ZAGREB, March 12, 2020 - It is essential to preserve jobs and business activity, and specific measures to help businesses affected by the coronavirus epidemic will be known in the coming days, reporters were told after a meeting at the Finance Ministry on Wednesday.

The meeting involved the ministers in charge of economic affairs and representatives of the business and banking sectors.

Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said after the meeting that it had been agreed that preserving jobs was of paramount importance. He recalled that it had taken a lot of time to restore the number of jobs to the level before the 2008 downturn.

Marić also emphasised the need to ensure the flow of goods, adding that specific measures in that regard would be discussed in the coming days. He said that the businesses were trying to maintain cash flow and their operations.

The finance minister said that the government was not considering increasing taxes, adding that pensions and wages paid from the budget were not questionable.

The Director-General of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Davor Majetić, said that employers met with sympathy on the part of the government and that they would analyse the situation together.

Since the measures are mostly aimed at preserving jobs, Majetić said that the employers would have to be provided with money for wages and liquidity.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

Update - For the latest on the coronavirus in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.

March 11, 2020 - Search terms such as United Airlines coronavirus flight cancellation are topping the Google search charts, but how are things with flights to Croatia, especially with a new flight frontier lockdown in neighbouring Italy?

These are uncertain times, and with the lockdown of Italy and all the cancelled flights due to the COVID-19 virus, tourists are understandably nervous. 

There have - thankfully - been no fatalities in Croatia or its neighbouring countries yet, and the total number of case is 19. You can see the current corona map of Croatia at the bottom of this article. 

Some flights have been cancelled, and some airlines have been more forthcoming than others with information. There is still some confusion about the situation in Croatia, and while we certainly do not have all the information at all, we are trying to build a picture of how things are looking. 

What is certain is that there has been a significant number of flight cancellation measures taken for March and April, particularly it seems in Zadar. Many routes are now currently scheduled to start in May. 

Below is an overview of the situation I have tried to put together. ANY additional info/links/resources will be gladly received in the public interest of building a broader picture. Please contact me with info on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Here is what I have found so far. 

easyJet

 I checked the easyJet site for flights to London. All looks ok at the moment from Split, with first bookable flight from March 31, 2020.

As with many other airlines, easyJet from Zadar to London is currently scheduled to start in May.  

Services from London to Dubrovnik start on March 31. 

For the latest travel information and details on flight cancellations policy, check the easyJet website.

Norwegian Air

Norwegian is one of the most important budget carriers to Croatia, and it helped open up the Scandinavian market. On its website, the Norwegian airline has stated that it plans to cancel 3,000 flights globally from mid-March to mid-June. You can follow the latest updates from their official website on this page. 

The first scheduled available flight for the popular Oslo to Split route is on March 31, with April currently looking very available. 

Ryanair

 Ryanair has cancelled a lot of flights, with April to Zadar wiped out for some routes, according to some reader emails. London is currently on from May 9, but there are already come cancelled flights in June. 

 A similar situation to Dublin. 

Pula, on the other hand, will start as things stand on March 29.  

As will Ryanair in Dubrovnik, with its flight to Vienna.  

And Ryanair is certainly not cancelling everything in March - Stuttgart to Split is already in operation, with the next flight tomorrow.  

For the latest information on your Ryanair flight, you can check this page on their website.

Eurowings

Eurowings has introduced a flexible rebooking option for anyone flying before December 31, 2020. You can find out more on the following link. 

Split to London Gatwick with Eurowings is currently available from April.  

British Airways

British Airways has a dedicated COVID-19 FAQ page.

British Airways has announced global cancellations, but Dubrovnik from Gatwick is currently operational.

As is Split to London.  

Croatia Airlines

Not so much information from Croatia Airlines on their website, but flights to Frankfurt from Zagreb, for example, seem to be proceeding as normal.

For more information, here is their travel information page. 

Lufthansa 

Lufthansa is an important connecting partner for Croatia, and the recent news that it plans to cut its flights by up to 50% will have a huge effect globally. Today, the German carrier announced 23,000 flight cancellations. You can keep track of their latest COVID-19 advice here.

This will no doubt have an effect on Croatian flights - for now, things seem to be relatively normal - Split to Munich availability above. 

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is one of the most important intercontinental connections for Croatia, with 12 flights a week to Zagreb. More information about their COVID-19 and flight cancellation policy here.

