ZAGREB, April 7, 2020 - After conducting on Monday a second video conference with Croatian medical experts from the country and abroad, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that from the very start Croatia had reacted very well in preventing the coronavirus from spreading and that any relaxation of restrictions should not be sudden.

Plenković said that in comparison to other countries, Croatia had reacted very well, with timely and fairly restrictive measures resulting in a slow spreading of the disease and a low fatality rate in the first few weeks of the epidemic.

He said that that the experts he talked to said that Croatia's strategy had been good from the very start compared with other, much richer countries that have a stronger research community and stronger centres and health systems and more funds available.

Plenković believes that it is necessary to continue with a policy that will not lead to any problems within the health system, "which means that we have to continue with the procurement of quality protective equipment and thank medical staff for their sacrifice as well as implement restrictive measures, adapting them to the needs of the Croatian economy."

"Our objective is for all relaxations of measures to be in line with epidemiological recommendations and estimates and for them not to be sudden, which could lead to an increase in the number of people infected," he said.

He announced that in the weeks ahead joint assessments would be made of the dynamic of relaxing measures but taking account of health.

Measures will be introduced to make it possible for everything that Croatian farmers and family farms produce is consumed in an appropriate way, and "for citizens to access farmers' markets but not the way they used to previously."

He confirmed that a decision to that effect could be made before Easter, saying that currently the government was working on the legal formulation of that decision.

He appealed to citizens to behave just as responsibly as they have until now even though warmer weather has been forecast and to be patient and trust the authorities and experts and follow the fundamental recommendation on social distance, because "self-discipline and responsibility are key."

Plenković pointed out one comment from today's meeting - that the risk of the disease is the greatest within the family and that that is where the disease spreads the fastest. "Hence it is truly important to be careful in everything you do so that there are no negative consequences."

He also commented on the latest surveys showing an increased trust in the authorities. "That type of trust is a signal that the government is managing this crisis appropriately and that it takes care of citizens' interests," he said.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 7, 2020 - Croatia reacted on time to the coronavirus pandemic and the Croatian army has been contributing significantly to the fight against that disease, Defence Minister Damir Krstičević said at a video conference of EU defence ministers, calling for the continuation of cooperation during the current crisis.

The video conference of EU defence ministers was chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josip Borrell and it was dedicated to the defence sector's contribution in dealing with the pandemic, Croatia's defence ministry said in a press release.

The ministers exchanged their experience at the national level regarding the army's support to civil institutions, underscoring that further cooperation and solidarity between EU member states was necessary.

All our resources are directed at the fight against the pandemic, Krstičević underscored.

"We began implementing measures for the health, security, education and economic sectors at a very early stage of the emergence of COVID-19," Krstičević said, adding that Croatian troops had erected a completely autonomous camp which can cater for 220 patients in record time.

Referring to the recent disastrous earthquake that struck Zagreb, Krstičević said that the army helped there too.

He underscored the need for further cooperation and solidarity between EU member states as well as for timely and coordinated measures to prevent the further escalation of the pandemic.

As a good example of cooperation Krstičević pointed at strategic transport, organised by the government to fly Croatian and German medical teams to NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Lithuania and the joint repatriation of Croatian, Albanian, Montenegrin and North Macedonian troops from Afghanistan.

More news about the Ministry of Defence can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, April 7, 2020 - The number of policyholders with the Croatian Pension Insurance Fund (HZMO) fell in March from the previous month, indicating that the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic has resulted in lay-offs and that employers did not hire seasonal workers as in the previous years.

The number of policyholders decreased by 12,423, or 0.8%, to 1,529,905. The largest monthly decrease, of 6.4%, was recorded in the tourism and hospitality industry.

The number of insured persons also fell in other important categories, including the manufacturing industry (-0.3%) and trade (-0.9%).

"Despite the pre-crisis expectations that the start of the spring months and the Easter holidays, influenced by seasonal factors, will formally mark the start of the tourist (pre)season and the simultaneous rise in the number of policyholders, the monthly fall in the total number of policy holders reflects the first obstacles and difficulties that the coronavirus pandemic has brought to the Croatian labour market," Raiffeisen Bank (RBA) said in an analysis of the HZMO data.

RBA analysts expect that the usual seasonal trends relating to the tourist season will be weaker than in the previous years.

Compared with March 2019, the number of policyholders increased by 8,646 or 0.6%. The increase was mainly driven by increases in the number of policyholders from the information and communications industry (+7.4%), construction (+5.8%), and professional, scientific and technical activities (+3.9%).

On the other hand, decreases were recorded in the manufacturing industry (-1.3%) and tourism and hospitality (-8.4%).

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 7th of April, 2020, the Croatian Government's rescue package has many measures related to the tourism industry, which is Croatia's strongest economic branch and is most affected by the coronavirus crisis. The measures include job preservation, financial and administrative burdens, wage benefits and tax breaks, RTL reports.

