August the 21st, 2021 - The very first Croatian damage claim against a death listed as having been caused by coronavirus has been submitted, and subsequently rejected by the hospital in question.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the director of KBC Zagreb, Dr. Ante Corusic, stated that the hospital rejected the settlement because there is no evidence that the woman became infected with the novel coronavirus during her stay at the hospital.

''We took all possible measures to provide protection against coronavirus that were possible at the time," he added.

Whether or not the family of the individual in question will file a lawsuit isn't yet known. But regardless of this case involving the very first Croatian damage claim, there is a possibility that lawsuits related to coronavirus will be significantly more frequent given that the pandemic is not yet over.

During the last year in healthcare institutions across the country, there were guidelines in place that provided a certain level of protection against the infection of healthcare workers, and then patients, but with them the possibility of transmission remained significant, and the reasons for lawsuits are, owing to that, rather limited. However, from the moment the vaccine was made available, safety was significantly increased, but only if healthcare professionals chose to get vaccinated first.

This is the reason why in some EU countries vaccination is mandatory for them, such as in Italy, France, Greece and Hungary. Unfortunately, the situation with vaccination of healthcare professionals here in Croatia is still bad. It is true that doctors in Croatia have been vaccinated, at least more than 80 percent of them have, but nurses and technicians have only just reached half.

Namely, this case from KBC Zagreb actually has no basis on "gross negligence or intent to infect" if it happened in the hospital. It was a patient who came to the hospital as they had sustained a rib injury caused by a fall. She was tested and was negative for the virus at the time. Sadly, as it often happens, just a few days later, she returned a positive test. She was then transferred to KB Dubrava, where she unfortunately died on December the 6th. KBC Zagreb pointed out that all protocols in regard to coronavirus were respected.

"It's very important when deciding whether a patient is entitled to compensation or not to determine whether everything based on the guidelines of the profession has been taken into account in order to protect against infection," explained lawyer Ana Gruber of this Croatian damage claim case.

''It's precisely because of coronavirus that over in the United States, where the submitting of claims is an almost daily occurrence, changes to the laws governing compensation in most states have been made since the beginning of the pandemic, ensuring "civil immunity to claims related to the spread of coronavirus except in limited situations involving gross negligence, willful and reckless conduct of reckless harm or intentional harm,'' she noted.

In other words, hardly anyone could get compensation associated with coronavirus until the vaccine appeared and was made available.

The answer from the Ministry of Health as to how we might proceed with the continued vaccination of healthcare professionals, ie whether or not mandatory vaccination will be introduced, is somewhat pitiful.

"The possibility of introducing new health protection measures within the healthcare system will depend on the epidemiological situation in the future, as well as the joint measures adopted by the competent authorities. On this track, a document is being harmonised at the professional level that will take into account the current epidemiological situation related to safety in health care institutions.''

Although there is no definite answer "yes" or "no" to the mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers, it is clearly stated by the Ministry that compensation should be paid by the hospital to either the infected patient or the infected employee in successful damage claims.

Can the hospital then be protected from having to pay out compensation in a Croatian damage claim case caused by an employee who simply doesn't want to be vaccinated? Hospital directors believe that institutions should have an additional "tool" with which they could hold employees accountable for their non-vaccination, Jutarnji list writes.

"The moment a vaccine arrives, the situation changes because there's an additional possibility of protection. If doctors or nurses aren't vaccinated and a patient becomes infected with coronavirus, then it can be demonstrated that not all protection measures available to the hospital have been taken.

Whether the compensation should be paid out by the hospital itself or by an unvaccinated worker must be decided by the competent authorities. A possible solution is, for example, for the hospital to ask its employees for a statement confirming that they don't want to be vaccinated, but that they also accept compensation for possible damage,'' concluded Gruber.

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August the 21st, 2021 - The world famous Croatian Zrce beach has been involved in a study carried out by the Croatian Institute of Public Health on the effects of clubbing in regard to the spread of the novel coronavirus.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, vaccination against the novel coronavirus, a liberal approach in the form of anti-epidemic measures against the spread of the pandemic and an indestructible desire for fun, with the good organisation of testing points, all saw Zrce beach get some significantly better results this season than expected.

Moreover, due to extremely good epidemiological results despite high traffic, the Croatian Institute of Public Health selected Zrce beach in their preparation of a study of the relationship between clubbing and the spread of the infection, which should provide many answers about this segment in the coming period.