Emirates

Emirates is also an important connection for Croatia, with six flights a week from Zagreb to Dubai and the world. Follow the latest on the dedicated COVID-19 travel page.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is an extremely important regional and intercontinental partner - follow the latest updates on their dedicated page.

Korean Air

Tourism to Croatia from Korea has boomed in recent years, so much so that Korean Air even introduced daily flights. Sadly, this became the first airline with direct flights to Croatia to be affected. As TCN reported recently, the route has been discontinued until at least April 23. Click here for the latest information. 

The other place to check for latest information are the airport websites. 

Zagreb Airport

Split Airport

Dubrovnik Airport

Zadar Airport

Pula Airport

Rijeka Airport

Osijek Airport

For the latest on the coronavirus in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 11, 2020 - There are 19 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia, 3 of whom are in serious condition. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots (China, Italy, Iran, South Korea) will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Yesterday, the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia recommended cancelling all events for over 1,000 people. Several upcoming events have been cancelled. Updates to follow.

More than 4,585 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 124,968 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 44,178 cases outside of mainland China and 12,462 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.

Nineteen Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 11, 2020; nineteen coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 5 in Rijeka, 8 in Zagreb, 4 in Varaždin and 2 in Pula.

• 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. Three new cases were confirmed Wednesday evening. 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. 
• 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.

UPDATED: March 11, 2020 20:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Update

Prime Minister Plenkovic convened an emergency meeting with the ministers and members of the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia today at 16:00 CET regarding further measures and activities for handling the spread of the coronavirus in Croatia. The regular press conference, which is held every day at 16:00 CET at the National Civil Protection Headquarters, was not held today.

Instead, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic convened a special meeting with the ministers and members of the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia, which ended at 18:00 CET. They held a special press conference after that meeting.

Istria Schools Close Friday: Classes Will be Televised

He confirmed that there will be no more live classes in Istria schools as of Friday.

"The schools will be open tomorrow and the staff will come in to prepare a plan. We are preparing online classes which will be a substitute for live classes. In order to continue the educational process cycle from Monday with online classes, an agreement is being made with HRT (Croatia Radio Television), and Channel 3 would be used to broadcast classes. Other classes will be recorded on video. In Istria, there will be no classes after Friday, and the directors will inform the parents and children about everything else. Tomorrow will be a transition day to prepare for the necessary measures.

No Need to Rebalance State Budget

Plenkovic said there was no need to rebalance the state budget that at this time.

"The aim is to preserve jobs. We will seek initiatives that help entrepreneurs maintain the liquidity of their business, as there will be challenges in this area. We will find options and consider legislation to ease the situation for entrepreneurs and anyone who may be affected by the crisis. Regarding the budget, everything is fine and our revenues for January, February and March are as expected." the Prime Minister said.

"I believe that we have taken the measures in time which the public is aware of. The Ursula Von Der Leyen Commission is prepared to fund every EU country. There are about 25 billion EUR available and this will have an impact the budget framework over the next seven years," Plenkovic added.

Italy Will Accept Citizens Return from Split Ancona Ferry

Minister Bozinovic said that Italy would accept the return of its citizens back from the Split-Ancona ferry and the rest would be quarantined in Split.

Croatian Health Service Has the Capacity: Beros

Minister Beros said we have the necessary capacity. "We have over 500 respirators and over 300 transports. I hope that the threat is not so great that we even have to use a portion of that capacity," he said.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

18:30 - The first male coronavirus patient in Italy, a 38-year-old from Codogno, is gradually recovering. He was taken off his respirator yesterday and began to breathe on his own.

18:13 - In the last 24 hours, 196 people have died in Italy. Another 2313 people were infected, Italian officials said.

18:00 - In Serbia, all events with more than 100 people have been banned, but there is no need to close schools yet, state leaders and health experts have decided. Parliamentary elections scheduled for April 26 may be delayed.

17:33 - WHO declares the coronavirus a pandemic.

17:24 - Two more people from Istria are suspected of having the coronavirus, according to the Istria County Civil Protection Headquarters. They are currently self-isolated and test results are expected tomorrow.

16:50 - Karlovac High School is under supervision as a female student may have the coronavirus infection.

