ZAGREB, March 9, 2020 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has 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, a government press release said on Monday.

Plenković informed Nicos Anastasiades, Sebastian Kurz, Boyko Borissov, Viktor Orban, Benjamin Netanyahu, Giuseppe Conte and Ludovic Orban about 12 confirmed coronavirus cases in three cities in Croatia. He said that Croatia had responded promptly and coordinated the activities of all government departments in preparing measures for the protection of public health and safety.

Plenković outlined the activities Croatia had undertaken at EU level as the current president of the Council of the European Union, citing the activation of the integrated crisis response mechanism on 28 January, the initiation of the extraordinary meetings of EU health ministers of 13 February and 6 March, and the coordination of EU finance ministers.

He highlighted the need for close cooperation between the countries and for a concerted approach in implementing all appropriate measures to contain the virus.

The heads of government and state stressed the importance of strengthening medical and scientific cooperation in order to discover a vaccine as soon as possible and further improve rapid diagnostic tests. They also underlined the need for the further coordination of all activities and the exchange of the best experiences in preventing the spread of the infection.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, March 7, 2020 - Another person in Croatia has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of the people infected to 12, the national civil protection authority said on Saturday morning.

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

The newly-infected person is a close family contact of the second person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the northern city of Varaždin, the Fran Mihaljević Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb confirmed. This latest case has been the fourth case of the positive test in that northern city.

Apart from Varaždin, in Zagreb there have been three patients to date and five in Rijeka.

Last Thursday, Health Minister Vili Beroš declared a danger from an infectious diseases epidemic as an administrative measure at the recommendation of the Croatian Public Health Institute. The measure will enable the minister to reallocate people and equipment in the healthcare system as necessary.

According to the data provided by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), on Friday there were over 5,500 cases that have tested positive in the 27 EU member-states, Great Britain and in the European Economic Area countries.

Both Croatia and the European Union currently have sufficient resources to respond to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, however, it remains to be seen how long this crisis will last, Croatian Minister Beroš said in Brussels on Friday after an extraordinary meeting of the European Union's health ministers over the COVID-19 virus.

More coronavirus can be found in the Lifestyle section.

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

March 6, 2020 - At the regular daily coronavirus press conference of the Civil Protection Staff, which began at 16:00 CET, the Croatia Tourism Minister announced a tourism promotion for Croatian citizens called “A week of rest is worthwhile” (Tjedan odmora vrijedan). The promotion will offer Croatian citizens a 50 percent discount on domestic tourist services from more than 100 participants.

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

Cappelli: Croatia Tourist Bookings Down, 50 Percent Discount Offer

Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli spoke about the impact of coronavirus on tourism in Croatia. He said there hasn't been a major downturn yet, but confirmed that some tourists had cancelled their vacations in Croatia. "It is important that we get through the next 40 days," the minister explained. "The May Day holidays will provide us with an important indicator when hotels and camps are usually 80 percent full," he added. "The high season has not been compromised, bookings have not been cancelled, but they have slowed down for the fourth and fifth and sixth months," Cappelli pointed out.

The minister also announced a special tourism promotion for Croatian citizens and announced that it would be presented next week. It is a campaign called “A week of rest is worthwhile” in which Croatian citizens would receive a 50 percent discount on tourist services from more than 100 participants, such as Croatia Airlines, Jadrolinija, Plitvice and several hotels. Earlier today, the minister told HINA that the discount for domestic guests is expected last from April 10 to April 19, and that the project was designed to stimulate domestic tourist traffic during the pre-season and post-season, according to Zdravka Grund/Telegram on March 6, 2020.

Davor Božinović and Gari Cappelli | N1

Interior Minister Božinović: Need for Awareness, Solidarity Within EU

"All planned and ordered activities are being implemented throughout Croatia and the system is functioning," Croatia Interior Minister Davor Božinović said earlier in the press conference. He also said he had heard from Health Minister Vili Beroš, who is in Brussels at a meeting of health ministers and concluded that the "integrated political response to the crisis highlighted the additional need for solidarity and cooperation."

"This includes raising awareness within Europe," the minister added.

Božinović also said that it is a priority for the European Commission is focus on EU member states, where measures must be proportionate to the situation on the ground, and that all countries have established cross-sectoral cooperation such as that existing in Croatia.

Alemka Markotić | N1

Markotić: New Varaždin Patient Has Mild Symptoms

Professor Alemka Markotić, Director of the Doctor Fran Mihaljević Clinic for Infectious Diseases, said that all of today's samples were negative and there are currently nine more awaiting test results. Speaking about the new patient in Varaždin, she indicated that the patient had mild symptoms and stated that there were no other changes.

