November 5, 2021 - Among the new measures announced due to the rise in positive cases in the country, Davor Božinović announced that COVID certificates will be introduced as of January 4, and if the situation does not improve, they will only be valid for those who have recovered and/or vaccinated.

The National Civil Protection Headquarters announced when a new record of 6,932 new cases was broken in Croatia, that the use of covid certificates will be expanded from November 15, which will be mandatory for users and employees of public and state services, and gatherings will be further restricted from tomorrow, reports Index.hr.

From tomorrow new measures for gatherings

"To prevent the spread of the infection, it is necessary to act in three directions: to achieve as much vaccination as possible, to limit gatherings and to achieve as much security as possible when conducting business that will not be limited," said National Staff Chief Davor Bozinovic at a press conference.

He announced that new epidemiological measures would be introduced as a result, gatherings would be restricted from tomorrow, and the use of covid certificates would be expanded from 15 November.

Thus, a certificate of vaccination, recovery, or a negative test from mid-November will be mandatory for all employees of state and public services, as well as for citizens who will use their services and come to their premises. 

If the numbers continue to grow, from November 15, confirmations for cafes, shopping centers ...

The Headquarters announced on Thursday that covid certificates will be used even more widely from mid-November if the number of newly infected continues to grow, and then they will be introduced in catering facilities, such as cafes, restaurants, gyms, recreational and fitness centers indoors. 

Bozinovic announced that testing will be possible only in registered institutions and that, for a start, the cost of testing will be borne by the employer at the request of employees. 

As of January 4, certificates only for those vaccinated and those who have survived COVID-19

He pointed out that, if the situation does not improve, they will introduce covid-certificates from January 4, which will be available only to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19, and those who have been tested will no longer receive them.

"That gap has been left because it is enough time for all those who have not been vaccinated to get vaccinated by the beginning of next year," Bozinovic said. 

Details of new measures

With a new decision coming into force tomorrow, Saturday, November 6, the headquarters further restricted gatherings indoors and outdoors.

From tomorrow, all public gatherings indoors with more than 50 people are prohibited, except for those attended by people who have a covid-certificate, but from now on it will be mandatory to wear masks and maintain distance. 

Events above 100 participants can only be organized at open-air public gatherings if all participants have an EU digital covid-certificate. Exceptionally, events over 100 people will be able to be held outdoors only with the approval of the CNIPH, which will develop an epidemiological framework. 

All gatherings are limited to 24 hours, with the exception of cinema screenings that begin at 11 pm and wedding ceremonies where everyone has a covid confirmation. The weddings must end no later than 2 o'clock after midnight, and they will consider additional time limits, announced Božinović. 

Congresses and conferences will be able to be held provided everyone has a Covid certificate, wears a mask, and keeps a distance.

Sports competitions will be able to be held in the presence of spectators indoors only if everyone has a Covid certificate and is required to use face masks. Sports participants will also have to have certificates, but they will not have to wear masks, Bozinovic said.

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November 5, 2021 - The first delta plus case in Croatia was detected in Čakovec on Thursday, revealed Krunoslav Capak's deputy Ivana Pavić Šimetin. 

Krunoslav Capak's deputy Ivana Pavić Šimetin confirmed on the HRT show Otvoreno on Thursday that the first delta plus corona strain was recorded in Croatia, reports Index.hr.

"Today, the first delta plus case was recorded in Čakovec. We knew it was at the door. From experience with delta and alpha strains, it will be seen how dangerous it is. What is known so far is that it is somewhat more contagious than the delta strain," she said. 

“It is precisely the smaller proportion of vaccinated people that is conducive to the spread of these new strains,” she added, confirming that the new epidemiological measures will be learned today at a session of the National Headquarters. 

"Among the delta strains that are dominant as causes of infection, the delta strain of variant AY.4.2 is sequenced, which means that the more virulent strain is in our environment and is much faster and easier to transmit," said the director of the Međimurje Institute of Public Health, Marina Payerl-Pal.

She added that the only option for all of us is vaccination, saying that Međimurje is a relatively well-vaccinated region, over 60 percent, but that is still not enough to prevent the spread of the virus in the way we are currently witnessing.

As Index found out last night, the Headquarters will introduce a significantly wider use of Covid-certificates, which are currently mandatory only in health and social care.

But at the moment, well-informed sources reveal that there will not be an extensive application of certificates issued for vaccinations, illnesses, or negative tests, which would include cafes, restaurants, and shopping malls, as announced by some media.

