ZAGREB, 2 Sept 2021 - In the last 24 hours, Croatia has performed 9,989 coronavirus tests, and 8% of them, that is 798, have turned out to be positive, and 11 COVID patients have died, bringing the COVID-related death toll to 8,349, the national coronavirus crisis management team stated on Thursday.

Currently, there are 3,943 active cases of infection in the country, and of them, 450 are receiving hospital treatment, including 53 patients placed on ventilators.

Since 25 February 2020 when Croatia reported its first registered COVID case, more than 2.56 million tests have been conducted, showing that 375,601 people have caught the virus. Of them, 363,309 have recovered to date.

Since the start of its vaccine rollout, Croatia has administered nearly 3.3 million vaccines, and 42.64% of the population, or 51.22 of the adult citizens, have been vaccinated.

To date, 1,619, 592  citizens,  that is 47.99% of the adult population, have fully been immunized.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, including travel, border, and quarantine rules, as well as the locations of vaccination points and testing centers across the country, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

September the 1st, 2021 - Croatian epidemiologist Dijana Mayer has claimed that the situation with the spread of the virus across Croatia currently isn't that great. She also touched on the vaccination of children, anti-epidemic measures and the idea of a third dose of the vaccine this autumn.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, epidemiologist Dijana Mayer of the Croatian Institute of Public Health told HRT recently that unfortunately, the situation is not good.

''This week we have an increase in the number of cases from 20 to 25 percent when compared to previous weeks. As the summer draws to a close, as people return to their places of residence and their jobs, the number of tests taken will grow, and we can see that we have an increase in the number of new cases. We have a more significant number of hospitalised people, ie patients with a severe clinical picture who need help in the form of respirators,'' said epidemiologist Dijana Mayer.

"This is one of the important indicators for us because of the hospital system, we need to make sure it isn't burdened abruptly. Hospitals are ready to accept patients, but it would be ideal if there were as few hospitalised coronavirus patients as possible,'' she added.

She noted that more than 80 percent of those hospitalised with coronavirus, as well as patients with a very severe clinical picture and needing the help of a respirator were not vaccinated.

"That is why we're appealing to people to please come and get vaccinated. The vaccine protects against severe forms of the disease developing. It doesn't matter if we get sick and have a mild clinical picture, but it does matter if we develop severe pneumonia where we end up in intensive care, on a respirator,'' she said.

Both doses of the coronavirus vaccine have successfully been given to 51 percent of the Croatian adult population. When asked if we would have to receive a third dose, epidemiologist Dijana Mayer said it was being discussed.

“Vaccination with a third dose is likely to start in early autumn and it will be aimed at older and more vulnerable groups of people, those who are immunocompromised and those with more severe chronic diseases,” she said.

When asked if the remarkably successful tourist season is to blame for the increase in the number of infected people, epidemiologist Dijana Mayer said that we can all be proud and satisfied with the tourist season.

"We're happy that July and August went so well for us in terms of new patients. We're satisfied with the number of tourists who came. Summer is a time to relax and socialise. Of course, any larger gatherings, where people weren't vaccinated, was a potential hotbed of infection and it was a pool for new patients. We believe that the season will be extended for at least another week or two, maybe for even longer,'' said the epidemiologist.

According to the ECDC corona map, Croatia is orange, and Mayer hopes that it will remain so.

"We believe that we'll be able to vaccinate as many people as possible as they return home from being away for summer. People are also being vaccinated wherever they are on the coast. All counties will have vaccination points available from September the 1st, this means that all foreign residents, tourists and locals can come for vaccination. Each county bureau has several appointments and checkpoints. Those interested can easily get information and get their vaccine,'' she said.

The vaccine is registered for children from 12 years of age and older is recommended for those who have severe chronic diseases, who are immunocompromised, and those who have malignant, cardiovascular and lung diseases. Children can be vaccinated by a competent school doctor.

"About 1,200 children up to the age of 14 have been vaccinated, and when looking at those aged 15-19, about 10,000 have had the vaccine. It isn't a large number at the moment, but we're very pleased that the parents are aware and have given their consent for their children to be vaccinated. The covid vaccine isn't mandatory for anyone, not even for children, but it is recommended. Especially because children live in households with their grandparents, parents who have chronic diseases and children can be potentially dangerous for their family members,'' she said.

From September the 1st, currently closed off parts of coffee bars and cafe will finally open, much to the delight of those who have been unable to work for months on end. Epidemiologist Dijana Mayer said that this decision was very much welcomed by all.

"It's the first step in getting back to normal. We hope that people will continue to behave responsibly, that they will wear masks, it's important to ventilate the premises and the owners will surely take care of that. There will be a disinfectant at the entrance to each cafe. It is in everyone's interest that these closed parts of the cafe are able to work normally for as long as possible,'' concluded epidemiologist Dijana Mayer.