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

ZAGREB, March 6, 2020 - The "Zagreb 2020" Light Show which was to have been held at several locations around town from March 18 to 22 has been postponed until October due to the possibility of spreading coronavirus and following instructions and recommendations by the relevant institutions, the Zagreb Tourist Board (TZGZ) stated on Friday.

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

"TZGZ is actively following the situation and advice regarding the safety and protection of citizens and as such it is adapting its activities," the tourist board said.

According to TZGZ the light festival attracts about 25,000 visitors a day and regarding the size of crowds and its international characteristic, TZGZ requested the opinion of the relevant bodies regarding further activities.

In line with recommendations the tourist board has decided to postpone the festival in order to prevent any possible spreading of COVID-19, adding that the precise date of the festival will be decided later once it is certain that there is no longer any health risk.

TZGZ underscores that the light festival is one of the most successful projects that is visited by numerous Croatian citizens but also foreign visitors, mostly from South Korea, USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy and Germany.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

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

March the 6th, 2020 - The Croatian Institute of Public Health, which is responsible for informing people about the current situation with coronavirus and how you can prevent the spread of the virus, has attempted addressing the masses in English. Now the subject of mockery among translators - it hasn't gone down too well.

Ever since I did the Lost in Translation series, (which you can read here, here, here, here, here... and there are probably more), I've been on the lookout for more linguistic gems. I'm a translator by profession and nothing irritates me more than Google Translate failures (although I'm told it has improved somewhat) and those who simply feel that there is absolutely no need for qualified translators, and that Mr. Google or Zdenka's cousin who lives in Dublin can do the job without fail.

In my industry, you tend to hear one or several of a seemingly automated selection of responses when contacted by a would-be employer. Here they are:

1.) We have had some offers, but they've all been ''too expensive'', so we want to find someone who is ''more within our price range''. 

What this means is that they have contacted translators who have given them perfectly normal prices based on their request and a proper and fair calculation, but since the client has no idea of the ins and outs of translation, they've deemed it too expensive because translation is just something people ''can do'' - right? Wrong. This is usually followed by them trying to get you to lower your price.

2.) We hired ---- who offered to do the job at a discount price but our client wasn't happy and wants it to be done again.

What this means is that they paid ridiculously low rates to someone's friend's cousin's former roommate based on the fact that they can speak a little English and their uncle once lived in America. The translation makes zero sense and only when they've paid dearly do they realise the importance of a native speaker with qualifications.

3.) Can you do the work and have it finished by the end of the day/other impossibly short time period?

What this means is that they have zero idea about what is involved in translation and want you to complete it as soon as possible while they take their time paying you and make all the excuses under the sun along the way because they a) have no idea what translation actually implies and b) because they lack respect for you and/or your profession - possibly a mixture of the two.

The above ''automated responses'' are very common in Croatia and every translator will have come face to face with them at some point or another during their careers. Now and again, you get a large, reputable company who has no issue with your price, your agreed deadline, writing you a legal contract, signing it and actually paying you properly. 

One such company, or institution rather, that you'd expect to hire a competent translator and make absolutely sure that the translation is 100% correct before turning it into a sign is the Croatian Institute of Public Health. 

With the outbreak of coronavirus, or COVID-19, institutions across the globe are working to accurately inform the public of preventative measures they can take to lower their chances of contracting the virus or passing it to others. It's also necessary to inform people just what COVID-19 is, and when to worry and of course when not to.

A friend of mine who shares my love of translation fails sent me this today, and I must say that while the translation isn't terrible by any means, it's just a little bit embarrassing and shameful for the Croatian Institute of Public Health, which needs to be on the ball as a virus that has never before been observed in humans spreads across the globe and as more cases are confirmed here in Croatia.

My first question is just how one can cover their mouth with their elbow? I've tried several times, either I'm awfully inflexible or this simply isn't something a person would instinctively do, ever.

Avoid handling, you say? Handling what exactly? I am inclined to think this means that you should avoid rukovanje (the shaking of hands), which would imply ''close conversation''.

''Kipping'' rooms ventilated is definitely essential and doesn't always sit very well with Croats who are terrified of the dreaded propuh (draught), owing to the belief that it actually causes one to become sick, when in many cases it's the complete opposite. Regardless of propuh, if you want to avoid coronavirus, then kip that room ventilated. 