Instead, according to Index, Covid-certificates will be introduced at this stage in all state and public services for employees and users of their services. This means that everyone who works in some state or local institutions will have to have a Covid-certificate to work. Still, citizens who come to public institutions will also have to have this certificate.

Delta + is probably 10% more contagious than Delta

A variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus called delta is one of the most contagious viruses we know. It is as infectious as chickenpox and is more contagious than the viruses that cause MERS, SARS, Ebola, colds, flu, and smallpox. Delta is also significantly more virulent than the British version known as alpha, which is more contagious than the original Wuhan strain.

As this super infectious variant spreads, it continues to mutate. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus, and they mutate faster than double-stranded RNA viruses and DNA viruses. In addition, research has shown that genome size is generally negatively correlated with mutation rate - the larger the genome, the fewer mutations.

In this sense, it is good that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a large genome composed of about 30 thousand base pairs, so it mutates relatively slowly for single-stranded RNA viruses, slower than the flu. The correlation between genome size and mutation slowness is logical because a virus with a large genome must have a well-ordered check on the accuracy of copying its code. If it did not have that, too many errors would occur in the large genome, and the virus would not be effective - too many viral particles would be created in reproduction that would be scrapped. On the other hand, the flu virus, which is much shorter in RNA, can afford the luxury of being less accurately transcribed and more mutated, and the same is valid for hepatitis C and HIV viruses.

On the other hand, the delta is spreading and replicating so massively due to high infectivity that transcription errors still occur in large numbers. The likelihood of new variants increases, especially in unvaccinated populations.

One of the last variants that caught the attention of health professionals is a variant called AY.1, or delta plus. The reason for the interest is that the Indian Ministry of Health classified it in June as a “variant of concern”. This label indicates that it appears to be more contagious, bind more easily to lung cells, and be potentially resistant to monoclonal antibody therapy, meaning it could break through acquired immunity.

Delta plus has a spike (S) mutation K417N on the protein that delta does not have. This mutation was previously found in some subvariants of the alpha that dominated before the delta and in the beta variant.

James EK Hildreth, executive director of Meharry Medical School in Nashville, told the Washington Post that public health leaders should pay attention to the experiences of other nations, pointing to the devastating effect of the delta in India and the country's decision to label delta plus as a concern.

“We have already seen what happened to the delta in India and how fast it has spread,” he said.

"Why would we think the delta plus variant would be different?" he added.

One reason for concern is the possibility that delta plus would break through the protection created by getting sick or getting vaccinated. So far, we have no explicit confirmation of this concern.

The delta plus variant in Europe was first recorded in March 2021. It has since been discovered in several countries worldwide, including South Korea and the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it currently accounts for only a small 0.1% share of the causative agent among those infected with Covid-19. However, the delta strain is now the cause of 93% of all infections in the United States.

Whether it is more contagious than the delta will be shown over time if its share grows, that is, if it proves to displace the delta. This will take some time because the delta itself is highly contagious, so the advantage of the delta plus variant in terms of contagion is probably not great. For now, it is assumed to be 10 percent more contagious than delta.

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November the 5th, 2021 - Croatian hospitals are once again busy preparing for the worst as the coronavirus infection rate climbs across the country and threats of a similar situation to what we experienced this time last year looms. With nowhere near enough of the population vaccinated, worries for the healthcare system reign strong.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, it was recently reported that just 31 percent of the population in Split-Dalmatia County have been vaccinated with two doses of the vaccine against COVID-19, making it the worst county in all of Croatia. This means that out of about 450 thousand inhabitants of this county, only about 150 thousand of them have been vaccinated, while 300 thousand of them, for whatever reason, haven't.

''It's a real shame and those are extremely poor numbers. I have nothing more to say, I've been "blunt" for more than a year now when saying that people should and must be vaccinated, but people obviously don't have enough understanding of that appeal. Whatever people say and no matter how much they convince people that they have to be vaccinated, they constantly think someone is trying to lie to them or do harm to them. And, believe me, I personally know quite a few of them who are now in Croatian hospitals, in a serious condition and now they strongly regret that they didn't get vaccinated. But when a man ends up in the hospital, then it's too late for him, by that point, he's got nothing to do but try to think about how he can remain alive,'' stated prof. dr. sc. Zlatko Trobonjaca, an immunologist from the University of Rijeka.

The newer Delta strain of the novel coronavirus spreads much more efficiently and quickly, it is much more contagious than previous variants.