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August 31, 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš believes that removing all COVID-19 restrictions in Croatia is possible but will depend on the number of hospitalizations in the country. 

On Monday, Health Minister Vili Beroš held a meeting with the directors of several hospitals and with members of the expert group of the Ministry of Health, reports RTL.

"We discussed topics that are very current, and that is the response of the health system in this fourth wave, that is, in the colder weather in the autumn," Beroš said. 

He said that they talked constructively about what they had already learned, all to be ready for autumn.

"The situation is changing. We know how the virus spreads, what the clinical picture is. However, the fact is that more and more people are vaccinated in Croatia. This significantly changes the paradigm of patient treatment," he said, adding:" It was agreed to achieve the collective readiness of the entire health system. This does not mean that we are giving up the centralized approach. We just gained new experiences."

He also spoke about whether measures would be taken according to the number of hospitalized.

"It is exclusively an epidemiological issue; we did not discuss it at the meeting of the expert group. I will repeat my position; although I am not an epidemiologist, I have been in it for a year and a half, and I have developed some of my own thinking. The number of newly infected is absolutely adequate if everyone has the same clinical picture. Then you know that the number of newly infected people reflects the number of hospitalized people, the number of those who will end up on a respirator," said Beroš.

"However, this start of the fourth wave did not turn out like last summer. The clinical pictures were easier. Therefore, the number of newly infected is not relevant. Relevant is the number that will burden the health system, and that is the number of hospitalized and the number of the most severe patients on a respirator. That is more relevant information for me as the Minister of Health. Although looking broader epidemiologically, knowing both the number of newly infected and the percentage of positives among those detected and treated is good.

For now, we will stick to the general criteria. But you can be sure that for me personally, the greatest value of the data is the number of hospitalized, the number of newly hospitalized, and the number of those on a respirator," he underlined.

He said it was possible to scrap all measures.

"It simply came to our notice then. Whether this will happen will depend solely on the behavior of the virus. Because, if the virus spreads, if the number of hospitalized fellow citizens increases… at least I, as the Minister of Health, could hardly give up the measures. The last year we have witnessed that we have the two best elements to fight this disease: vaccination, respect for measures, general anti-epidemic, and those adopted by the Headquarters that regulate behavior. What are these behaviors? These are risky behaviors, and that can generate the spread of the virus," Beroš concluded. 

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August the 31st, 2021 - As autumn approaches and despite the good epidemiological picture, preparations in the healthcare system are occurring. Five Zagreb hospitals will be accepting coronavirus positive patients, while two hospitals in the capital will be solely for negative patients.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a meeting was held between the Minister of Health, Vili Beros, and the directors of Croatian hospitals and an expert group from the Ministry of Health. They discussed the current situation with the spread of the novel coronavirus and the redistribution of care for coronavirus positive patients, HRT has learned.

Five Zagreb hospitals will be ready and waiting to accept coronavirus positive patients, while two will be off limits for all except lab proven negative ones.

The hospital in Dubrava, known as the ''covid hospital'' last year, will continue to take care of all patients regardless of what result they return on a covid test, and capacities in other Zagreb hospitals, as well as other hospitals across the country, are being prepared for people suffering from coronavirus, HRT reports.

The vaccination of healthcare professionals with a third dose, which should begin soon, was also discussed.

Jutarnji list has found out that an agreement has been reached on which Zagreb hospitals will receive coronavirus positive people, and which will remain only for negative patients.

KB Dubrava will no longer be exclusively a covid hospital, but will be joined by KBC Zagreb, KBC Sestre milosrdnice, the Fran Mihaljevic Clinic for Infectious Diseases, and the Lung Clinic on Rockefellerova. Two Zagreb hospitals, namely KB Sveti Duh and KB Merkur, currently remain only for the treatment of coronavirus negative patients, Jutarnji has learned.

All Zagreb hospital directors agreed with this ''schedule'' at a recently held meeting of the expert group for the organisation of the hospital system of the Ministry of Health. This would provide about 400 covid beds across all Zagreb hospitals, which should be enough to cope with any new wave of infection, with the provison that in case the number of hospitalised people with coronavirus grows significantly, KB Sveti Duh and KB Merkur would be ready to step in, reports Jutarnji.

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August the 30th, 2021 - The Croatian covid strategy for autumn 2021 appears as if it's going to be, at least at this stage, very different to what we witnessed back during the terrible autumn of 2020. More freedom for people is in the works, as is less financial help for businesses.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, ahould we fear the large number of covid cases in September? Many people are ready to take risks just to see their ''old'' everyday life return, but it seems that many still aren't ready to be vaccinated for some reasom, according to a report from N1.