The traffic at the end of the summer on Zrce beach will be taken care of by the closing festival brought to Croatia by Amnesia, one of the most famous clubs in the world from Ibiza. Clubs on Zrce beach entered the summer season ready for another year of improvisations, organising smaller festivals, and understanding that every day the risk of infection posed the potential closure of the beach.

Club Noa on Zrce beach had even better traffic in July and the previous part of August than in the same period in pre-pandemic, record 2019.

"Of course, we weren't allowed to work in June and this will be reflected in the annual results, as will the fact that there were no big festivals, but the rest of the summer was very successful, thanks to our guests who acted very responsibly and respected the order of things, I have every praise for them. Zrce beach was chosen as the location for testing because it is the location that has the largest sample of the population of at least 1500 to 2000 people a day, or between 500 and 700 people per club,'' revealed Zlatko Balasko, the owner of Club Noa.

Namely, Club Noa has become a partner of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, which, in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health Zadar, will prepare a study that should provide answers on the connection between clubbing and the spread of this particular infection, as well as the safety aspects of the industry, given all of the measures conducted on site.

Despite tension between the clubbing industry and  thedecision-makers on measures to protect the population from infection on the eve of the summer, Zrce beach praised the good cooperation with national and local civil protection directorates.

"Apart from proving that our industry is resilient, as well as the natural desire of young people to have fun, it has been shown that the liberal model of managing this crisis is justified, to which the state agreed and enabled us to work as much as possible. It's true, this year there were no big festivals such as Hideout, Sonus, Fresh Island, but, the traffic has been much better than we expected.

We put a lot of effort into it, the festivals were transformed into lower budget ones to reduce the overall risk, we developed new brands, several old brands used vouchers for tickets that couldn't be used last year, it's all part of the flexible business model we had to adopt,'' explained Boris Suljic, the owner of the Kalypso club, who this year brought the new brand Tattva to Zrce beach, a combination of a beach club and a restaurant whose development he expects to continue over the coming years.

By the end of the year, Kalypso is preparing three more smaller festivals, and the final “Ibiza Takeover Croatia”, which will be the result of the very important cooperation of all Zrce beach clubs with the Amnesia club from Ibiza and the company BSH Events.

We're told that this cooperation is really a big deal in this business, and a great recognition for the strongest Croatian party destination, although it must be admitted that this happened due to the fact that the coronavirus pandemic kept all clubs in Ibiza closed this summer.

Amnesia from Ibiza is one of the world's most famous clubs, which has been named the best global club four times at the IDMA Awards in Miami. Amnesia opened back in 1976 as a gathering place for hippie culture and bands. Numerous world-famous programmes were held at the club, and almost all the world's leading DJs have performed there.

The arrival of Amnesia in Croatia and the Ibiza Takeover Croatia festival is therefore a great recognition for Zrce beach, as well as an opportunity to promote Croatia and the island of Pag at the global level. Balasko pointed out that this could be the basis for future cooperation of these locations and with clubs from Ibiza.

"It's great that the world's strongest club from Ibiza has included us in its programme. These closing parties are very popular in Ibiza and it's great that we'll be able to end this season like that. The season has so far been a pleasant surprise, compared to what we expected at the beginning of the summer, with daily traffic of between 500 and 1000 people. We can also thank the National Civil Protection Directorate for that, as they've enabled us to reach the end of the season with strict controls and without incidents,'' said Ivan Busljeta, the owner of the Papaya and Nomad clubs.

For more on coronavirus specific to Croatia, bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and choose your preferred language.

ZAGREB, 20 Aug, 2021 - In the past 24 hours, 468 coronavirus cases out of 9,948 tests (4.7%) and one COVID-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Friday.

The number of active cases is 2,509 and there are 251 hospitalised patients, including 26 on ventilators, while 6,472 persons are self-isolating.

To date, Croatia has registered 368,887 coronavirus cases and 8,295 deaths, while 358,083 persons have recovered from COVID-19, including 313 in the past 24 hours.

To date, 2,447,178 persons have been tested for the virus.

To date, 3,200,638 vaccine doses have been administered, with 41.69% of the population vaccinated, including 50.1% of adults.

One dose has been administered to 1,691,778,554 persons, while 1,571,296 persons have been fully vaccinated - 1,508,860 who have received both doses and 62,436 who have received a single-dose of the Janssen vaccine -- which is 46.59% of the adult population.

