argosy hotels in Dubrovnik.

There is no suspicion or occurrence of COVID-19 in Valamar hotels, but we are not able to provide the guests with the desired level of security, quality of service and experience of the destination in this situation. Given the closure of the schools and kindergartens, we have decided to stand behind our parents first and foremost, so Valamar employees will be on a collective vacation until the end of March. We believe that the National Headquarters is managing this unusual situation very well and it is only responsible to follow their recommendations and decisions with the common goal of preventing this as much as possible.

Tourism is a very important industry, so Valamar will continue to work closely with the competent authorities so that we can continue with preparations for the tourist season as soon as possible.”

The number of cases of coronavirus in Croatia rose from 27 to 31 overnight, Health Minister Vili Beros announced at a 9 am press conference in Zagreb.

There were two new cases in Istria, bringing the total there to 6, and two more in Zagreb, bringing the total to 12. the two Zagreb patients were from the close circle of existing patients, while one of the Istrian cases had returned from Italy, and the other had been in contact with someone from Zagreb who had returned to Switzerland. 

In addition to the daily TCN briefing, you can follow all aspects of TCN's coronavirus coverage in the dedicated COVID-19 section by clicking here. 

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 13, 2020 - There are 32 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Information on countries and areas under travel restrictions for passengers arriving in Croatia can be found here (courtesy of Croatia Airlines and updated March 12).

New Information for Passengers Entering Croatia

1) All foreign nationals entering the Republic of Croatia having visited the following countries/territories in the previous 14 days:

• Italy
• Iran
• China (Hubei province)
• South Korea (Daegu city and Cheongdo province)
• Germany (Heinsberg county in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia)

will be subject to compulsory 14-day quarantine at their own expense.

2) All foreign nationals entering the Republic of Croatia having visited the following countries/territories in the previous 14 days:

• France
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Spain
• Germany (except area listed above)
• Austria
• Great Britain
• Netherlands
• China (except area listed above)
• South Korea (except area listed abouve)
• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Bahrein
• Slovenia (area Bela Krajina)

will be subject to compulsory 14-day self-imposed isolation. Foreign nationals that do not have residence in the Republic of Croatia must have evidence of booked accommodation.

3) All Croatian citizens entering the Republic of Croatia who have visited countries/areas listed in 1) and 2) will be subject to compulsory 14-day self-imposed isolation/quarantine.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Thirty-Two Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 13, 2020; thirty-two coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 13 in Zagreb, 8 in Rijeka, 4 in Varaždin, 6 in Pula and 1 in Petrinja (Numbers on map updated).

• The first patient from Zagreb became infected during his stay in Italy. The two other patients are close contacts. The fourth patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria. The fifth patient is a hairdresser and recently came back from a conference in Munich. Five new cases were confirmed Wednesday and Thursday and returned from trips to Austria and Germany. Three more cases were confirmed on Friday: a child, a soldier and a contact of the soldier.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during his stay in Italy. Several other patients had contact with the first patient. The total number of cases is now eight.
• The first patient from Varaždin spent time in Italy. The second case is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth cases are close contacts of the driver.
• Six patients in Pula had returned from Italy.
• The first confirmed patient from Petrinja  returned from Italy.

More than 5,397 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 144,078 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 63,263 cases outside of mainland China and 17,660 in Italy. 

UPDATED: March 13, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Update

The daily press conference of the National Headquarters for Civil Protection was held at 16:00 CET. Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros reported a new case of the coronavirus. Another coronavirus case was detected as of this morning, so there are now 32 cases in Croatia.

Still No Signs of Local COVID-19 Transmission

"He is close contact with an earlier infected person, we still have no signs of local transmission," Beros noted. He added that 553 samples are currently undergoing tests, 15 are awaiting results and 5991 people are being monitored.

Director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" Alemka Markotic said the new infected person had mild symptoms.

"All other recommendations remain, control and self-discipline are essential for us to tackle this (outbreak) together," she added.

At the conference, they also said that the police were investigating whether a person who had been at Klaiceva (Children’s Hospital Zagreb) although they had the coronavirus. However, because of their state of health, the investigation was not completed.

Barracks at Črnomerec Closed Due to Surveillance

Index learned today that the barracks at Črnomerec were closed for several hours, no one was permitted to leave, and an epidemiological surveillance was carried out.

"No soldiers have the coronavirus, however the contact of one of the soldiers is coronavirus positive. No quarantine was introduced at the barracks at Crnomerc, but an epidemiological service is in progress. They are conducting all scans to see if a coronavirus positive contact with people in the barracks, "HZJZ Director Krunoslav Capak told Index. There are hundreds of soldiers and staff in the barracks at Črnomerec.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

(Updates provided by Index)

17:15 - Recommendations for nightclubs in Zagreb have been published.

17:05 - A statement was issued from Klaiceva stating that people should behave appropriately. The day before yesterday, a man with the coronavirus came with a baby.

17:00 - Croatia Airlines cancels numerous flights.

16:33 - In a statement, the City of Zagreb announced that one child from kindergarten was infected.

"It has been confirmed that a coronavirus has infected one child from a kindergarten in Zagreb. The decision was made to close the facility for 14 days, and that 119 children must go into self-isolation, as well as 16 employees are obligated to take," the statement read.