''That's why I expect that in fifteen to twenty days there will be chaos going on in Croatian hospitals. If we know that hospitals are ''behind'' with those hospitalised with COVID-19, as those infected and needing urgent care usually arrive two to three weeks after having been initially infected, it should be very clear to you what awaits us soon.

Currently, those in Croatian hospitals with COVID-19 arrived when the number of total infected in Croatia was much lower than these numbers have been over more recent days. Recently, we've had more than four thousand people infected a day, and the more infected there are, the more hospitalised people there will be. The National Civil Protection Directorate knows that in two to three weeks, there's going to be a huge blow to Croatian hospitals,'' warned Trobonjaca.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš announced on Thursday that the national COVID-19 crisis management team would introduce a new package of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, including wider use of COVID certificates, but there would not be a new lockdown.

"We are completely clear that we must react. A new package of measures is being hammered out and it will be presented at a press conference tomorrow. Epidemiologists will this time again put forward measures which will be agreed on with the goal of preventing the spread of the infection, a further rise in the number of new cases, and ensuring the stability of the health system," Beroš told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

He confirmed that the new measures included a wider use of COVID certificates, although he "certainly hopes that we wouldn't need a COVID certificate to go for a coffee or to a shopping center".

"There are a number of other measures with which we can try to prevent the further spread of the virus. We'll see everything tomorrow," said Beroš, noting that the new measures sought to strike a balance between restrictions and normal life.

He underscored that the citizens who had been vaccinated had been taken into account in the new package of measures.

"There cannot be a new lockdown. Those who are truly protected, those who have recovered from the infection and been vaccinated, we cannot restrict their lives," Beroš said.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - Five members of the government's scientific council -  Andreja Ambriović Ristov, Nenad Ban, Petra Klepac, Branko Kolarić, and Igor Rudan - warned on Thursday that measures against the COVID-19 epidemic are not sufficiently effective and should be adjusted to prevent the further rise in new infections.

"Croatia is faced with the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with a relatively low rate of vaccination compared to other EU countries. This wave is dominated by the Delta variant of the virus which is significantly more contagious than the variants in the preceding three waves, and somewhat more dangerous for all age groups. Any increase in the number of cases from week to week is a sign that the epidemiological measures in force are not sufficiently effective, so they need to be adjusted in scope to prevent the further large rise," the scientists said in a press release distancing themselves from statements by another member of the council, Gordan Lauc.

The scientists said that many countries in the world have shown with their example that it is possible to protect people's lives and preserve the healthcare system through crisis management, confidence in the profession, and the unity of society in understanding the situation, vaccinating as much of the population as possible and the timely introduction of a series of available anti-epidemic measures.

"That experience acquired is not being sufficiently applied in Croatia, while misinformation spread by incompetent people who systematically undermine the seriousness of this pandemic continues to be the main source of information for a large number of citizens. That is why over the next few weeks Croatia will record a very large number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths and will become one of the countries in the world hardest hit by the pandemic," the scientists added. 

They called on citizens to inform themselves from experts and to adhere to measures that can prevent the spread of the contagion, urging those who haven't been vaccinated to do so and in that way help relieve the burden on the health system, which is currently in an extremely difficult situation.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Thursday that statements by individuals about the deterioration of the health system were not true and that all COVID and non-COVID patients were being taken care of without delay.

"I wish to appeal to the media that statements by individuals about the deterioration of the health system are simply not true. Indeed, large resources are being redirected towards the treatment of COVID patients, which could have been avoided by timely vaccination. However, all COVID and non-COVID patients are being taken care of without delay," Beroš told a cabinet meeting.

National COVID-19 response team considering a possible new set of measures

The head of the national COVID-19 response team, Interior Minister Davor Božinović, said that they were considering a possible new set of measures to contain the spread of the virus. He said that interdepartmental talks were ongoing and that the public would be informed of any new measures in due course.

Beroš said that today's number of 6,310 new cases in Croatia was by far the largest daily number recorded to date.

"The causes of this surge lie in ourselves alone, in our refusal to comply with the basic epidemiological measures, and in our insufficient awareness of the benefits of vaccination," Beroš said.

7 in 10 new cases and 8 in 10 patients on ventilators unvaccinated

He said that the test positivity rate was 43.90 percent, and 233 infected people had been hospitalized in the 24 hours alone. In the past week, of the total number of new cases, 72.8 percent were not vaccinated, and 77.2 percent of the patients on ventilators were not vaccinated, he warned.

"However, the newly-awakened interest among citizens in getting vaccinated is encouraging. As many as 14,379 persons were vaccinated yesterday, the largest number in a single day to date," the health minister said.