16:34 - Lufthansa cancels 23,000 flights between March 29 and April 24. Most are in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

16:00 - Andrej Plenkovic convened a meeting with the ministers and members of the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia, which was held today at 16:00 CET. The daily press conference was cancelled.

15:28 - About 30 trucks have been waiting at the Croatian-Slovenian border for seven hours for a sanitary inspector. Read more.

15:25 - The Montenegrin government will not introduce a state of emergency due to the coronavirus. There are no confirmed cases in Montenegro

15:20 - Forty passengers who arrived on the Marco Polo ferry from Ancona this morning will be quarantined in Split at the Zagreb Hotel in Duilovo. Among them are 12 Croats who could not fulfil the conditions for self-isolation at home.

14:40 - Plenkovic has cancelled all HDZ pre-election rallies due to the coronavirus.

14:21 - 57 infected in Slovenia. 10 new infections have been reported.

2270 people have been tested. 27 people were infected in Ljubljana, 12 in Dolenjska and Bela krajina, 3 in Styria, 3 in the coastal area and one in Murska Sobota.

13:52 - None of the Italian citizens from the Ancona ferry have entered the quarantine in Split. They will likely decide to return to Italy.

13:50 - Istria mayors demand that classes in all schools in the County of Istria be terminated.

13:35 - Many events in Croatia have been postponed and cancelled.

13:11 - Serbia bans all gatherings of over 100 people. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announces that all gatherings indoors over 100 people are prohibited - matches, weddings.

12:20 - Bosnia and Hercegovina closed all schools and colleges for at least 2 weeks.

11:58 - 47 people are infected in Slovenia. Fran Albrecht Primary School in Kamnik near Ljubljana is closing because the teacher is among the infected. The school is closed for 14 days.

11:55 - Croatian Minister of Science and Education Blazenka Divjak reported that online classes were ready, if necessary.

11:25 - Austria has stopped all passenger rail service to Italy. In Austria, 131 cases of coronavirus have been reported.

11:05 - The border police of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed a ban on foreign citizens coming from countries hardest hit by the coronavirus.

This ban applies to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and parts of China including people coming from Hubei province where the epidemic erupted.

11:02 - “A Week of Rest is Worthwhile” (Tjedan odmora vrijedan) is cancelled. The Croatia Tourist Board planned a promotion to popularize travel within Croatia and reduce the impact of coronavirus on the tourism industry by offering 50 percent discounts to Croatian citizens.

11:00 - Although numerous events are being cancelled throughout Europe, as well as Croatia, the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) has not given up on its campaign for party elections.

10:07 - Health Minister Beros said he was considering closing the Croatian border,

9:30 - Jadrolinija (largest Croatia ferry service) has just discontinued traffic with Italy.

8:40 - Labin has introduced special measures that postpone everything. They also closed the cinema, the library, and are restricting funerals.

8:05 - Seven new cases of infection have been confirmed in Serbia. The total number of coronavirus infected in Serbia has increased from 5 to 12.

7:25 - 16^th coronavirus infection in Croatia. He is a hairdresser who was in Munich for a conference.

Certificate Required to Enter Slovenia from Italy

Slovenia began monitoring the border with Italy, and all non-Slovenian citizens or permanent residents are subject to controls when entering the country.

Foreign travellers will be required to furnish written confirmation that they are not infected with the coronavirus. The certificate must be in Slovenian, English or Italian and must not be older than three days.

(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

• HNS Confirms: All Croatian League Football Games Without Fans until March 31 - here.
• Croatian Ministers State Coronavirus Consequences Aren't Catastrophic "Yet" - here.
• Coronavirus Flight Cancellation Status for Croatia: easyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair, Eurowings, British Airways - here.
• Plenković: Transport Sector and Tourism Hardest Hit by Coronavirus Epidemic - here.
• Croatian Tourism Industry Already Feeling Coronavirus Consequences - here.
• Croatian Tourism Ministry Temporarily Halting All Marketing Actions Due to Coronavirus - here.

UPDATED: March 11, 2020 20:00 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 11, 2020 - European heads of state and government, with the participation of the European Commission and the European Central Bank, are looking to devise a European response to the coronavirus epidemic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said during a visit to Škabrnja, inland from the coastal city of Zadar, on Tuesday.

"We as the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU took measures even before the World Health Organisation declared the emergency," Plenković said, adding that Croatia had taken steps through the integrated crisis response mechanism already on 28 January.

