ZAGREB, 31 Oct, 2021 - Over the past 24 hours Croatia has registered 3,319 new cases of the coronavirus infection, as well as 22 related deaths, and the number of active cases today stands at 25,138.

There are currently 1,418 COVID patients in hospitals, 170 of whom are on ventilators, and 32,398 people are self-isolating.

To date, a total of 3,106,745 people have been tested, including 8,717 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 3,615,769 vaccine doses have been administered, and 47.10% of the total population or 56.41% of the adult population has been vaccinated.

As at 30 October, 1,911,239 people have received at least one shot, and 1,797,683 people have been fully vaccinated, which accounts for 53.17% of the adult population.

For more on COVID-19, follow TCN's dedicated page.

For more about Croatia, CLICK HERE.

October the 31st, 2021 - Croatian medical records are set to hold information on all those who have refused to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a letter from the Ministry of Health arrived at the addresses of Croatian general practitioners the other day, in which they are determined to organise and schedule work on the vaccination of patients against COVID-19 as the epidemiological picture worsens yet again.

With this decision, healthcare professionals are obliged to invite all their patients over the age of 65 who haven't yet been vaccinated to report to their office within fifteen working days to receive their coronavirus vaccination.

If they fail to make telephone contact with them, the decision stipulates that they are obliged to make home visits within the next thirty days and thus carry out vaccinations, provided that patients agree to this.

What's interesting to note is the instruction for those patients who refuse vaccination... Namely, from now on, healthcare professionals will have to record this in the Croatian medical records of those this regards. General practitioners will have to report all of their activities in this regard in great detail to the competent ministry within seven days of the deadline.

Whether this means that the Health Ministry will henceforth keep a note of the Croatian medical records of all those who refused vaccination and what it will do with that information is not yet known. It's worth mentioning tha this decision has already been met with great resistance from general practitioners, according to a report from RTL.

"After almost two years of living with the pandemic and after almost a year of the vaccines being available and huge sums spent on the campaign and the platform for vaccination, we're surprised by the minister's decision to use the outdated method of calling people individually, it takes up the most time and it's the least effective method of doing this,'' said Natasa Ban Toskic, president of the Coordination of Family Physicians.

"At this moment in time, we can't say what this way of doing things will look like because according to this order issued by the minister, nothing has ben specified. When precisely are we supposed to be able to find the time to engage in this? Do I just need to tell my patients; Dear patients, try not to get sick in the next two weeks because your family doctor will be very difficult for you to reach,'' said Ban Toskic.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language.

ZAGREB, 30 Oct, 2021 - In the last 24 hours, Croatia has registered 4,547 new coronavirus cases and 30 patients have died, the national coronavirus crisis management team said on Saturday.

There are currently 25,153 active cases, including 1,330 hospitalised patients, of whom 175 are on ventilators.

Currently 34,838 people are self-isolating.

Since the first registered case of the infection on 25 February 2020, a total of 467,029 people have become infected and of them, 9,198 have died.

A total of 432,678 people have recovered, including 3,115 in the last 24 hours.

So far a total of 3,098,082 people have been tested, including 12,203 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 3,610,412 vaccine doses have been administered, with 47.03% of the total population having been vaccinated, that is, 56.33% of the adult population.

A total of 1,908,486 people have been vaccinated with one shot and 1,795,287 have received both shots, while 113,899 have received the single-dose Jannsen vaccine, which is 53.10% of the adult population.

For more on COVID-19, follow TCN's dedicated page.

For more about Croatia, CLICK HERE.

October the 30th, 2021 - An updated list of Zagreb coronavirus testing centres and locations has been published by the City of Zagreb recently. Here's all you need to know.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Zagreb's Dr. Andrija Stampar Institute released the concerning information on Wednesday that in the 24 hour period before that, almost 50 percent of those who came to be tested were positive, meaning that every other Zagreb resident who came to be tested was infected with the novel coronavirus.

That's why new Zagreb coronavirus testing centres are being opened across the city, and a new referral system is being introduced at Vinogradska, where there were huge queues and very long waits recently.