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

For more about Croatia, CLICK HERE.

August 19, 2021 - The latest ECDC corona map shows that the Croatian Adriatic and Zagreb remain orange, while other Croatian counties have now moved to orange. 

On Thursday, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published a new map with the epidemiological situation in European regions. The Croatian coast remained in orange, as well as the City of Zagreb. However, Zagreb County, Krapina-Zagorje County, Koprivnica-Križevci County, Varaždin County, and Međimurje County are now orange reports Jutarnji List. 

Let us remind you, the government and HZJZ expected that Zagreb could turn red today.

Croatia's Mediterranean competitors in summer tourism generally have a worse epidemiological situation than the Croatian coast and remain mostly in red or dark red. Namely, Spain, Portugal, and Greece remain largely in the red. Western Europe is mostly red, central Europe is mostly orange, while the eastern part of the EU is largely green. Slavonia is completely green.

The ECDC Epidemiological Map for Europe is published each week based on the 14-day incidence and the share of positive tests in the total number tested.

The Croatian coast remained in orange on the latest map, which means that the incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases is less than 50, but the share of positives is more than 4 percent, or the 14-day rate is between 75 and 200, and the share of positives among those tested is less than four percent.

Green on the ECDC map are regions where the 14-day COVID-19 infection rate per 100,000 inhabitants is less than 50, and the share of COVID-19 positives tested is less than four percent, or the 14-day incidence was less than 75 percent, and the share of positives was less than one percent.

Red means a 14-day incidence rate of 75-200, with a COVID-19 positive rate greater than 4 percent and a 14-day incidence rate of 200 to 500, and dark red encompasses areas where the 14-day rate is greater than 500.

ECDC assesses the COVID-19 risk by major statistical regions within the country (NUTS 2). NUTS 2 statistical regions must have a minimum population of 800 thousand and a maximum of three million. There are only four NUTS 2 regions in Croatia - Pannonian Croatia, Adriatic Croatia, Northern Croatia, and the City of Zagreb.

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, 19 Aug, 2021 - In the last 24 hours, 9,962 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Croatia, and  4.87% of them, that is 486, have come back positive, Croatia's national COVID-19 crisis management team reported on Thursday.

The COVID-related death toll has risen by three to 8,294.

Currently there are 2,355 active cases of the infection with coronavirus, and of them 244 are hospitalised patients, including 25 patients placed on ventilators.

Since the first registered case of the infection with this novel virus in Croatia ion 25 February 2020, 2,437,230 tests have been performed, showing that 368,419 people have caught the virus, and of them 357,770 have recovered to date, including 252 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

Croatia has administered more than three million vaccine doses, and 41.60% of the total population has got at a shot, or 49.99% of the adult population.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 19 Aug, 2021 - Croatian Public Health Institute deputy director Ivana Pavić Šimetin said on Wednesday that an increase in the number of new coronavirus cases could be stopped and slowed down with vaccination and adherence to epidemiological measures.

Pavić Šimetin told Croatian Television that new epidemiological measures were being considered, including the possibility to shorten business hours.

She said authorities expected a lot from the digital COVID-19 certificate, adding that wearing a mask in school would be mandatory form from grades five and up.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

August the 19th, 2021 - The Zagreb Infectious Diseases Clinic, known simply as ''Zarazna'' has expanded its coronavirus department as more patients require medical help. A warning to other hospitals has come with it.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Zagreb Infectious Diseases Hospital has appealed to other Zagreb hospitals not to send other patients to them because they have more and more COVID-19 positive patients needing car, which is why they have increased the capacity of their COVID department, Vecernji list reported.

''Due to the increased influx of adult COVID-19 positive patients and the opening of additional facilities for the care of COVID-19 positive patients, we ask that until further notice, COVID-19 negative patients, who don't require intensive treatment, be referred and cared for in other healthcare institutions,'' read the request in a letter sent out to other Zagreb hospitals by the deputy director of the Zagreb Infectious Diseases Clinic, Zoran Barusic.

The letter also notes that the clinic will receive patients who are negative for COVID-19 whose condition requires intensive treatment depending on available accommodation at any given time and in the case that infectologists from the clinic are still available for possible consultations.

There are currently 33 COVID-19 patients and 44 non-COVID-19 patients being treated for their illnesses at the clinic.