Beroš said that 29,627 people had so far received a booster shot against COVID-19, adding that three percent of children aged 12-14 and 18.6 percent of young people aged 15-19 had been vaccinated to date.

"Insufficient compliance with the epidemiological measures and refusal to get vaccinated are the main causes of the rapid spread of the virus. We are seeing consequences at all levels of the health system," Beroš warned and once again appealed to citizens to get vaccinated.

He said that the ministry had instructed local coronavirus response teams to ensure additional capacities for medical treatment in their counties.

Božinović said that 11,578 inspections had been carried out in the past week to check compliance with the epidemiological measures. He said that the irregularities mostly concerned the provision of catering services after midnight and failure to wear face masks and maintain a physical distance in enclosed spaces. He said that 27 infringement notices, 176 written warnings, 14 oral warnings, and 17 fines had been issued in that regard.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - After Croatia saw a record high daily number of new coronavirus cases, GLAS parliamentary deputy Anka Mrak Taritaš on Thursday called on the government to ramp up the vaccination campaign, saying it was high time for restrictions to be imposed on the unvaccinated.

"The campaign should be further intensified, but that will not suffice. Now is the right time to tell people that they cannot get to work or to cafes and restaurants and shops if they are not vaccinated."

She criticized the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the government for being lenient and failing to take serious steps to encourage people to get vaccinated.

"By next spring we will have the same number of COVID fatalities as the deaths in the Homeland War. Our COVID-19 fatality rate is among the highest in the world," Mrak Taritaš said.

Andreja Marić of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also called for better immunization.

"People, get vaccinated, trust your doctors and experts," she said, accusing the government and the COVID-19 crisis management team of not doing their job well.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - Education Minister Radovan Fuchs said on Thursday that closing schools will not contribute to stopping the virus from spreading, underscoring that only an adequate vaccination rate can help achieve that.

"I will repeat for the 155th time, closing schools will not contribute to stopping this situation God knows to any extent. That can only be done with vaccination," Minister Fuchs told reporters after a ceremony at which Law School of the Unversity of Zagreb marked its day.

If not enough citizens are vaccinated, underscored Fuchs, "we will continue to have reservoirs that will keep generating the virus from the unvaccinated population."

Fuchs believes that there is no need to adopt any special measures in the education system for the time being. "We can exchange opinions about that and will reach an agreement with the COVID-19 crisis response team related to perhaps ramping up the obligation of wearing masks in schools but at the moment we will remain as it is and I think that is good," said Fuchs.

As far as universities are concerned they have had a different set of epidemiological measures from the start as recommended by the Croatian Institute for Public Health (HZJZ). They can organize lectures as they think best.

Last year some subjects were taught exclusively online, "but that certainly isn't the solution."

"They are students and there is no obstacle for them to be vaccinated and universities will adopt the necessary measures. They may even apply a model of COVID certificates and testing," said Fuchs.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - As of Monday, November 8, primary and secondary schools in Zagreb will go back to face-to-face classes, the city's education office said on Thursday. 

In case the epidemiological situation in a school worsens, the city office will, in cooperation with the "Andrija Štampar" Teaching Institute for Public Health, consider switching to online classes.

The city office for education said this decision was made in line with a conclusion of the city's COVID-19 response team of November 4.

This week, after All Saints' Day, schools have been holding online classes.

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ZAGREB, 4 Nov 2021 - The teachers' Facebook group Staff Room on Thursday asked Education Minister Radovan Fuchs to expedite the testing of students and reduce waiting times for test results in order to contribute to curbing the spread of the coronavirus infection and reduce the need for online classes.

In an open letter to the minister, the group says that over the last few weeks the epidemiological situation in schools has been deteriorating even though the ministry, in cooperation with the Public Health Institute, has done a lot to prevent schools from turning into infection hotspots.

That the situation in schools has been deteriorating is evidenced by the fact that almost all schools in Croatia have switched to online classes after the autumn school break, the group said.

"Even though we are talking about only a few days, we believe this is only a short-term solution," they said.

The group notes that due to the increased pressure on the epidemiological service and the large number of people who are being tested, students in some cases are tested only five or six days after exhibiting symptoms.

Students have to wait for test results for up to two days, during which time all their close contacts in the classroom continue to attend physical classes while contacts outside the school are also at risk, the group says, warning that without self-isolation, the virus continues to spread.

This increases the likelihood of entire classes or even schools having to switch to distance learning, the group says, calling on the minister to do his best for the process of testing of students to be expedited and waiting time for results to be reduced.

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