16:23 - A part of the media reported that the first child infected with coronavirus has been reported in Croatia. At a press conference, they did not want to confirm this by calling for the privacy of the infected family. It is reportedly a kindergarten child.

16:20 - At the press conference at 16:00 CET, it was announced that another coronavirus-positive person was in Croatia. One soldier was also confirmed to be infected.

15:15 - Pavle Kalinic commented on Milanovic's statement about panic and going to shops on N1 television.

14:45 - "Regarding your inquiry, you will receive information on that subject at a press conference of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia today at 16.00 CET," the Ministry of Defense told Index about what is happening at the Črnomerec barracks.

14:40 - Zagreb nightclub H2O will not be open this weekend.

"The health of all of us comes first and we believe that by working together, following the Centre's instructions, together we can help improve the health situation (regarding the spread) of the coronavirus," the club's Instagram page stated.

14:15 - GLAS MP Anka Mrak Taritas said the health team was doing a good job regarding the coronavirus in Croatia and called on the government to come up with concrete measures to help the economy.

14:13 - Pharmacies in Croatia have run out of prescription syrup for fevers.

14:12 - Numerous bus routes from Croatia abroad have been canceled.

14:08 - "No soldiers have the coronavirus, however a contact of one of the soldiers is coronavirus positive. A quarantine was not introduced at the barracks at Črnomerec, but an epidemiological survey is underway there. They are conducting scans to see if the person who is positive for the coronavirus was in contact with other people in the barracks," HZJZ Director Krunoslav Capak told Index. There are hundreds of soldiers and staff in the barracks at Črnomerec.

14:00 - By noon, eighty people who have entered Croatia from a European area at high risk of coronavirus infection have been placed under the medical supervision of Karlovac County Public Health Office by noon and are required to report to an epidemiologist.

13:50 - Numerous events around the country are canceled or delayed.

13:40 - President of the Independent Union of Secondary School Employees Branimir Mihalinec, in a letter to Education Minister Blazenka Divjak, opposed the recommendation that children be kept in school facilities in light of the coronavirus infection, but argued that childcare should be provided on the premises of local boards.

13:30 - According to the decision of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, all forms of teaching and placement for full-time and part-time students of the Josip Jovic Police School, of the High Police are canceled at the Police Academy beginning Monday March 16 for 14 days. Seminars, courses and other forms of professional development are also postponed.

13:25 - Three coronavirus infected persons in the County of Primorje-Gorski Kotar are members of the extended family of the first patient.

13:22 - City swimming pools and second-hand fairs are closing in Varaždin, all large gatherings of citizens are canceled, and some institutions will be working shorter hours. These are among the measures announced by the Varaždin City Civil Protection Headquarters.

Therefore, from Sunday, March 15, visitors to the Varaždin City Pools will close, the sale of second-hand goods will not be held at the old Banfica fairgrounds, and all major citizens' gatherings, concerts, theaters and cinemas will be canceled.

The city administration recommends that all public services minimize the need for citizens to come and carry out work which can be delayed, and arrange for citizens to arrive at counters in the payment area one-at-a-time while others wait outside the building.

13:20 - There are no coronavirus patients in the Osijek-Baranja County. 11 people have been tested so far and all of them were negative, according to the County Civil Protection Headquarters.

Head of Staff, Deputy Mayor Goran Ivanovic and Mayor Ivan Anusic, at a press conference, denied the rumors that there were patients, but that staff has remained silent.

Ivanovic reported that numerous public events, including some sports competitions, were canceled, and the headquarters, if necessary, prepared quarantine facilities and accommodation for the possibly ill, who could immediately function.

12:40 - Minister of Finance Zdravko Maric addressed the public

"As far as the supply chain is concerned, there is enough of everything. Both manufacturers and distributors have months to go. If any shelves are empty, there is enough product to fill them up again," Maric reassures. "I have first-hand information and we are talking about increased consumption. I repeat again: we have everything in quantities for several months to come. There is no need for excessive stockpiling at retail chains and prompting the creation of additional and excessive supplies," he added.

"All production is working normally for us. We have several months of supplies of everything, we were preparing for the season because we will ensure continuity of production, Croatia will not run out of food and medicine," said Pucar from Podravka. And he urges citizens not to stockpile.

12:30 - Due to new circumstances related to the COVID-19 epidemic in the Republic of Croatia, as recommended by the Central State Office for Sport (SDUS) and in the interest of protecting athletes, coaches, fans and the entire sports community, Croatian Gymnastics Federation (HGS), suspends all competitions in all categories in Croatia, as well as planned refereeing and coaching seminars from today March 13 to April 1. They also suspended including the National Refereeing and Coaching Seminar, scheduled to take place tomorrow, March 14, at the Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb. All judo competitions were canceled until April 30.

11:50 - Following the recommendations of authorities of the County of Istria and their decision to restrict public gatherings, close schools and kindergartens and restrict the use of public spaces – the largest hotel company in Croatia, Valamar Poreč, decided to temporarily close the Diamond Hotel in Poreč and Sanfior in Rabac.

11:17 - Croatia PM Plenkovic said that kindergartens and colleges are closing. If parents are unable to ensure that the child is home, they should bring the child to school. Teachers will be in schools.