Nonetheless, Croatian tourism professionals are in awe, especially with regard to Croatia's very many private renters, and almost half of them think they will not be able to support their families without their usual tourist rental income.

Otherwise, we would not be able to take so much as a peek at Gordana's apartments in Crikvenica as of the beginning of April, because they would be full of readily paying tourists.

"We get cancellations almost every day, from now until June the 15th, everything has been cancelled, whatever we had. Otherwise, we should have entered the full season from April the 6th. We had almost 70 percent of the capacities filled,'' says Gordana Derossi, the owner of the Crikvenica apartments.

Last year, Kvarner enjoyed the best tourist Easter in the past three years, and it was believed that this positive trend would continue this year. Opatija makes for a sad image too, with its empty promenades. Private renters are now beginning to pass over from feelings of concern to fear, with their bookings dropping by as much as 50 percent. However, they do say that the Croatian Government is doing its job so far with the introduced coronavirus measures.

"I didn't use the tax deferral measures, but I do welcome the 50 percent less tourist tax," Derossi says. However, in March alone, a 70 percent drop in arrivals was calculated, with a 50 percent slash in overnight stays.

"Cumulatively, these figures are slightly lower, however, this is a direct consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, and I believe that unfortunately, in such an atmosphere, we'll continue with this sort of tourist traffic, which is practically non-existent at the moment, throughout April and May," said Kristijan Stanicic, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ).

Although HTZ is trapped in terms of Croatia's promotion on the foreign market, they remain present on social networks, and jobs in tourism have been more or less secured by the recently introduced government anti-epidemic measures.

"These are very important for the tourism sector, given that tourism will be the most affected sector in Croatia this year," Stanicic said.

Because the season is lost, the consequences will be felt for years. Tourism accounts for more than 20 percent of Croatia's gross domestic product, and it seems that the coronavirus effect is far from over yet.

Make sure to follow our dedicated section for all you need to know about coronavirus in Croatia.

April 7, 2020 - Do foreigners in Croatia feel more or less safe sitting out COVID-19 here than in their home country, and what are their experiences? A new series on TCN, with Katsuya Kasai from Japan in Zagreb as our 30th contributor.

Oxford University recently published some research on government responses to coronavirus which showed that Croatia currently has the strictest measures in the world. While inconvenient, this is a good thing in terms of reducing the spread of the virus, and I am certainly not alone in my admiration of the official Croatian handling of this crisis in recent weeks, both in terms of action and communication. 

But what do other expats here think? And how does it compare with the response in their home country? Would they rather sit this one out here or there? In the first of a new series on TCN, we will be featuring expats from all over the world to see what their views are on life in corona Croatia rather than back home. So far we have heard from expats in Croatia from Romania, USA, Ireland, UK, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Singapore, Holland, Canada, India, Hong Kong, Venezuela, Latvia, China, Honduras, Hungary, Moldova, South Korea and Germany. Next up, Katsuya Kasai from Japan in Zagreb.

If you would like to contribute to this series, full details are below. Now, over to Katsuya.

Firstly, how are you? Are you alone/with someone? Tell us a little about your situation and sanity levels.

My name is Katsuya Kasai from Japan. I am currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Zagreb School of Economics and Management during my career break while contemplating how to enjoy the rest of my life. Meanwhile, I have been taking some freelance jobs from foreign firms upon request. Although it deviates from my original plan, it must be good to make my life productive in this difficult period.

I live alone in Zagreb and am doing well by studying and working at home. Having said that, frankly speaking, I am not happy about the current situation because my favorite places, the National and University Library, cafes/restaurants, and badminton places, have been closed. All of which played a crucial role in making my life beautiful. Especially I miss my time playing badminton with my friends of BK Zagreb Maksimir and therefore my fingers crossed for partly lifting the restrictions in the near future.

When did you realise that corona was going to be a big issue? 

Well, I think virtually everyone in the world downplayed the seriousness of the COVID-19 crisis and I have to admit that I was one of them until I realized the devastating status in Italy. While watching news of Wuhan, China, I merely believed that developed nations including Japan would somehow prevent and control it with limited damages. Needless to say, it was totally wrong. We are sadly facing an unprecedented global pandemic. I strongly believe it is necessary to review and revamp a dysfunctional WHO so as to diminish excessive political influence.

What is your impression of the way Croatia is dealing with the crisis? How safe do you feel?

In my view, Croatia has been doing great which can be confirmed from the relatively small number of cases. I initially expected that Croatia would be severely affected by the virus as Italy is located on the opposite shore. It is however likely that Croatian people have been properly controlling the issue at this point in time. I guess the government has wisely reflected lessons learned from other European countries (i.e. Italy, Spain, Germany, etc.) into its strategy. Thanks to the Croatian people's efforts, I feel safe as long as I follow the recommendations/instructions.

Now compare that to your home country and how they are handling it. What is Croatia doing better/worse?