Parts of the catering and hospitality sector which have been closed or limited until now will be opening. This is a decision that will take effect on the first of September, and those who work in this sector will be able to breathe a little more easily, finally. There is, however, always another side of the coin to take into consideration, and that is that the Government is already announcing the possibility of abolishing the financial aid measures introduced last year in an attempt to preserve jobs. This comes with an exception for the most vulnerable enterprises, as further explained here.

There will still be a need for entry with a mask, the proper ventilation of the space and the maintaining of social distancing, but people will hopefully still be satisfied because for the first time in nine months, the closed spaces of coffee bars and cafes are finally set to open.

Especially now that the colder weather is coming, many people will prefer to sit inside as opposed to outside on terraces. Covid certificates will not be required. Those in the industry are already busy preparing for the opening, satisfied with the decision of the National Civil Protection Directorate.

"Finally, they've made a good decision, we're really satisfied, it will mean a lot to many people," said Drazen Biljan from the National Association of Caterers.

The National Civil Protection Directorate has made its decision on the Croatian covid strategy for autumn, and its former member, Maja Grba Bujevic, says that as long as the anti-epidemic measures are properly adhered to, this favourable epidemiological situation will continue.

"If we adhere to all of the measures, nothing will change significantly, as I've already said, it will all depend on us, no one else. I'm not here to discuss economic measures, I'm only interested in getting as few people infected as possible and for as few people as possible to end up needing hospital treatment,'' said the HDZ MP of the Croatian covid approach for the colder months.

A good tourist season and the opening of indoor premises also means the scrapping of Government support for preserving jobs. The Croatian Government claims they are no longer needed, except for those who didn't have terraces or outdoor spaces on which to continue operating, employees in the event industry or travel agencies.

''That's a discriminatory decision, our sector is devastated! Many businesses haven't been able to work for months, we ca't recover so easily and just like that because there has indeed been pure devastation, the economic measures must remain in place and we're appealing for that,'' warned Biljan.

The Government believes that the time for those measures has passed, and the time for job creation has begun. That said, the effects of the global coronavirus epidemic have not yet disappeared.

"Last year, the economy was completely paralysed. Economic circumstances were blocked by the pandemic and the Croatian economy fell by 8 percent, with only Spain, Greece and similar countries which rely heavily on tourism like us experiencing a stronger decline. Montenegro, for example, had a drop of 15 percent. This was followed by the opening up of the economy,'' warned Croatian economic analyst Damir Novotny.

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ZAGREB, 28 Aug, 2021 - In the past 24 hours, 595 new coronavirus cases and six COVID-19-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Saturday, noting that 10,173 tests were conducted in that period.

There are currently 3,434 active cases, including 374 hospitalised patients, of whom 43 are on ventilators.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case of the disease was reported in Croatia, 372,814 people have been infected, of whom 8,324 have died.

A total of 361,056 people have recovered, including 508 in the last 24 hours.

Currently 8,061 people are self-isolating.

To date, 2,521,032 people have been tested.

To date, 3,253,119 vaccine doses have been administered, with 42.30% of the population having been vaccinated, including 50.81% of adults.

One dose has been administered to 1,716,520 persons while 1,604,377 persons have been fully vaccinated -- 1,536,599 have received both doses and 67,778 have received the single-dose Janssen vaccine -- which is 47.55% of the adult population.

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August the 28th, 2021 - The director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Krunoslav Capak, has discussed the epidemiological situation, the fact that Croatia continues to be a safe tourist destination, anti-epidemic measures and the idea of a third dose of the vaccine.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Krunoslav Capak stated on Thursday that Croatia currently has the most favourable epidemiological situation of all tourist countries in Europe, as well as of many other tourist countries globally. This has been reaffirmed by Croatia remaining orange on the ECDC's latest corona map update.

“It’s very good news; no additional measures are being introduced for tourists leaving Croatia to return home, and if we do turn red, then additional measures can be introduced, including quarantine,'' Krunoslav Capak told Dnevnik Nova TV.

He reported that no additional measures are being planned so far, and the existing ones will be extended until September the 15th, 2021.

“Now we have a slightly worse situation than we did at the same time last year, and the fourth wave started earlier than last year. Our expectations are that, given that we have more than 50 percent of the population vaccinated, it won't be such big growth and it won't last long," he added.

He noted that covid certificates have been introduced for gatherings of more than fifty people in Dalmatian and coastal counties and for a hundred people in continental counties, adding that they haven't yet considered introducing them for shopping centres, restaurants and cafes, although this option remains open and all is applicable in some European countries.

Consideration is also being given to using the certificates for the healthcare system and the social security system. Because, as Krunoslav Capak stated, it is important that when it comes to healthcare system, both patients and staff should try to avoid potentially infecting each other if possible.