"So, if the kids have no place to go, if parents can't provide for them, they can come to kindergarten and school."

11:06 - Croatia PM Plenkovic addressed the public. "The whole world is at war with this virus. The responsibility of every citizen is to exercise discipline which will affect the spread of the epidemic. I call on everyone to be accountable and to listen carefully to the guidelines set forth by public health professionals. Press conferences will be held daily at 9:00 and 16:00."

After the meeting, Maric went to meet with representatives of industrial food chains in order to inform the citizens that there is no reason to go shopping for supplies in disproportionate quantities.

We will focus on jobs take measures that will help small businesses.

"We will defer payment of income tax, income tax, contributions. The central budget will replace that."

11:00 - Huge crowds on borders, travelers to Maclj are waiting up to 12 hours: "We're hungry and thirsty."

10:59 - Minister of Science and Education Blazenka Divjak announced today that, apart from the programs on HRT 3 for lower elementary grades, a program for upper elementary and secondary schools with video materials will be launched on Sportska televizija (Sport Television), which will be available online.

10:49 - Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic met with National Civil Protection Headquarters and ministers at 10:00 CET.

10:27 - Students and teachers at several schools in and around Novi Sad have been quarantined on suspicion of being infected with a coronavirus after returning from competitions in Pula and Porec, Radio Vojvodina (RTV) reported.

8:57 - The court in Pula has been closed today completely in response to a possible coronavirus infection. There is a notice on the door, Regional Express reported.

8:43 - According to initial information, one of the judges of the Pula court is said to be positive for the coronavirus, but official confirmation of that information is awaiting. Concerned employees came out this morning outside the courthouse and are waiting for the President of the Pula County Court to speak to them, the Voice of Istria announced.

8:23 - The last two infected patients are from Umag. They are stable, and have mild symptoms, N1 television reports.

8:06 - Bartol Kašić Elementary School has released a statement regarding the steps it is taking after one student's father tested positive for the coronavirus.

7:40 - The Croatian Auto Club (HAK) advised drivers and passengers on Friday to stay informed by checking the page of the Civil Protection Directorate and the HAK page before traveling to neighboring countries, especially Italy and try to delay trips to risky areas.

A Summary of Recent Events

Chief education adviser Marko Kosicek said today that schools have received instructions regarding preparation for virtual classes if coronavirus outbreak prompts school closings and stressed that they must be prepared regardless of when the virtual class model is launched.

Health Minister Vili Beros announced at a government session a new measure to curb the spread of coronaviruses, which recommends delaying or restricting gatherings with more than 100 people.

The Headquarters of the Zagreb County Civil Protection Department concluded in the course of the day that it recommends postponing all rallies and organized gatherings, regardless of size, in the Zagreb County area. The County Headquarters urge the organizers to keep the Coroner's recommendations and postpone all events to prevent the spread of coronaviruses and urge residents of Zagreb County not to attend the rallies.

Several employees of the Environmental Protection Fund Sent Home

Several employees at the Environmental Protection Fund were sent home yesterday because they had been in contact with a female who had had contact with a hairdresser infected with the coronavirus. As the spokeswoman told us, some 40 or 50 employees were sent home because one of these persons was in contact with the infected person.

(Updates provided by Index)

Live World Coronavirus Updates

• Live world updates from CNN here.
• Live world updates from The Guardian here.
• Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.

Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates

• Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
• Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
• Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.

Total Croatia News Coronavirus Coverage

• COVID-19: UK Government Publishes Updated Coronavirus Travel Advice for Croatia - here.
• Punishments for Croatian Coronavirus Patients Breaking Isolation Rules - here.
• Coronavirus Outbreak Poses Grave Threat to Croatian Wood Industry - here.
• COVID-19: All Schools in Croatia to Close from Monday - here.
• Flight Cancellations in Croatia: Ryanair Postpones Zadar Base until 2021 - here.
• City of Split on Coronavirus: Don't Panic, Follow Instructions, Help Your Grandparents - here.
• Coronavirus Press Conference in Croatia: 4 New Cases, Panic Bigger Threat - here.
• Milanović: No Mistake Made in Dealing with Coronavirus - here.
• Strategic Stockpiles Enough for 30 days in Worst Case Scenario - here.
• Less Important EU Council Meetings Cancelled, Postponed Over Coronavirus - here.
• Daily Migration of Croatian Workers to Bela Krajina Not Possible As of Friday - here.

UPDATED: March 13, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)

For the latest March 20 update click here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

March 13, 2020 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic addressed the press on Friday morning to announce the closure of all schools in Croatia from next week.

“The whole world is at war with the virus. The responsibility of every citizen is an essential discipline that will affect the spread of the epidemic. I call on everyone to be accountable and to listen carefully to the instructions and to all public health professionals. The headquarters will continue with all its activities as before, twice a day at 9 am and at 4 pm.”

"Everybody is thinking about closing schools. Our health experts say that a very small percentage of those infected are below the age of 20. But children are especially important, and we will stop teaching from Monday for two weeks."

Plenkovic said that all schools, from kindergartens to colleges will close from Monday, reports Index.hr. He added that schools will, however, be open in case there is no one to care for the child at home during those hours. 

After this meeting, Minister Zdravko Maric will meet with businesses and representatives of retail chains.