He said that all countries were currently analysing the situation.

In Croatia, talks are in progress with all interested sectors of the national economy. Last week a meeting was held with hoteliers, and tomorrow the ministers of finance, economy and tourism will have consultations with representatives of all sectors, the PM said.

He said that the hardest hit would be the transport sector, notably air transport, and tourism. Croatia will be taking the necessary measures in both sectors, he added.

Plenković said that all government departments were monitoring the situation and would try to find ways at the European and national levels to minimise the damage to the Croatian economy.

The situation in Croatia is stable and under control thanks to measures being taken by the national civil protection authority, health workers and the state inspectorate, the prime minister said. "However, given the proximity of Italy, we have to be very cautious," he concluded.

Responding to questions from the press, Plenković disagreed with President Zoran Milanović's decision to remove the busts of prominent Croatian historical figures from the lobby of the President's Office. "That wasn't necessary. I think it was a wrong move," the prime minister said.

More news about coronavirus can be found in the Lifestyle section.

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 10, 2020 - There are 15 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia, 3 of whom are in serious condition. President of the Civil Protection Staff Davor Bozinovic said on Monday that foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots (China, Italy, South Korea) will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Croatian citizens will receive an order for a 14-day self-isolation. 

They also recommended postponing rallies attended by more than 1,000 people.

More than 4,088 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 116,166 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 35,409 cases outside of mainland China and 9,172 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.

Fifteen Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 10, 2020; fifteen Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 5 in Rijeka, 4 in Zagreb, 4 in Varaždin and 2 in Pula.

• The first patient is from Zagreb who became infected during his stay in Italy (Milan, Lombardy province). The two other patients from Zagreb are close contacts of the first patient. The third Zagreb patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during a stay in Italy (Parma). The four other patients from Rijeka are close contacts of the third patient. 
• The first patient from Varaždin stayed in Milan with three friends. The second confirmed case from Varaždin is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth Varaždin cases are close contacts of the driver.
• In Pula, two cases of the coronavirus infection were confirmed yesterday evening and today. Both had worked in Italy and are currently hospitalized. 

UPDATED: March 10, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Coronavirus Update 

At 16:00 CET the National Civil Protection Headquarters held their daily press conference, led by Ministers Davor Bozinovic and William Beros who provided updates on the coronavirus.

In addition to discovering another confirmed case of the coronavirus in Croatia, they also announced that all Italians will be quarantined if they decide to enter Croatia, regardless of which Italian region they arrive from.

"As of today, quarantine measures are being implemented for everyone coming from Italy. This is because Italy has declared a quarantine throughout the country," Bozinovic said.

"Our daily conversation was obviously well received in the field. I think everyone realized that events larger than 1000 people should not be held. This does not apply smaller gatherings. They must ensure high hygiene standards and follow the HZJZ instructions. There are many events which are postponed and I think that's good," Bozinovic pointed out.

Croatian Schools Stay Open

“Of course, not all counties are equally exposed. So far, there has been no need to make a recommendation (to close schools)," Bozinovic explained.

"There isn’t any reported transmission on the local level, so we believe that there is no need to close schools, colleges and kindergartens. If the situation changes, we will act accordingly," said Krunoslav Capak the head of the HZJZ.

Bozinovic Explains Consequences of Lying About Travel

"These people could be criminally prosecuted for misdemeanors. The penalty for a misdemeanor is from 3,000 to 8,000 HRK (397 to 1060 EUR). Sanitary inspectors would be accompanied by police when making a report and would ensure that the person is quarantined," Bozinovic said.

"Since we brought the measure to the Italians yesterday from the focus of the epidemic, about 20 people have turned back. As of today, it is important that all Italian citizens know that they will be quarantined (in Croatia) or they must go home," Capak explained.

Passengers on Dubrovnik Planes and Ancona Ferry Subject to Measures

"There were 149 reported passengers and 100 of them have cancelled their flight. You know that at this time of year, the average number of entries from Italy is around 500. There were 193 yesterday. We assume that this number will be even lower tomorrow," Bozinovic said. He added that the passengers on the ferry, which is due to arrive from Ancona tomorrow, will be subject to the same protective measures as road and air travelers.

Croatia Civilian HQs Have Opted for Additional Restrictions

Split-Dalmatia County decided to suspend rallies over 1,000 people. They went a step further in Istria.