Avoid larger ''group'' of people? Just the one group, then.

This isn't the world's worst translation by any means and I've seen a lot worse, but come on.

It's one thing when a pub or a bar or some other small, private business makes a little, amusing error, but the Croatian Institute of Public Health has more than enough funds available to it to hire a translator and a proof reader to make sure a very short and simple translation such as this one, about something that is so important, goes out and is placed on signs and official websites smoothly.

Follow our lifestyle page for more.

ZAGREB, March 5, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beroš submitted a report on the epidemiological situation surrounding the coronavirus outbreak at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, saying that the situation in the country was satisfactory given that only ten people were infected.

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

"Of the 251 people tested to date, 10 are positive for now: three in Zagreb, five in Rijeka and two in Varaždin. This epidemiological picture is promising and satisfactory because there are only three hotspots. These are imported cases and their contacts were quickly detected and placed under supervision by epidemiological services," the minister said.

Beroš noted that the patients in Zagreb and Rijeka were infected by one imported patient, while in Varaždin there are two isolated cases of imported patients. The ratio of people who tested positive to the number of those tested is 3.98 percent, he added.

The minister said that the epidemiological situation was not that serious as to require closing schools, and that a number of other measures were ready for activation if necessary.

"If the situation escalates, we will respond," Beroš said, adding that alternative ways of conducting school classes were ensured.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stressed that no decision had been made to suspend school classes. "We are monitoring the situation and everything we have done so far is sober, rational, transparent and informative, and no other measures are in place. It is important that the public knows this," he added.

Beroš said that there were plans to conduct classes online but that this was just a theoretical possibility for now. "I hope this crisis lasts as briefly as possible and that warm weather will lead to the epidemic abating. There's no need to alarm the public," he said, urging caution at public events.

Beroš said there have been no plans for now to cancel events as part of the Croatian presidency of the European Union. He added that the authorities were implementing the planned epidemiological measures to contain the infection and called on everyone to follow the recommendations from the authorities and to exercise caution.

A total of 95,484 people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus, of whom 15,054 outside China. The death toll has reached 3,286, including 271 outside China.

"In Europe, which has seen a noticeable rise in the number of cases, 4,370 people have been infected and 114 of them have died. The hardest-hit countries are Italy with 3,089 cases, France with 285, Germany with 262 and Spain with 228 cases," Beroš said.

He said that the national civil protection authority was meeting on a daily basis and that all government departments were involved.

All health institutions and private health workers have been advised to postpone providing health tourism services to people from areas affected by the coronavirus. All people who have visited those areas, namely China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Iran and northern Italy, are asked not to attend public gatherings in the interest of public health, Beroš said.

He announced that EU health ministers were meeting in Brussels on Friday to discuss the measures being implemented by member states and agree a strategy in countering the outbreak.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

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

ZAGREB, March 7, 2020 - A total of 12 Croatians have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus to date. Health Minister Vili Beroš told a news conference in Zagreb on Wednesday March 5, 2020 that there was no need to declare a state of emergency.

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

Addressing the news conference, the head of the Fran Mihaljević hospital for infectious diseases, Alemka Markotić, said that all the patients were doing well and most of them no longer had any symptoms of the disease.

The patients are being treated in hospitals in Zagreb, Rijeka and Varaždin.

Asked if the number of infected persons could actually be higher, Dr Markotić said that with each infectious disease there can be a certain number of people who get over it without any apparent symptom of the illness.

"We call it asymptomatic infection, and there can be such cases with this disease. Such people generally pose no risk to other people. However, it remains to be seen if there are any inapparent infections with this novel disease," she added.

Minister Beroš explained that there had been no need so far to declare a state of emergency since the national civil protection authority had responded rapidly and adequately.

The epidemiological situation in Croatia is relatively calm, and in Europe, Croatia's model of response to the virus outbreak is being followed, he added.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

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

March 4, 2020 - Ivan Buča, a journalist for 24 Sata, is currently under medical supervision in Croatia, after returning home from Japan, because of the coronavirus outbreak there. There are currently over 2000 people under supervision in Croatia, with some complaining that they feel harassed and stigmatized.

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

“What's up, friend? You're a coronaš now, eh?”

This message was an attempt to cheer me up by a ‘witty’ friend after learning that I was in home isolation because I had just returned from Japan. Unfortunately for my friend, I am not a 'coronaš' because I don't have any symptoms of the disease.