The number of cases of coronavirus in Croatia rose from 27 to 31 overnight, Health Minister Vili Beros announced at a 9am press conference in Zagreb.

There were two new cases in Istria, bringing the total there to 6, and two more in Zagreb, bringing the total to 12. the two Zagreb patients were from the close circle of existing patients, while one of the Istrian cases had returned from Italy, and the other had been in contact with someone from Zagreb who had returned to Switzerland. 

Beros said that he expected that number to rise in the coming days, but that there was no need to panic, and indeed the spreading of panic would have more serious consequences. Taking personal responsibility was crucial - avoiding public gatherings and things that are not necessary. He confirmed that some 500 people had been tested so far. 

TCN is producing a comprehensive daily update of the situation in Croatia, with an updated map of the cases, stats and locations. You can read yesterday's thorough update here, as well as view the latest map below, which will be updated later today. 

Currently there are no infections in Dalmatia at all, and the three entry points by air of Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar are free of the virus. Flights are functioning, although there have been cancellations. An overview of the flight situation from a couple of days ago can be found here - we will try and update the situation later today. 

Borders remain open, apart from some with Serbia, although the ferry connection to Italy has been suspended. In addition to the daily TCN briefing, you can follow all aspects of TCN's coronavirus coverage in the dedicated COVID-19 section by clicking here. 

March the 13th, 2020 - As COVID-19 continues to put pressure on public health and the global economy, the British Embassy in Zagreb and the British Government has updated its Croatia travel advice section on the official website GOV.UK to alert travellers to the following:

''The Croatian Government has introduced with immediate effect a compulsory fourteen day self-isolation for all foreign nationals arriving from the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, China, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Sweden.

Visitors with no residence in Croatia will be asked for proof of an accommodation booking. Those refusing self-isolation will be denied entry into Croatia and be instructed to return to their point of origin. Failure to comply with public health decisions may result in fines or even criminal charges.''

What does this mean if I am coming from one of the above countries/am a national of one of the above countries and have legal residence in the Republic of Croatia?

If you have legal residence in Croatia which is evidenced by a national ID card/residence card proving your status as a temporary or permanent resident in the Republic of Croatia, it will already have your biometric information and your current address in Croatia written on it.

In this case, you will be allowed to enter your country of residence but you will still need to place yourself in the prescribed mandatory fourteen day isolation if you have travelled from one of the aforementioned countries.

We recently wrote an article on the introduction of fines for people who break the rules on self-isolation. That article can be read here.

For more on COVID-19 and its effects on Croatian public health, tourism, the economy and much more, follow our dedicated section on the matter.

March 13, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros gives the latest coronavirus update at a morning press conference in Zagreb. 

The number of cases of coronavirus in Croatia rose from 27 to 31 overnight, Health Minister Vili Beros announced at a 9am press conference in Zagreb, reports Index.hr. 

There were two new cases in Istria, bringing the total there to 6, and two more in Zagreb, bringing the total to 12. the two Zagreb patients were from the close circle of existing patients, while one of the Istrian cases had returned from Italy, and the other had been in contact with someone from Zagreb who had returned to Switzerland. 

Beros said that he expected that number to rise in the coming days, but that there was no need to panic, and indeed the spreading of panic would have more serious consequences. Taking personal responsibility was crucial - avoiding public gatherings and things that are not necessary. He confirmed that some 500 people had been tested so far. 

TCN is producing a comprehensive daily update of the situation in Croatia, with an updated map of the cases, stats and locations. You can read yesterday's thorough update here, as well as view the latest map below, which will be updated later today. 

Currently there are no infections in Dalmatia at all, and the three entry points by air of Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar are free of the virus. Flights are functioning, although there have been cancellations. An overview of the flight situation from a couple of days ago can be found here - we will try and update the situation later today. 

Borders remain open, apart from some with Serbia, although the ferry connection to Italy has been suspended. In addition to the daily TCN briefing, you can follow all aspects of TCN's coronavirus coverage in the dedicated COVID-19 section by clicking here. 

ZAGREB, March 13, 2020 - European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković decided on Thursday to cancel or postpone less important and less urgent meetings at the Council of the EU and to hold conference calls in some cases. Michel, von der Leyen and Plenković, as the prime minister of the country chairing the Council of the EU, agreed that the EU's ability to make decisions must be retained but that institutions' work must be adjusted to the current situation to minimise the risk of the spreading of the coronavirus.

At the more important meetings that will be held measures will be taken to provide for the safety of participants.

Five meetings scheduled to take place until the end of the month are considered important and will be held.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 13, 2020 - As of Friday, people who live in Croatia and work in the Slovenian region of Bela Krajina will no longer be able to migrate across the border on a daily basis because that Slovenian region has been declared a high coronavirus risk region, Karlovac County head Damir Jelić said on Thursday.

Jelić told a news conference that several hundred Croatian nationals who were expected to go to work to that southeast Slovenian region near the border with Croatia on Friday had to decide if they would take more of their possessions and stay in Slovenia for at least two weeks or return from work to Croatia and undergo medical supervision for early detection of possible coronavirus infection.