The City of Zagreb's press release on the new testing locations is as follows:

In Zagreb, rapid antigent tests (RAT) can be performed within the COVID-19 clinic at the following Health Centres:

The Zagreb-Centre Health Centre - Avenija Veceslava Holjevca 22
The Zagreb-East Health Centre - Grizanska 4
The Zagreb-West Health Centre - Prilaz baruna Filipovica 11

In order to secure a rapid antigen test at a health centre (dom zdravlja), people should make an order through the application (app), while without needing to provide any special notice, people can be tested at the following locations:

Polyclinic Zagreb, Borovje, Zdeslava Turica 1
Polyclinic Zagreb, Gajnice, Argentinska 2

PCR testing can be performed at the COVID-19 clinics at the following locations:

The Zagreb-Centre Health Centre - Avenija Veceslava Holjevca 22
The Zagreb-East Health Centre - Grizanska 4
The Zagreb-West Health Centre - Prilaz baruna Filipovica 11

Testing in health centres is carried out on the basis of a referral from a family doctor (GP) and with a prior order having been made.

Drive-in coronavirus testing will be performed at the following locations:

The Dr. Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute - Mirogojska 16. You can book a test at this location online by clicking this link.

Another drive-in testing point for the Dr. Andrija Stampar Institute will open next week at the Zagreb Fair (Velesajam), at the West (Zapad) entrance 2 and the public will be informed in a timely manner about when that location will be working.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

ZAGREB, 29 Oct 2021 - In the last 24 hours, Croatia has registered 4,392 new coronavirus cases and 26 patients have died, the national coronavirus crisis management team said on Friday.

There are currently 23,751 active cases, including 1,311 hospitalized patients, of whom 171 are on ventilators.

Since the first registered case of the infection on 25 February 2020, a total of 462,482 people have become infected and of them, 9,168 have died.

A total of 429,563 people have recovered, including 2,997 in the last 24 hours.

Currently, 35,229 people are self-isolating.

So far a total of 3,085,825 people have been tested, including 12,207 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 3,599,586 vaccine doses have been administered and 46.92% of the total population has been vaccinated, including 56.21% of the adult population.

A total of 1,903,995 people have received at least one shot, and of them 1,791,056 have been fully vaccinated, which accounts for 52.98% of the adult population.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

October the 29th, 2021 - Croatian employers would gladly introduce covid certification presentation as a mandatory move but cannot under current Croatian law. As a result, they're seeking two important things from the state.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, many Croatian employers claim they're overwhelmed and irritated waiting around for the state to finally define the rules around covid certificates, which they would like to introduce them at workplaces and thus join the health and social care system which already have the same rule, but Croatian employers cannot do that because they have no legal basis to introduce it.

The Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) has therefore asked the relevant ministries to issue instructions to employers, which would answer numerous inquiries and concerns about covid certificates owned by their workers, and provide some clear guidelines on how to organise further business given the negative epidemiological situation and the number of workers who are unwell and in self-isolation. They are also asking the state to cover the costs of testing for the novel virus.

Despite the recommendations of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CNIPH), Croatian employers currently have no legal basis to ask their employees to present a covid certificate, nor to remove them from the workplace if he doesn't produce one,'' they explained from HUP.

Namely, Resolution 2361 (2021) is in force across EU member states, which stipulates that people must be informed that vaccination against the novel coronavirus isn't mandatory, and that there's no political or any other pressure or discrimination to be placed on those who don't want to receive the vaccine. In addition, as the vaccine against coronavirus is not on the list of mandatory vaccines for the Republic of Croatia, there are no obligations or sanctions for refusing vaccination.

Croatian employers are obliged, according to the recommendations of the CNIPH, to finance all the testing of their workers, if necessary. The state pays this only to the health and social care sectors, which HUP considers to be discrimination. HUP therefore sent a request to the competent institutions asking for coronavirus tests be provided to all Croatian employers in an equal way.

"We believe that it's inconceivable and unfair to all other companies to make some sort of difference based on the protection of the health of employees by sector, and by belonging to the public or private sector. All of the above leads to legal uncertainty, and consequently the inability to organise business in a healthy working atmosphere. This situation requires urgent action by state institutions in the form of issuing clear guidelines to employers that would ensure the protection of their workers and the legal operations of Croatian employers during the pandemic,'' they concluded from HUP.

At the time of writing this article, they hadn't yet received answers from the authorities.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language.

October the 29th, 2021 - The Zagreb coronavirus vaccine rollout is ongoing and until now there have been several locations at which people can turn up and receive their vaccine(s) in the city. Here is the upcoming schedule for the Croatian capital.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, in addition to a change of location for the Zagreb coronavirus vaccine rollout, a clear mass vaccination schedule for the next period has also been published. In accordance with the instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, the Zagreb coronavirus vaccine rollout is set to take place as follows:

The third dose is an additional dose of the coronavirus vaccine for people who may not have developed a complete or satisfactory immune response to their first and second doses. It can be taken eight weeks after a person has their second dose. According to the recommendation of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, these are intended for people with moderate to severe immunosuppression.