"By the decision of the headquarters, all public, cultural and sporting events in Istria, regardless of who is the organizer or the type of event, are suspended until April 14," explained Chief of Istrian Staff Dino Kozlevac, adding that border police and sanitary inspection are implementing measures at the border.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

19:00 - 15 Coronavirus cases in Croatia. The 4th Zagreb patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria.

18:34 - Fifth case of coronavirus infection confirmed in Serbia.

18:26 - In the last 24 hours, 168 people have died from the coronavirus in Italy.

17:55 - Slovenia is closing its borders with Italy, Slovenia's Prime Minister announced.

16:32 - The civil protection headquarters has released new details on the coronavirus in Croatia, and new measures are being introduced.

16:19 - Authorities in the Republika Srpska decided to close all schools in the area and introduce a measure banning all planned mass gatherings.

Entity Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic told reporters in Banja Luka that primary and secondary schools will be closed by March 21, and the decision applies to all RS colleges. Kindergartens will not be closed for the time being, but health monitoring of these facilities will be increased.

All public gatherings are prohibited until March 30. Four cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in the RS so far.

There is no decision to close schools in that in the Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina, but a ban on visits to hospitals and social care institutions and recommendations to cancel mass rallies are in effect.

16:15 - 14 Coronavirus infections have been confirmed in Croatia.

15:45 - A plane from Rome was scheduled to land at Dubrovnik Airport at 16:15 CET.

From Dubrovnik Airport, Dulist learns that they have followed all the instructions issued by the National Civil Protection Headquarters.

15:19 - Slovenia bans indoor gatherings with more than 100 people. The ban, however, does not apply to shopping malls, smaller establishments, weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies.

15:16 - British Airways has canceled flights to and from Italy.

15:05 - The Republika Srpska has closed all schools, there are no classes until further notice.

14:55 - St. Peter's Square and Basilica of St. Peter's were closed to the public due to the epidemic, said the Vatican.

14:45 - According to Slovenian Television, three patients with visible signs of infection came to a local ambulance in the third largest Slovenian city and alarmed healthcare staff and patients in the waiting room.

14:40 - One person suspected of being positive for coronavirus as of yesterday is in isolation at a Sibenik hospital. Findings are pending.

14:35 - In Dubrovnik, they expect a 30-40 percent weaker tourist season during the first six months, and the number of arrivals and nights is already declining. The city claims that daily bookings are 45 percent lower than in the same period last year.

14:30 - Slovenes criticised Croatia at the end of February because of the measures they introduced. They have a lot more infections than Croatia.  

14:06 - 31 infected with the coronavirus in Slovenia.

13:41 - The Serbian government has temporarily banned entry to the country by foreign nationals coming from areas with high transmission of the coronavirus infection - from Italy, hotspots in China, South Korea, Iran and parts of Switzerland.

13:23 - Five cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported throughout Bosnia, of which only one is in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, or in Zenica, and the rest are in Republika Srpska. These are members of two families whose fathers work in Italy and they have been carriers of the virus.

13:13 - The Istrian Institute of Public Health on Tuesday issued special recommendations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which further postpones all outdoor and indoor gatherings, from children's events and birthdays to sports, cultural, business, excursions and other events.

The decision was made after the first case of coronavirus disease was confirmed in Istria yesterday and due to the rapid spread of the epidemic in neighboring Italy.

13:10 - Ferry from Italian Ancona arrives in Split tomorrow, all passengers will be screened.

14:44 - Split and the County forbid gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

Although the National Civil Protection Headquarters yesterday issued a decision recommending the postponement of public gatherings with more than 1,000 people, the Split-Dalmatia County headquarters decided to ban all gatherings of more than 1,000 people in the county.

12:41 - As of today, Croatia Airlines temporarily suspends flights from Zagreb to Rome and vice versa.

12:33 - Austria bans indoor gatherings of over 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 people.

Anyone who arrives from Italy is also forbidden to enter the country, except those who are medically certified to be healthy.

11:57 - In Italy, 463 people have died, and in terms of numbers infected, Italy has the highest coronavirus mortality rate in the world.

11:55 - Several measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus are being introduced in EU countries and more flights to Italy are canceled.

11:45 - Due to the new situation in Italy, where preventive quarantine has been extended to the entire country due to the spread of coronavirus, the Slovenian company HIT from Nova Gorica has closed some of its casinos along the border, in which Italians are the most frequent guests.