This means that the practice of daily cross-border migration for work from the said areas will not be possible and that those who return to Croatia will have to self-isolate at home for two weeks and will not be able to leave the country during that period, Jelić said, adding this decision by the county civil protection team was in line with recommendations by the national civil protection team.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 12, 2020 - There are 27 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Information on countries and areas under travel restrictions for passengers arriving in Croatia can be found here (courtesy of Croatia Airlines).

Today, the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia is banning all events with over 100 people. Several upcoming events have been cancelled. Updates to follow.

More than 4,970 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 134,475 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 53,679 cases outside of mainland China and 15,113 in Italy. 

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Twenty-Seven Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 12, 2020; twenty-seven coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 10 in Zagreb, 8 in Rijeka, 4 in Varaždin, 4 in Pula and 1 in Petrinja (Numbers on map updated).

• The first patient from Zagreb became infected during his stay in Italy. The two other patients are close contacts. The third patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria. The fourth patient is a hairdresser and recently came back from a conference in Munich. Five new cases were confirmed Wednesday and Thursday. The latest patients returned from trips to Austria and Germany.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during his stay in Italy. The four other patients are close contacts. As of today 3 more cases from Rijeka, all of whom had contact with previous cases.
• The first patient from Varaždin spent time in Italy. The second case is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth cases are close contacts of the driver.
• Both patients in Pula had recently returned from Italy. Two additional cases were reported today and both had returned from Italy.
• The first confirmed patient from Petrinja (confirmed today) returned from Italy.

UPDATED: March 12, 2020 23:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Update

At the daily press briefing, as reported by Index, which began today at 16:00 CET, Croatian Health Minister Vili Beroš confirmed that there are five new cases of infection in Croatia, for a total of 24 total cases (end-of-day: 27 cases). Among these, three contacts of patients from Rijeka are currently under supervision and have very mild symptoms. They had been in self-isolation and there is no evidence that they had violated that order.

The other two infections were contracted in Germany and Austria. One is of moderate severe symptoms while the other has with mild symptoms," said Alemka Markotić.

Gatherings, Events Limited to 100 People

The president of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, Davor Božinović, reported that the headquarters is limiting public gatherings to 100 people. Minister Božinović said that the situation in Europe was not good and that Croatia was introducing new measures to stop the spread of the virus.

"The best protection is to follow all our instructions," Božinović said.

"The best way to protect yourself is to strictly adhere to the instructions we cite. Personal hygiene, avoiding certain types of social contact, following HZJZ instructions ... If we do not adhere to this, all measures will have a limited effect," Božinović added.

All Sporting Events Held Without Spectators

He also spoke about strict border measures and other measures being taken. He added that public gatherings are limited to a maximum of 100 people.

"All sporting events should be held without spectators. We have expanded the list of countries that will be subject to tighter border controls when their nationals arrive in Croatia. These are Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden," Božinović added.

No Time to Travel 

Božinović said this was not the time to travel outside Croatia and recommended that citizens not travel. He also spoke about some social media posts, saying that they were lies.

Whoever Breaks Self Isolation Will be Criminally Liable

"The goal of these conferences is to keep citizens informed in a timely and truthful manner. That is why we will have a conference tomorrow at 9:00 CET. Some irresponsible individuals are using this situation to raise social tensions. The police will locate and sanction those who do," Božinović said.

Capak said it was also a crime to violate quarantine or self-isolation and put others at risk of becoming infected. There are currently 5900 people in self-isolation, and it is impossible to control everyone’s behavior.

Brother of First Coronavirus Patient Recovered, Released from Hospital

Earlier today, Minister Will Beroš confirmed that the brother of the first coronavirus patient had been released from the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" after his test findings were negative twice, while brother and his girlfriend were still in the hospital.

The Minister of Health added that the recommendations issued by the National Headquarters are controllable and effective, but bans will be enacted, if necessary, given the situation.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

(Updates provided by Index)

21:00 - Two more cases of infection in Croatia have been confirmed. These are Croatian citizens who came back from Italy and were hospitalized in Pula. There are now 27 people with the coronavirus in Croatia, according to a brief statement from the National Civil Protection Headquarters.

19:43 - According to the recommendation of the Central State Office for Sport, the Croatian Football Federation has decided to suspend all football competitions until March 31, 2020.

19:40 - The University of Zagreb has postponed all activities which are not directly related to teaching, and rector Damir Boras has provided instructions to the University of Zagreb staff on how to deal with the coronavirus epidemic. The dormitories must elevate hygiene measures and increase the availability of disinfectants. At the Faculty of Political Science (FPZG), all meetings, including teaching (lectures in compulsory subjects) academic and public events, with one hundred or more participants, are suspended until further notice. Classes with less than one hundred participants will be held, but attendance is optional.

19:00 - All cultural and artistic programs and public events in the European Capital of Culture project announced in the calendar of events up to April 14 are postponed until further notice, Rijeka 2020, the company managing the ECOC, reported.

18:33 - Another person with the coronavirus has been confirmed at the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" in Zagreb. The patient was hospitalized in Sisak. This person came back from Italy, where she worked. She reported herself to the border police officer and was still subject to the necessary protocol.

18:00 - The Civil Protection Crisis Headquarters of the Split-Dalmatia County reported on Thursday that there would be no class cancellations or school closures in that county.

Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor Luka Brcic said there were 28 people quarantined in Split's Duilovo, including nine Croat citizens, foreigners remained, and one citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina went to his country. Other passengers aboard the "Marko Polo" ship that marched from Ancona to Split's port on Wednesday are in self-isolation.

There are still no infected people in the Split-Dalmatia County, and the situation with the passengers is satisfactory given that none of them shows any signs of illness.

17:29 - Two gynecologists were sent to isolation from the Clinic for Female Diseases and Births in Split. According to Dalmatinski portal, one was in the company of a coronavirus positive hairstylist and the other was at a ski resort from where the number of infected people is growing rapidly.

17:20 - According to Dalmacija danas, cases of home isolation were also reported in Šolta. The information was confirmed by the mayor of Šolta, Nikola Cecić-Karuzić.

"Two Croatian nationals who were temporarily working in Italy until yesterday are in home isolation on Solta," he said.

17:11 - The Director of the Institute of Public Health of the County of Istria, Aleksandar Stojanovic, confirmed on Thursday that they are awaiting the findings of test samples from four people who reported yesterday with a mild case of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

16:49 - Coronavirus cases in KBC Zagreb are delaying any medical check-ups which are not necessary. At Split KBC they are performing only emergency operations. In KBC Sestre milosrdnice (Sisters of Mercy) they have issued instructions regarding a strict protocol for staff and patients.

16:44 - Two-thirds of tradesmen are already feeling the effects of coronavirus and are reporting a decline in revenue of more than 30 percent, the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (HOK) reported today, based on the latest survey data.

16:27 - At a meeting at the Rijeka Mayor's Office on Thursday, it was decided to postpone all cultural events in the institutions of the City of Rijeka until April 14, Mayor Vojko Obersnel reported.

"We made the decision in view of the pandemic's development and the fact that the Crisis Staff of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County requested the suspension of classes in kindergartens, schools and colleges until April 14," Obersnel said.

16:17 - Minister Vili Beroš has confirmed that there are five new cases of infection in Croatia, now there are 24. There are contacts with patients previously ill from Rijeka. They were confirmed during the night. They are under supervision and have very mild symptoms.

As for the two infected who came from Austria or Germany, one with moderate symptoms and the other with milder symptoms, said Alemka Markotić.

Markotić said that false information to hide the exact number of infected insults all health professionals who trying and working so hard.

16:03 - The Lika-Senj County Civil Protection Headquarters on Thursday recommended the postponement of all organized public, cultural, sports and other gatherings indoors to prevent coronavirus infection and its spread. The headquarters also recommended the postponement of all planned trips and excursions outside Croatia, noting that the epidemiological situation in the area of ​​Lika-Senj County is favorable and that all necessary measures are continued to maintain it.

Epidemiologist of the Institute for Public Health reported that in the Lika-Senj County, coronavirus surveillance was assigned to 222 people, 187 persons expired and 35 more were actively monitored, and coronavirus testing was performed on seven people and all findings are negative.

15:50 - In Serbia, all public gatherings indoors attended by more than 100 people have been banned since Thursday, and one of the government's measures to curb the spread of coronaviruses and more effective control of passengers in international traffic is to temporarily close 44 less frequent border crossings.

15:30 - The City of Zagreb has issued an appeal to citizens regarding the coronavirus. See document.

APEL Građanima Grada Zagreb... by Index.hr on Scribd

15:21 - The HAC also released a statement on the coronavirus outbreak.

"As protection and prevention measures against the coronavirus have been raised throughout Croatia, and as part of an effort to minimize the possibility of transmission, the Croatian Highways urge all users planning a highway trip these days to use contactless payment whenever possible via the ENC device. This minimizes the possibility of transmission of the infection through cash and cards, but also speeds up travel time only”.

In addition, they add that the cost of using ENC devices is 40 percent lower.

14:55 - Nela Sršljen provided an update from Italy. She says the Italians have responded well to the quarantine, but that even more drastic measures would be introduced. She also says a virologist friend told her this was just the beginning.

14:51 - "One of the employees of the Fund was contacted by the Epidemiological Service of the City of Zagreb and was warned that it was recorded that she had been in contact with the person identified as COVID-19. The worker was immediately sent to a 14-day self-isolation unit. The Fund immediately informed the Croatian Institute of Public Health and is complying fully with the protocol for the above situation.

In order to protect other employees, office space was promptly disinfected, and employees who were in contact with the said person would be released home by Monday. In coordination with the Crisis Staff and the Public Health Institute, the Fund will take any further necessary action," the Environmental Protection Fund said.

14:49 - Coronavirus symptoms have not yet been confirmed in any person in Međimurje County, so far there are no instructions for self-isolation of persons who came from Slovenia, Austria and Germany, and the Institute of Public Health is calling on citizens to behave responsibly.

14:30 - As we learned, up to 11 people were able to enter the Siemens building this morning, and there was also a disinfection service.

14:27 - Some of the Environmental Fund employees were sent home because they were in contact with a female who had contact with a coronavirus infected hairdresser. As the spokeswoman told us, about 40 or 50 employees were sent home because one person was in contact with the infected person.

14:00 - The Istria headquarters have released new information. It was decided that cafes could only stay open until 18:00 CET.

13:59 - Varazdin will no longer issue licenses for meetings with more than 100 people.