The booster dose is an additional dose that is given six months after the second dose to extend the duration of protection against the novel virus.

Zagreb coronavirus vaccine rollout dates according to the public invitation at the Zagreb Fair vaccination point will take place according to the following schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 08:00 to 12:00 and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 14:30 to 19:00.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the first and second doses of vaccination with all available types of vaccines will be continued, and on Mondays and Wednesdays the third dose will be administered to immunocompromised persons.

Vaccination dates according to the public invitation at the vaccination point Zagreb Fair will run according to the following schedule:

November the 2nd (Tuesday), from 14:00 to 19:00, with the following vaccines: Comirnaty (Pfizer BioNTech), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and Spikevax (Moderna).

November the 3rd (Wednesday), from 08:00 to 12:00, the administration of the third dose of the vaccine for immunocompromised persons will take place with the following vaccines: Comirnaty (Pfizer BioNTech) and Spikevax (Moderna).

November the 4th (Thursday), from 14:00 to 19:00, with the vaccines Comirnaty (Pfizer BioNTech), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and Spikevax (Moderna) in the form of a public call for people to come and get their first and second doses.

November the 5th (Friday), from 18:00 to 12:00 with the Comirnaty (Pfizer BioNTech), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and Spikevax (Moderna) vaccines, in the form of another public call for people to come and get their first and second doses.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and choose your preferred language.

ZAGREB, 28 Oct 2021 - President Zoran Milanović said on Thursday people not vaccinated against COVID were getting sick, urging people to get vaccinated to avoid another lockdown and saying that children should get vaccinated too and go to school as distance education no longer made sense.

Speaking to the press in Delnice, the president said he sympathized and understood, but added that the situation was much more different than a year ago.

As for Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's statement that he would not interfere in the retirement of Honorary and Protection Battalion commander Elvis Burčul, Milanović called it childish and said the problem could not be solved by the Minister of Defence but the Prime Minister.

"The conditions for retirement are clear and as long as I am the president and the (Armed Forces) commander in chief, no one will be harassed by petty politicians," he said, referring to Defence Minister Mario Banožić, who sent Colonel Burčul into early retirement.

As for illegal drugs in the military, including dealing, Milanović said he would consider irresponsible all commanders who did not pay the most serious attention to the problem.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 28 Oct 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Thursday 33.77% of coronavirus tests were positive and that hospitals would be additionally mobilized, including the reopening of the Arena Zagreb center for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Beroš said 74.5% of those infected and 75% of those hospitalized over the past week had not been vaccinated, and that among today's new cases 27% were under 20 and 60% were aged 20-40.

"The health system is preparing for new, additional burdens," he said, adding that experts of the Health Ministry's crisis management team concluded yesterday that it was necessary to increase the number of beds and intensive care units in Zagreb.

The ministry has instructed county civil protection teams and health centers to reopen COVID departments to relieve the pressure on hospitals.

Beroš said there was increased interest in vaccination, with 3,790 more people receiving the first dose in the first three days of this week than last week.

He said 56% of adults and over 88% of doctors have been vaccinated and urged everyone, notably the elderly, to get vaccinated. More than 14,000 persons have received a booster shot, he added.

The head of the national COVID-19 crisis management team, Interior Minister Davor Božinović, said the increase in new cases showed that people did not comply with COVID rules as much as they should.

That is why police, civil protection, and state inspectors will step up the monitoring of compliance in public transport, hospitality establishments, shopping centers, and at public gatherings, including weddings, he added.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

ZAGREB, 28 Oct 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Thursday that 56% of the adult population in Croatia had received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine and warned that in the past week 750 of 1,000 hospitalized patients were people who had not been vaccinated.

Today we have reached the vaccination rate of 56% of the adult population who have received the first dose, which is close to 1.9 million citizens, Plenković said at a government session, calling once again on citizens who are fully vaccinated to have themselves vaccinated with the third shot and on those who have not got vaccinated to do so.

Over the past week, of 1,000 hospitalized patients, as many as 75% were not vaccinated, he said.

Of the 15 people aged 40-59 who died over the last seven days, only one had been vaccinated, he said, appealing to all to protect themselves considering the increase in new infections in the past few days.

In the last 24 hours, Croatia has registered 4,154 new coronavirus cases, 26 patients have died and 11,320 vaccine doses have been administered, it was said on the government's website koronavirus.hr earlier today.

There are currently 22,382 active cases, including 1,231 hospitalized patients, of whom 160 are on ventilators.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.