11:25 - Davor Huic, president of the Lipa Taxpayers Association,  commented on N1 television regarding the possibility of a recession due to the emergence of coronaviruses and what measures Croatia could take.

11:15 - Speaker of the European Parliament David Sassoli has announced that he will be performing his duty from home preventively in the next two weeks, as he was in Italy last week, the hardest hit by the coronavirus.

10:01 - Malta has suspended all passenger lines with Italy.

8:25 - Two new cases of infection have been confirmed in Serbia, with a total of four.

8:03 - There is considerable chaos in Italy and renewed fear that food supplies might disappear. Footage arriving from Rome shows huge rows of citizens with carts waiting to enter the supermarket late at night. Coronavirus riots have erupted in several prisons in Italy.

(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.

UPDATED: March 10, 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.

ZAGREB, March 10, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Monday that there was no need for now to review the state budget in light of increased costs caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Plenković said that the situation regarding the new coronavirus is being followed, with concrete measures being taken to ensure the safety of citizens in public health and monitor the possible impact on the economy, finances and tourism.

"When the time comes, we will know what measures to introduce. We are conducting all processes responsibly and soberly," he said.

Earlier in the day Plenković held a video conference with the president of Cyprus and the prime ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Israel, Italy and Romania on possible joint activities in containing the spread of the coronavirus. He will conduct a similar conference on Tuesday with EU heads of state.

"We have to find a common European response considering the global and European nature of this case," he said.

Court decision on my complaint against the Conflict of Interest Commission delivered in legally prescribed time

Reporters also asked Plenković whether he was surprised with the speedy decision by the Zagreb Administrative Court regarding his complaint against the Conflict of Interest Commission, to which Plenković said that the decision was delivered within the legally prescribed time.

I would never put any private interest before the interests of the country and its citizens or the professional and legal conduct of my duties. I have the right, just like any other citizen, to legal protection and legal remedy against decisions by government institutions which from my point of view have caused injustice or political damage to me, Plenković explained.

Asked to comment on a drop in the Croatian Democratic Union's approval rating, Plenković said that the party's rating is stable and has fallen only insignificantly.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, March 10, 2020 - The 16th edition of the ZagrebDox documentary film festival, set to take place from March 15-22, has been postponed following recommendations by the national civil protection authority to postpone indoor public gatherings with more than 1,000 participants due to the new coronavirus outbreak.

A new date for ZagrebDox and additional information on the event will be published in due time, the organisers said.

Numerous business events scheduled for March or early April, including the international Place2Go tourism fair, which was to have taken place at Zagreb's Arena sports hall, have been postponed as well.

The Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, too, has postponed two concerts, set for March 12 and 21.

Earlier in the day the national civil protection authority decided that all foreign citizens entering Croatia from the countries worst hit by the coronavirus will be under mandatory quarantine for 14 days, and that all gatherings of more than 1,000 people should be postponed.

The new measures will be in force until further notice.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 9, 2020 - There are 13 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia, 3 of whom are in serious condition. More than 3,995 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 113,975 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 33,200 cases outside of mainland China and 9,172 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.

Thirteen Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 9, 2020; thirteen Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 5 in Rijeka, 3 in Zagreb, 4 in Varaždin and 1 in Pula.

• The first patient is from Zagreb who became infected during his stay in Italy (Milan, Lombardy province). The two other patients from Zagreb are close contacts of the first patient. 
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during a stay in Italy (Parma). The four other patients from Rijeka are close contacts of the third patient. 
• The first patient from Varaždin stayed in Milan with three friends. The second confirmed case from Varaždin is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth Varaždin cases are close contacts of the driver.
• In Pula, the first coronavirus infection was confirmed this evening. He is a Croatian citizen who works in Italy and is currently hospitalized. 

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.

UPDATED: March 9, 2020 22:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Coronavirus Update 

In their daily press conference, which began today at 16:00 CET, the Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters has ordered all foreign nationals entering Croatia from countries with focal coronavirus outbreaks to be under compulsory quarantine for 14 days. They also recommended postponing rallies attended by more than 1,000 people.