Croatia Journalist Under Supervision After Japan Return

But since Japan was added to the list of countries last week where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recommend travel to, if not necessary, due to the coronavirus outbreak; I have been put under medical supervision for 14 days, Ivan Buča wrote for 24 Sata on March 3, 2020.

I am like many people who have returned from China, Korea, the affected areas of northern Italy in recent days…

The Ministry issued a travel advisory for Japan in the middle of my one-week visit to that country, where I was staying with about 20 other Croatians. On the same day, the Japanese Prime Minister decided that all schools and kindergartens would be closed for a month, and museums would shut their doors for two weeks. We were immediately aware that, upon returning home, we would be subject to expanded screenings at the airport and would be placed under medical supervision.

“Look at the bright side. At least we won't have to go to work,” some of my companions were cheering as we tried to dispel the discomfort of returning to Croatia by sharing various memes about the coronavirus (and there are some hilarious ones) on the plane.

Because after following the news from the homeland about empty shelves in shops, disguised protective masks and empty stands in HNL (Croatian First Football League) stadiums, we thought we would surely come home to a zombie apocalypse. Therefore, we might face the danger of someone firing upon us upon leaving the airport because we’ve come from the "corona zone".

Then we remembered that the stadiums in the HNL were empty and virus-free, so we didn’t feel so anxious.

“Easy for you. I work for foreigners. When I tell him that I must stay home, it will only make my e-mails even harder,” our guest worker has been inconsolable throughout the flight.

Customs | Franjo Tuđman Airport - Zagreb

Zagreb Airport Border Inspector: Report to Epidemiologist

After landing in Zagreb at the airport on Sunday, there were shared mixed feelings of immense happiness and uncertainty. Immeasurable happiness because, after almost 20 hours of flying, we can finally go to a normal toilet, and uncertainty because we know that we will not be able to leave the airport so easily.

As soon as we stepped off the plane, we headed to the counter of the Senior Border Inspector. There we were told that we would have to fill out the required forms first and then wait.

With all the praiseworthy efforts Croatia is making to curb the spread of the coronavirus, having only one sanitary inspector at the airport appears to be inadequate for the arrivals of large groups of passengers. And even the hand sanitizer fluid on the same counter would be out of the question.

But we patiently filled out the necessary forms - where we had been, where we were going, what we were doing, whether we were in contact with someone who was ill, did we have any symptoms…

At the counter, we also noticed brochures about the coronavirus, which were translated into Chinese, as well as several other flyers for travellers.

The coronavirus may currently be the "star" among infectious diseases, but it is not the only one that is dangerous, so there were also instructions about controlling the spread of the African swine fever.

About an hour later, we received a series of medical surveillance decisions “on suspicion of SARS-CoV-2” (the official name of the virus), ordering us to immediately contact an epidemiologist on duty, by phone or in person, as soon as we arrive.

Epidemiologist: Expect 14 Days in Home Isolation

The epidemiologist on duty, after finding out that I had no symptoms and that as far as I could tell I had not been in contact with someone who was infected, explained to me that I awaited 14 days in home isolation, which meant that I may not go to work, a grocery store, coffee shop or any other public place. I simply must stay home for 14 days.

Since the sanitary inspector's decision states that I will be fined for violating of health surveillance order; I looked up the penalties in the Law on the Protection of the People from Infectious Diseases. A real trifle - up to 5000 HRK (668 EUR) for per person.

That, in my opinion, is enough reason to comply with the decision. As for members of my household, it is my obligation to make sure that I do not cough or sneeze and that I isolate myself from them as much as possible. As I have no symptoms, there is no sneezing or coughing.

How to Self Isolate | Good Morning Britain

2400 Croatians Under Surveillance or Self Isolation

The epidemiologist on duty gave me contact information area epidemiologists, categorized according to address of residence. I need to check in with them on the phone every day during those two weeks and describe my health condition. If, God forbid, symptoms occur, I must call them immediately and without delay. It is estimated that more than 2400 people are currently under surveillance or self-isolation in Croatia.

Some have complained that this environment insults them and stigmatizes them as 'carriers', so it is important to emphasise that being monitored and self-isolated does not mean that these people are ill – but that they are behaving responsibly, to appease their immediate and wider relatives, work colleagues and neighbours based upon the fact that they were in countries where the virus has spread.

And so, during my first two days of home isolation, I appropriately contacted epidemiologists with my health information.

Presently, jet lag is my most troublesome symptom, which makes me wake up at two in the morning without fail because my body clock is still on "Japanese time".