“The use of covid certificates is tremendously important here, and we'd prefer everyone to be vaccinated,'' he pointed out.

"In some EU countries where covid certificates have been introduced, testing restrictions for asymptomatic people are being considered, so this will be one of the mechanisms in Croatia. We didn't definitely agree on when that would put put into practice,'' he said.

When asked about the vaccination of children, Krunoslav Capak noted that they support the vaccination of children aged 12 to 18, especially those with chronic underlying diseases where the risk of a severe form of the disease should it be contracted be higher.

"Now we're talking about it and stimulating the vaccination of children in their final grades of high school, and then high schools in which, due to the nature of the type of education they conduct, there is contact with more people,'' he added. He also invited every other child who wanted to, to come to receive the vaccination together with their parents.

Krunoslav Capak says the idea of a third dose of the vaccine is being discussed intensively, and Europe's position is rather conservative on the issue - most EU countries believe there is still a long way to go before we should need to start talking about that.

"So far, we don't have the infrastructure in place for that, nor the possibility to record the third dose, and we're also working on that. We epidemiologists will agree on which vulnerable groups we'll start giving the third dose too first,'' he stressed.

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ZAGREB, 27 Aug 2021 - Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, who heads the national COVID-19 crisis management team, said on Friday that there were still no plans for the introduction of COVID certificates in the educational and health sectors, but the authorities were considering such a move.

He announced the extension of the validity of the current COVID certificate, whose current validity is nine months.

Božinović called for compliance with anti-epidemic rules such as social distancing, room airing and mask wearing.

Croatia's 14-day incidence 143.4 per 100,000

The head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), Krunoslav Capak, said that this week, the number of new coronavirus cases increased by 31.6% as against last week.

He added that currently, Croatia's 14-day incidence was 143.4 per 100,000 population, and that broken down by county, Istria had the lowest incidence and Split-Dalmatia County the highest.

Of the 27 EU member-states, Croatia ranks 11th while Poland and Hungary have the lowest incidence. The current ranking is topped by France and Ireland.

As for the COVID-related mortality rate per million citizens, Croatia ranks 20th in the European Union. Capak said that Croatia would soon start providing booster doses to the most vulnerable groups.

He added that when it comes to children aged between 12 and 18, 10% of this age cohort has so far been vaccinated against coronavirus.

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ZAGREB, 27 Aug 2021 - In the past 24 hours, 596 new coronavirus cases and two COVID-19-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Friday, noting that 9,532 tests were conducted in that period.

There are 372 hospitalised patients, including 47 on ventilators.

The number of active cases stands at 3,353 and 7,295 persons are self-isolating.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case of the disease was reported in Croatia, 372,219 people have been infected, of whom 8,318 have died.

A total of 360,548 people have recovered, including 494 in the last 24 hours.

To date, 2,510,859 people have been tested, including 9,532 in the last 24 hours.

To date, 3,244,822 vaccine doses have been administered, with 42.20% of the population having been vaccinated, including 50.69% of adults.

One dose has been administered to 1,712,434 persons while 1,599,278 persons have been fully vaccinated -- 1,532,388 have received both doses and 66,890 have received the single-dose Janssen vaccine -- which is 47.40% of the adult population.

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August the 27th, 2021 - The Croatian vaccine rollout is going rather poorly, with only Romania and Bulgaria behind us in terms of the number of fully vaccinated people in the country.

The pandemic is continuing despite the vaccination rollout happening more or less all over the world to some degree or another. Some European countries, such as the United Kingdom, have dropped the majority or all of their epidemiological measures as the vaccine rollout is excellent and hospitalisations and deaths drop.

Not all European countries, however, can boast of the same vaccination success. Croatia, despite relying heavily on tourism, gatherings and events in which the virus would easily spread and cause havoc, is unfortunately one of them.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Croatian vaccine rollout has been at its lowest level since back in mid-February this year, when the vaccine had arrived in the country, been made available to all, and the campaign had only just actually begun.

About 0.15 people per 100 inhabitants have been vaccinated in the last few days, which puts the Republic of Croatia at the bottom of the European Union, writes Index.

It is important to know that Croatia is one of the weakest vaccinated countries in the entire European Union. Only Romania and Bulgaria are worse than us. So far, only 41 percent of the population has received a single dose, and only 38 percent have been fully vaccinated, which speaks volumes about the Croatian vaccine rollout and of attitudes towards it in general.

The poor Croatian vaccine rollout means that the chances of reaching the needed vaccination levels in the foreseeable future, which could ensure a return to relatively normal life, are very low.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, including travel, borderand document requirements, as well as the locations of testing centres and vaccination points across the country, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language.