• President of the Civil Protection Staff Davor Bozinovic said on Monday that foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots (China, Italy, South Korea) will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine and Croatian citizens will receive an order for a 14-day self-isolation.
• They also suggest that citizens delay travel to countries affected by coronavirus.
• Bozinovic stressed that all gatherings attended by more than 1000 people should be postponed, and the organizers of gatherings, which would eventually take place, are obliged to ensure the highest hygiene standards, as well as maintain areas with disinfectants. 
• All gathering participants should be given clear instructions to refrain from the usual non-verbal communication that involves avoiding shaking hands and close social contact.
• Bozinovic said that people with respiratory illnesses and fever should not attend such events, and before the event starts the organizer will need to obtain approval from the county civil protection headquarters and the competent public health institute.

"In Croatia, the epidemiological situation is still calm, we have only 12 (13 as of this evening) infected. That is why we have decided on an additional package of preventive measures. We have decided to take measures to preserve public health in Croatia," Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros reported.

Before Measures, 600 Italians Had Entered Croatia Within 24 Hours

"Transmission in some Italian cities is obviously not controllable and that's why they those areas are closed, and people have to stay at home. 600 Italians have entered Croatia in the last 24 hours. We have introduced new measures. Up until now they have been allowed to move freely. Now we have been compelled to introduce a quarantine measure," Krunoslav Capak, Croatian Health Director, reported. He did not specify how many Italian citizens had entered Croatia from coronavirus hotspots in Italy.

"If they choose not to quarantine, they will have to return to their country," he added.

"These are the same areas that the Italian government has closed, which is a perfectly reasonable measure," added minister Bozinovic.

"I'm sure we will all agree upon when these measures should be discontinued. It's good news that the (number of new) infections has decreased in the places (in other countries) where they originated. We believe that this will happen in Italy as well. But today it’s not possible to say when that will happen," Bozinovic concluded.

Markotic: Patients Stable, Three with Serious Symptoms

Alemka Markotic, Director of University Hospital for Infectious Diseases Dr. Fran Mihaljevic, said there were no new changes regarding patients.

"They (three) have showed symptoms for several days, fever, cough, malaise, and one required oxygen for a short period of time; which is to be expected for this illness," she added.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

22:00 - All of Italy is under quarantine because of the coronaviruse. Italian citizens will be allowed to go to work, see a doctor, and move around for emergencies. All sports events are have been cancelled and classes are postponed until April 3.

18:40 - In Italy, 97 people died in the last 24 hours. There were 1797 new infections reported. More.

18:35 - A second case of infection has been confirmed in Serbia.

18:20 - The 13th case of coronavirus infection was confirmed in Croatia, in Pula. More.

17:30 - A fourth case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Bosnia. More.

15:57 - More ski resorts in southern Tyrol, Austria will close their trails before the end of the season due to the coronavirus crisis, Slovenian news agency STA announced on Monday, according to Austrian agency APA.

15:26 - HZZO (Croatian National Health System) explained in a statement that people in self-isolation should seek wage compensation. More.

15:22 - The Croatian Road Carriers Association asks the government to allocate part of their taxes and contributions for their employees to overcome the difficulties caused by the situation in Italy, as well as to help defer the repayment of the leasing installment and loans for the vehicles they have purchased. More.

15:20 - Two families in Cres are in isolation because they provided accommodations for foreigners with the coronavirus. More.

14:48 - The number of those infected in Slovenia has climbed to 23. "By 14:00 CET, 23 cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed in Slovenia and 1227 tests have been performed," the Slovenian government announced on Twitter. Fifteen patients are hospitalized in Ljubljana, and it is not known where at this time.

14:31 - British Airways and easyJet cancel flights to northern Italy. Flights to and from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Bergamot and Venice have been cancelled.

14:30 - The BBC reports that riots have erupted in 27 Italian prisons. More.

13:57 - Two major events in Croatia cancelled due to the coronavirus. This is the Digital Takeover 2020 Summit as well as Danima komunikacija (Communication Days). More.

13:22 - After a rebellion broke out in Modena last night, during which six people died, a riot of prisoners in several Italian prisons ensued. At the moment, law enforcement is trying to suppress a rebellion in the Follia prison where some prisoners have managed to escape but were stopped. Ten inmates who escaped from prison were arrested by police. Prisoners also ignited a fire outside the prison entrance. The prison is still under police siege.

At least seven inmates have fled and are being sought. More.