Journalist Spends Isolation Watching TV: Soccer, Eurosong

Since much can be learned from health-conscious Japanese, I have applied some of their theories of healthy living. More than ever, I make sure I drink enough fluid and eat lots of fruit. Although I have no symptoms, I also take my temperature, because what is safe is safe.

And how do you make the time pass in home isolation? Well, writing texts is always an option. I haven't yet seen last year's hit series "Chernobyl", so I think it's somehow appropriate to address this now during this cataclysmic period.

While I was in Japan, Croatia had also consumed by the Dora virus, or the big “hateful” choice of a Croatian song for Eurosong. So, after returning to my own ears and eyes, I had to get acquainted with the musical and visual expressions of every participant. After watching all the performances, I realized that it would be better if I had skipped it because some performances will haunt me in dreams and nightmares.

And in the absence of sporting events, even those empty HNL grandstands from the perspective of home isolation seem tempting. And thank heaven for the televised dual of eternal rivals NK Lokomotiva and Slaven Belupo!

Coronavirus Health Surveillance: About Protecting Yourself and Others

All jokes aside, a level of health surveillance is essential and necessary, as much as it may seem to some to be a hassle. It is equally important to take care of my own and others' health. If I have learned anything in Japan, it is that they are the champions of caring for their own health and the health of others. They approach these difficult situations with a serious dose of caution, and without panic.

So, wash your hands well and preferably with soap and water, not ash, as the all-knowing epidemiologist (Zagreb Mayor) Bandić advised. Use hand sanitizer and cover your mouth sneezing or coughing and act responsibly.

How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

On Tuesday March 3, 2020; the ninth case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Croatia. This is a young man from Varaždin who returned from Milan on February 24. The Croatia Border Inspection put him under surveillance and he’s now in the hospital.

What is Isolation?

For those who are ill: Complete quarantine or isolation refers to patients with coronavirus who are under controlled conditions in hospitals. They are completely isolated from the outside world, which means that they eat in the same space, but also go to the bathroom in the same space. That also has a protocol (before going to the bathroom, a certain agent must be poured into the bowl, and it is necessary to wait 10 minutes before flushing the toilet). This procedure was already reported by the twins, who were first in Croatia to be infected with the coronavirus.

What is Self-Isolation?

Sanitary Guidelines: Self-isolation is usually imposed upon people after a border inspection. We learned from the Professional Association of Drivers and Carriers that a certificate with instructions on self-isolation is issued at the border. These people can go to their homes. HZJZ Director Doctor Capak said such a person should not have contact with other people if possible.

Should you self isolate? | Good Morning Britian

What is Health Surveillance?

Reporting to an epidemiologist: Everyone who has been in the area affected by the spread of the infection is provided with guidance on health surveillance which can be active or passive. With active surveillance, epidemiologists personally call people on the phone and check for any symptoms (even the lowest fever, cough, snoring). Passive surveillance means that they must report to epidemiologists once a day on their own.

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

March 3, 2020 - Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, bookings for Easter in Croatia have been significantly reduced. However, some companies have figured out how to reduce cancellations of booked travel arrangements. They have decided to give tourists the option of cancelling their trip without penalty up two or three days before their scheduled arrival.

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

Familiar Words: No Reason to Panic in Croatia

On the other hand, tourism experts say that Croatia has no reason to panic according to Martina Pauček Šljivak/Index on March 3, 2020. Although everyone is keeping a close eye on what happens and how the situation develops, they say that the reduced number of Easter bookings is not necessarily cause for concern. But they added that the number of bookings is worse than last year. Nevertheless, they claim that those numbers should not be compared to last year, because these are two different scenarios.

Tomislav Fain, president of the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies, told Index that Easter bookings were slow and not going at the pace they went last year. However, he also said that some companies have made key decisions which have currently reduced the cancellations of travel arrangements for Croatia.

Some Croatia Partners Offer Last Minute Cancellations

"The bookings we have received have still not been cancelled to a large extent, most went to partners with reduced travel cancellation options. Some companies have thus decided to give clients the option of cancelling their trips even two to three days before their planned arrival to Croatia without having to pay a cancellation fee. We are all watching what is happening, both for our guests and us. We are all hoping that this situation will stabilize and that everyone will continue to travel normally. But the fact is that we do not have any new reservations for Easter," Fain told Index.

Index also spoke with Veljko Ostojić, director of the Croatian Tourism Association, who said that because of the coronavirus outbreak, some tour groups from Italy had cancelled their arrivals in Croatia for Easter. Some events in Croatia have also been cancelled, he revealed to Index.