Barusic explained that more COVID-19 patients started arriving on August the 12th and that they had to increase their ward capacities, stretching over to the non-COVID ward as well. He added that the COVID-19 sufferers they are treating are mostly unvaccinated, and among them there are seriously ill people in their thirties, forties and fifties. A smaller proportion of patients are those who are vaccinated but are elderly with comorbidities.

In the last three weeks, the number of hospitalised patients needing treatment at KBC Split has been continuously growing. At the moment, there are more than 40 of them, and thirteen requiring respirators, Vecernji list has learned from Ivo Ivic, the head of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at KBC Split, where all those hospitalised are unvaccinated.

"On average, a dozen patients are hospitalised every week, they're mostly residents of Croatia. There are some younger people, but most of them are older patients, so we can say that the epidemic is circulating among the younger people, and the older ones the ones being taken into hospital,'' said Ivic.

“Of the ten people needing a respirator, nine were not vaccinated and without comorbidities, and one was vaccinated and had severe comorbidities. Therefore, it's scientifically and statistically clear that vaccination is the only reasonable thing we can do to protect ourselves,'' pointed out one doctor.

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

August 18, 2021 - Will we see a red Croatian coast on the newest ECDC corona map on Thursday? Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac doesn't think so. 

On Wednesday, Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac said that she did not expect the Croatian coast to change from orange to red in the newest ECDC corona map on Thursday, reports T.portal.hr.

Answering questions from journalists before the Government session, the Minister pointed out that Croatia has much better numbers in tourism this year than last year.

"As of today, we are at 55.3 million overnight stays and 9 million tourist arrivals, which is 1.2 million more arrivals compared to 2020, and compared to 2109, we are at about 60 percent of arrivals and more than 70 percent of overnight stays. But what we are pleased about is the data on consumption, i.e., the value of fiscalized bills, which is about 70 percent compared to 2019, which means that more is spent this year in accommodation, especially in higher categories," said Brnjac.

For July and August, the value of fiscalized bills exceeded the results from the same months in 2019, which means that the tourism sector is stable and able to work the season in such conditions.

There are good announcements for the continuation of the season. Booking is good for both September and October, Brnjac pointed out, and therefore appealed to everyone to pay attention to the epidemiological situation, because, as she emphasized, if we continue with good numbers, we can remain the safest destination in the Mediterranean and try to stay in the orange zone on the ECDC map.

She hopes that good booking will continue. We need to stay responsible and get vaccinated in as many numbers as possible, and we need to look at the whole country, not just the coast, and do everything we can not to have closures like some countries had earlier this season.

She reminded that the Ministry co-finances rapid antigen tests for tourists with more than 20 million kuna, and that they held meetings with all prefects and the sector several times around the season, as well as other institutions, and established more than 350 testing points across the coast so tourists can return to their countries as easily and quickly as possible.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

ZAGREB, 18 Aug 2021 - In the past 24 hours, 524 coronavirus cases and three COVID-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Wednesday.

The number of active cases is 2,124 and there are 235 hospitalized patients, including 26 on ventilators, while 5,811 persons are self-isolating.

To date, Croatia has registered 367,518 coronavirus cases and 8,291 deaths, while 357,518 persons have recovered from COVID-19, including 200 in the past 24 hours.

To date, 2,427,268 persons have been tested for the virus, including 9,879 in the past 24 hours when a share of positive tests was 5.3%.

One in two adults get vaccinated

To date, 3,182,592 vaccine doses have been administered, with 41.5% of the population vaccinated, including 49.89% of adults.

One dose has been administered to 1,684,554 persons, while 1,558,636 persons have been fully vaccinated - 1,498,038 who have received both doses and 60,598 who have received a single-dose Janssen vaccine -- which is 46.22% of the adult population.

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.

ZAGREB, 17 Aug, 2021 - In the past 24 hours, 341 coronavirus cases, out of 8,561 tests (4%), and three deaths have been confirmed in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Tuesday.

A total of 220 patients are hospitalised, including 26 on ventilators.

The death toll now stands at 8,288.

There are 1,803 active cases and 5,753 persons are self-isolating.

Croatia has so far tested 2,417,389 people and infection has been confirmed in 376,409.

Of that number, 357,318 people have recovered, including 253 in the last 24 hours.

To date, Croatia has fully vaccinated 46.10% of the adult population.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.