12:55 - Briton Greg Foster, who lives in Matera, southern Italy, told the BBC that the situation there was tense and discouraging. "The mayor has closed all major facilities, such as wedding halls and concert halls, and many offices are also closing doors," he said, adding that "there is a lot of tension."

12:43 - No coronavirus infections in Osijek-Baranja County, and a patient who came from Italy was admitted to the KBC in Osijek last night, but his findings were negative, a press conference by the County Civil Protection Headquarters reported on Monday. Disinfection of border crossings are also taking place within the county.

12:40 - The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued instructions that all mass gatherings should be canceled in order to prevent the possibility of the spread of coronaviruses. case of coronavirus infection in BiH recorded in the territory of that entity, that is, Banja Luka. More.

11:05 - Serbia has made the decision to cancel all school trips. The ban applies to high school and university trips and student and student exchanges and applies to all schools and universities. More.

10:10 - Three people infected with the coronavirus in Croatia are worse off than others, but their lives are not in danger.

These are two patients from Rijeka and one from Varaždin, but they are not life-threatening. He explained that there is evidence of changes in the lungs of three patients. More.

9:48 - All those who violate the prohibition of movement in Italy without having a valid justification are threatened with up to three months in jail with a fine of up to 206 EUR. But it looks like those penalties will be further tightened, reports Corriere della Serra.

UPDATED: March 9, 2020 22:00 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.

Article update - TCN is putting out a daily update on the coronavirus situation in Croatia, with an updated corona map. See the latest update here.

March 9, 2020 - As COVID-19 puts northern Italy in lockdown, how are things in Croatia as the tourism season approaches? A corona map of Croatia of the few cases in relation to the tourist areas. 

The most searched country of 2018, according to Google, was Croatia, as 'where is Croatia' search terms went through the roof in the wake of the World Cup success of the national team in Russia. 

it is a fact that has stayed with me since. Croatia may have more than 20 million tourists annually, but there are many more who do not know exactly where Croatia is.

And for those who are interested in visiting Croatia, knowing where the tourist hot spots are in a country they cannot place on the map can be a challenge.

It occurred to me that while Italy is becoming the epicentre of the coronavirus outside China, countries such as Croatia - currently with just 12 confirmed cases and no deaths - are perhaps being grouped together in people's minds with the deadly numbers in Italy. 

And, in order to help with the information flow, I thought a corona map of Croatia might serve a useful purpose for people thinking of visiting Croatia but scared of catching the virus. 

As you can see from the map above, some basic information is clear to see. 

• There are currently 12 cases of coronavirus in Croatia, 4 in Varazdin, 5 in Rijeka, 3 in Zagreb.
• There have been no fatalities so far.
• In the 5 countries neighbouring Croatia (Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Hercgovina, and Montenegro), there are a total of 35 cases, and zero fatalities.
• None of the existing cases are close to the main coastal tourist destinations of Istria and Dalmatia.
• None of the major coastal airports - Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Pula - have been affected.
• The sun is shining. 

There is no hiding the fact that this will be a difficult tourist season in Europe and elsewhere for economies which are dependent on foreign visitors. The decision to travel is an individual one, and it is best made with a clear view of the facts. We hope that this first corona map of Croatia, which we will update as time goes on, will help potential visitors to make a more informed decision. 

For the latest news about coronavirus in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

ZAGREB, March 9, 2020 - Croatia is working on various measures in education in light of the coronavirus epidemic, Education Minister Blaženka Divjak said on Monday, adding that an EU ministerial conference would be held on Thursday at which conclusions were expected for all member states.

The ministry will provide information as necessary, in cooperation with the national civil protection authority, Divjak told reporters, dismissing a question about a possible threat from Italy.

We are sending headmasters everything we have planned, primarily instructions concerning hygiene, assembly and travel, she added.

She said a UNESCO conference on how coronavirus was affecting education would be held tomorrow and that certain conclusions would be made.

For Thursday, Divjak convened a ministerial conference of the EU's 27 member states at which the EU's response to the impact of the virus on education was expected.

It's very important to see the practice in the member states and we expect conclusions which would be universal for all, she said, adding that Croatia was prepared to coordinate all activities and that this was why the conference was convened.

Headmasters must see to hygiene measures, for which the ministry is giving them money, Divjak said. "I'm sure the money is there, but it's necessary to see to it that all that is necessary is procured and that the money is given to schools in time."

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.