Index

Bookings from Italy Down Significantly

"Easter bookings are down significantly, and inquiries have been reduced. But Easter falls on April 12 this year and all sorts of things are possible. So, if things get under control, we can expect the infected to be healthy within the next few days, so it's too early to assess what kind of results there will be for Easter," Ostojić added.

Last year, he said, there were more bookings at this time of year, but he also added that it was difficult to compare a normal year to this specific situation.

"Easter can be great and it can be bad, now people are monitoring the coronavirus developments in Croatia, and in their own countries. I think we have no reason to panic regarding this topic, and even if Easter is worse than last year, nothing dramatic will happen here. The four summer months are the most important to us and possibly some lost arrivals can be made up for later. There is no reason to panic," Ostojić concluded, echoing a familiar phrase.

Coronavirus Causes Cancellations of March Group Bookings

Croatian Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli recently said that Croatian tourism is not feeling the downside of coronavirus outbreak for the time being, but that bookings have slowed down slightly, which he said was normal and to be expected. He added that the largest cancellations are currently happening in the business and congress tourism segment for March.

"The further spread of coronavirus in Croatia and the rest of Europe is difficult to project, but it is expected that it will have an impact on the first quarter's tourism results, though not too much, since the tourist turnover is normally lower in that quarter and the share of total annual revenue from tourism is about five percent," Cappelli assessed at a previous government meeting.

2000 Chinese tourists visited Croatia in February 2020, which was 60 percent less than 2019 | Index

2000 Chinese Tourists in February 2020: Down 60 Percent

He stated that there are currently about 24.5 thousand tourists in Croatia, which is similar to last year, and that the decline is mostly coming from Asian markets, especially from China, whose tourists numbered about two thousand, or 60 percent less in February than in the same month last year. However, in January this year there were almost four thousand or 70 percent more. Cappelli says tourism numbers are now about zero from that market compared to last year's results at the same time.

He also pointed out that in relation to the total tourist physical and financial traffic in the first three months of this year, due to the situation with the virus, they do not expect any major negative impact, except for the already mentioned segment of business and congress tourism, which happens in March.

Easter Earlier in 2020: True Tourist Picture Expected in May

"Easter is earlier this year, at the beginning of April, and when the holiday falls earlier it never provides a true picture of what will happen in the tourist season. This year, the real picture will be only be seen around the May holidays, when the largest number of Italian tourists arrive. Like Slovenes and Germans, they merge those holidays with others in their countries," added Cappelli.

He also noted that the last two years has seen a trend of last-minute bookings in May for the summer peak season, and for which he does not currently show any cancellations in Croatia. However, even in some of the major markets, like Germany and Great Britain, there has been a steady demand recorded with low growth compared to the same period in 2019.

Follow our Travel page for updates on Croatia tourism forecasts and statistics for 2020. The website for the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies can be found here, the Croatian Tourism Association here and the Croatia Ministry of Tourism here.

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

ZAGREB, March 3, 2020 - The threat that the coronavirus outbreak brings is a good example of how innovations in health, in this case finding a new vaccine, can contribute to the efficiency of the health system, it was said on Tuesday at a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia (AmCham).

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

Assistant Health Minister Vera Katalinić-Janković underlined that viruses were still two steps ahead of us however the objective would be to obtain an efficient vaccine against coronavirus and that, on the most part depends on the pharmaceutical industry and its possibilities for innovations.

"Apart from what innovations in the pharmaceutical industry bring to patients and the health system today, and the possibilities of cooperation between the health system and IT industry in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics in the health system, we will also talk about how to contribute to treating new threats like coronavirus," AmCham executive director Andrea Doko Jelušić said.

Today's conference was organised on the occasion of Croatia's presidency of the Council of the EU in an effort to establish dialogue between all the relevant stakeholders on the role of an innovative health industry as a generator of Europe's economic growth, future health innovations in the EU and the importance of Europe's innovative capacities.

The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry's State-Secretary, Nikolina Brnjac, underlined that during Croatia's presidency there would be talks on a series of important topics such as organ donors and transplants, lifelong health care and an analysis of the effect of new medicines and health technology.

Chairwoman of the parliamentary health and social policy committee, Ines Strenja, said that Croatia had the second highest rate of patients suffering from cancer in Europe and assessed that in addition to innovative medicines the country needed an innovative approach because of poor performance in prevention and late diagnoses of malignant diseases, while at the same time the country was investing huge amounts of money in particularly expensive medicines.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

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