13:52 - The Zagreb Faculty of Political Science will also introduce online lectures.

“We urge students to monitor the reports on relevant services in a rapidly changing situation. If there is a complete suspension of teaching at the Faculty; teachers will contact their students and inform them of continuing lectures through the Faculty's web pages and/or other digital channels. The summer semester classes will go ahead anyway. If necessary, they will be held remotely," reads a Facebook post.

13:41 - A Siemens d.d. employee was discharged from her Zagreb headquarters to prevent the spread of a coronavirus case, which infected one of the employees. As we learned from a foreign service employee who answered the phone at the Siemens headquarters in Zagreb's Heinzelova Ulica, there were no longer any employees in the building. "Everything is closed for quarantine and there are no staff members," he said.

13:29 - Health Minister Vili Beroš confirmed that they released the brother of the first coronavirus patient from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihajevic"after his test findings were negative twice, while first patient and his girlfriend are still in the hospital.

13:15 - Beljak: We have closed the market in Samobor and have restricted gatherings.

12:40 - Miroslav Skoro said the situation was serious. He says that it is not easy for the government either and that in these situations they must be outstanding.

12:35 - Jandrokovic does not rule out the possibility of postponing elections in the HDZ.

12:10 - MOST MP Ines Strenja praised the work of the National Civil Protection Headquarters who have transparently and repeatedly presented all information on the coronavirus which the public should accept as fact as they are "health professionals" and understand the gravity of the situation.

Strenja told reporters that there was no room for comments, newspaper articles and “experts trying to present a different image and send a different message to the public about the coronavirus.

11:55 - SDP's Gordan Maras posted on Facebook.

"We cannot completely prevent the worldwide coronavirus pandemic in Croatia. Unfortunately, there will be a lot of people who are sick and probably will be deceased. What we can do is prepare and take steps to keep the number of infected as small as possible and to prevent the disease from getting worse in the shorter term.”

11:35 - The town Supetar on Brac introduced drastic measures. There are no public gatherings, the library closes, sports events are postponed.

11:30 - In accordance with the decision of the Government, Croatian Radio and Television, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Education, will implement the TV curriculum and distance learning. From Monday March 16 at 8:00 a program called School on Channel 3 will broadcast at the Channel of HRT.

11:20 - "Postpone all meetings in Zagreb County"

The Headquarters of the Zagreb County Civilian Protection Board recommends postponing all rallies and organized gatherings, regardless of size, in the Zagreb County area.

The Zagreb County Civil Protection Headquarters will no longer issue approvals for holding public gatherings in the Zagreb County area.

"Please note that the City of Zagreb is not part of the Zagreb County (the Zagreb City Civil Protection Headquarters is responsible for events in the Zagreb area).

The cities of the Zagreb County include Dugo Selo, Ivanic-Grad, Jastrebarsko, Samobor, Sveta Nedelja, Sveti Ivan Zelina, Velika Gorica, Vrbovec, Zapresic…

If, despite the recommendation of the County Headquarters, the organizers decide to hold a public gathering, they are obliged to implement all the highest hygiene standards prescribed by the Civil Protection Staff of the Republic of Croatia and assume full responsibility for the safety of all participants and visitors of the public gathering.

Again, the organizers of the gathering are required to:

• Provide checkpoints with disinfectants
• Provide clear instruction to participants to refrain from habitual non-verbal communication involving handling and avoid closer social contact
• Give clear instruction to participants if they have respiratory disease and/or fever (greater than 37.5 ° C) not to attend events

11:00 - Serbia closed part of the border with Croatia.

10:57 - Jure Kaštelan elementary school in Zagreb's Savica is functioning normally today, after it was learned yesterday that the mother of a girl who attends the school tested positive for the coronavirus.

10:35 - The session of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality The Istanbul Convention was postponed until further notice for "epidemiological reasons" because the number of those interested in attending the session was more than a hundred.

10:29 - Health Minister Vili Beroš announced at a government session a new measure to curb the spread of coronavirus, which recommends delaying or restricting gatherings with more than a hundred people.

It is also suggested to hold sports competitions without spectators.

The National Civil Protection Headquarters, at a meeting with Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic on Wednesday at Banski Dvori, decided to introduce new measures - schools will be closed in Istria on Friday and there will be no classes.

10:25 - Zagreb Stock Exchange Drops More Than 10 Percent, Trading Discontinued.

10:20 - The HDZ will be holding elections on Sunday. Tomo Medved has announced that they will go forward as planned.

10:02 - Eventim HR has launched a separate tab on their website, "COVID-19 EVENT INFORMATION", which contains all information about postponed events, related to the government's recommendation to postpone all organized rallies with more than 1000 people.

9:50 - The chief adviser to the Minister of Education, Marko Kosicek, said that the schools were yesterday instructed how to prepare for virtual classes if the coronavirus outbreak prompts school closures, and stressed that they must prepare regardless of when the model is launched.

9:50 - The Minister of Environment and Energy Tomislav Coric says that people spreading false news about the coronavirus should be held criminally responsible, and Interior Ministers Davor Božinović and Justice Drazen Bosnjakovic announced an investigation into these individuals.

7:30 - A video with false information about Zagreb being quarantined is spreading to social networks.

(Updates provided by Index)

Live World Coronavirus Updates

• Live world updates from CNN here.
• Live world updates from The Guardian here.
• Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.

Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates

• Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
• Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
• Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.

Total Croatia News Coronavirus Coverage

• Minister Maric: Shorter Work Week is Possible Because of COVID-19 - here.
• Croatian Scientist Igor Rudan Provides COVID-19 Quarantine Clarity - here.
• COVID-19 Update: Partial Serbia-Croatia Border Closures, Meets of 100+ Banned - here.
• After Banning Fans, HNS Suspends All Croatian Football Games Until March 31 - here.
• Croatian Cultural Institutions Cancel Events Until April - here.
• Preparatory Plans Change for Croatia National Team as Doha Tournament Canceled - here.

UPDATED: March 12, 2020 23:00 CET (Central European Time)

For the latest March 20 update click here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

ZAGREB, March 12 (Hina) - Croatia has been exempted from the decision by US President Donald Trump on introducing a ban on most travel from Europe due to not being a Schengen Area member state.

The ban takes effect on Friday at midnight, it will last for 30 days and will affect the 26 countries of the passport-free Schengen Area in Europe.

In those states there have been most confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection outside mainland China.

By March 11 there were 17,442 cases of infection and 711 cases of death, and the diseases was exported to 53 states.

The free movement of people among member states of the Schengen area impedes efforts to curb the spread of the virus, Trump said in the decision posted on the White House's website.

Among those countries there is no border control, which makes it easier for the COVID-19 to spread. Croatia, which is not a member of the area, so far has 19 positive cases and no victims of that infectious disease.

It is recommended that Americans planning travel to Croatia should not go if they are ill, should wash their hands more often and should take additional effort to monitor their health 14 days after returning to the US, the instructions by the White House state.

America's well-being always comes first, Trump said in a address from the Oval Office.

In addition to Croatia, countries exempted from Trump's ban are the UK, Ireland, Bulgaria and Romania.

The ban concerns anyone who has been to the Schengen Area 14 days before planning to enter the US.

American citizens, as well as holders of some visas and people with family ties to American citizens or to those permanently resident in the US, are exempt from the ban.

Trump made the decision after the US had begun to feel negative effects of the pandemic, ranging from disruptions in the financial market to sport events being cancelled and schools being closed.

On Wednesday the number of deaths from the coronavirus in the USA reached 37, 29 of which were in the US state of Washington in the Northwest of the US, while the number of cases of the infection exceeded 1,300, data by John Hopkins University show.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section

The latest COVID-19 update for Croatia is here, which includes Serbian-Croatian border closures, a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people and the negative effects on the Zagreb Stock Exchange.

As Index writes on the 12th of March, 2020, civil protection met with the Prime Minister yesterday and decided to introduce new coronavirus measures. As of tomorrow, schools are closing in Istria and there will be no classes taking place. Civil protection should consider a proposal today and also ban all gatherings of more than a hundred people in Croatia.

This morning, another COVID-19 update has arrived based on announcements from Serbian Prime Minister Vucic that Serbia is closing some of its border crossings with Croatia. According to the report from the Osijek-Baranja Police Directorate, Batina was closed for all traffic at 07:00 this morning, HAK reported.

According to Zoran Kon, spokesman for the Osijek-Baranja Police Department, the Batina-Bezdan border crossing, the Erdut-Bogojevo railway bridge and the Apatin river crossing were all closed.

In addition to its border with the Republic of Croatia, the Serbs will be closing more border crossings with Bosnia and Herzegovina as of today. The closures already implemented took effect at 07:00 this morning.

Checks being undertaken at border crossings have been increased, meaning that longer waiting for passengers, especially for freight vehicles, is possible, HAK warned.

Another COVID-19 update comes in the form of a session of the Parliamentary Committee on gender equality which was due to be held on Thursday being postponed until further notice for "epidemiological reasons" because the number of those interested in attending the session was more than a hundred.

Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros announced at a government session a new measure to curb the spread of coronavirus, which recommends delaying or restricting gatherings of more than a hundred people. In presenting the measures on Thursday, the recommendation was to postpone any organised gatherings due to be attended by more than 100 people.

The holding of various sport competitions without spectators was also suggested.

A meeting that took place on Wednesday at Banski Dvori also brings us another important COVID-19 update as the introduction of new measures already touched on in this article was confirmed, schools will be closed in Istria as of Friday and there will be no classes taking place.

According to the latest data, a total of 431 people were tested in Croatia this morning, of which nineteen are positive.

The Zagreb Stock Exchange has seen a drop of more than ten percent and trading has been discontinued.

Eventim HR has launched a separate tab on its website called "COVID-19 EVENT INFORMATION", which contains all information about delayed events and information related to the government's previous recommendation to postpone all organised rallies with more than 1000 people.

The chief adviser to the Minister of Education, Marko Kosicek, said that schools were yesterday instructed on how to prepare for virtual classes if coronavirus causes them to be closed, and stressed that they must make that preparation.

Minister Tomislav Coric says that persons spreading false news about coronaviruses should be held criminally responsible, and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic and Justice Minister Drazen Bosnjakovic then announced an investigation into such individuals.

For rolling information on COVID-19 updates, follow TCN's dedicated section.