Seemingly Japan was somehow controlling the virus based on a strategy targetting clusters but the number of cases has been gradually increasing day by day. The number is still small but, given the limited number of PCR tests, it seems there are a lot of infected people having no symptoms at this moment. Some experts said the reasons why Japan does not have as many cases and fatalities as other countries do would be Japan's three advantages: 1) a better medical services; 2) a national health insurance scheme; and 3) a high level of consciousness of hygiene. Nonetheless, however, once outbreaks occur, the collapse of medical service will surely be caused. The Japanese government, therefore, decided to proclaim a national emergency on April 6. Although it has a little legal binding power, I do hope Japanese people will also keep staying home until the situation is settled.

As mentioned above, Croatia is doing well when it comes to controlling the epidemic by restricting economic activities. So the next challenge for the government should be providing private firms/freelances with adequate financial assistance as forms of zero-interest loans and/or benefits. Otherwise, we will end up seeing a lot of bankruptcies and unemployment people.

What about official communications from the authorities, compared to your home country?

I would like to flag an issue on communications between the authorities and foreigners who do not speak Croatian language. Basically I depend on Total Croatia News (Hvala!) and sometimes watch TV news programs though I seldom get clear pictures. I hope that the authorities or media/ZSEM will announce important notices in English in a timely manner.

What's the one thing you wish you had taken with you into self-isolation.

The first thing that came into my mind was my iPhone. On the second thought, my laptop. And my final decision is to take delicious food with beer/wine? Wining-and-dining will certainly be a big player.

One thing you have learned about yourself, and one thing you have learned about others during this crisis. 

I have realized that I like doing exercise. Although playing badminton is my passion, I usually feel unmotivated to do cardio exercise and muscle training. Very interestingly, I am now eager to do such exercises owing to the current stressful time. Actually I have been doing a little bit of muscle training at home every day.

About others, I have realized that I had misunderstood Croatian people, meaning I have learned from their behaviors during the crisis that Croatian are orderly people. I have witnessed that most people stick to instructions from the government. For instance, people keep enough social distance from each other everywhere and I have not seen any cafes/restaurants illegally working and so on. This was a bit of surprise because Croatian usually look like optimistic and easy-going people. Anyhow, this is a good finding. I appreciate it.

Thanks, Katsuya, stay safe and see you on the other side.

TCN is starting a new feature series on foreign experiences of sitting out COVID-19 here in Croatia compared to their home country. If you would like to contribute, the questions are below. Please also include a para about yourself and where you are from, and a link to your website if you would like. Please also send 3-4 photos minimum to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Corona Foreigner

If you would be interested to record a video version for our partners www.rplus.video please let us know in the email. Thanks and stay safe. 

Foreigners Self-Isolating in Croatia: Do You Feel Safer Than in Your Home Country?

Firstly, how are you? Are you alone/with someone? Tell us a little about your situation and sanity levels.

What do you think about the economic measures the government is taking, are they helping your business? (PLEASE IGNORE IF THIS DOES NOT AFFECT YOU)

When did you realise that corona was going to be a big issue? 

What is your impression of the way Croatia is dealing with the crisis? How safe do you feel?

Now compare that to your home country and how they are handling it. What is Croatia doing better/worse?

What about official communications from the authorities, compared to your home country?

What's the one thing you wish you had taken with you into self-isolation.

One thing you have learned about yourself, and one thing you have learned about others during this crisis. 

TCN has recently become a partner in Robert Tomic Zuber's new R+ video channel, initially telling stories about corona experiences. You can see the first TCN contribution from this morning, my video from Jelsa talking about the realities of running a news portal in the corona era below. If you would like to also submit a video interview, please find Robert's guidelines below 

VIDEO RECORDING GUIDE

The video footage should be recorded so that the cell phone is turned horizontally (landscape mode).

There are several rules for television and video news:- length is not a virtue- a picture speaks more than a thousand words

In short, this would mean that your story should not last more than 90 seconds and that everything you say in the report should be shown by video (for example, if you talk about empty streets, we should see those empty streets, etc.).

How to do it with your cell phone? First, use a selfie camera to record yourself telling your story for about a minute and a half. Ideally, it would be taken in the exterior, except in situations where you are reporting on things in the interior (quarantine, hospital, self-isolation, etc.). Also, when shooting, move freely, make sure everything is not static.

After you have recorded your report, you should capture footage that will tell your story with a picture, such as an earlier example with empty streets.

One of the basic rules of TV journalism is that the story is told in the same way as a journalist with his text. Therefore, we ask you for additional effort. Because we work in a very specific situation, sometimes you may not be able to capture footage for each sentence of the report. In this case, record the details on the streets: people walking, the main features of the city where you live, inscriptions on the windows related to the virus, etc.

The same rules apply if you are shooting a story from your apartment, self-isolation, quarantine. We also need you to capture footage that describes your story.

When shooting frames to cover your reports, it is important that you change the angle of the shot (in other words, shoot that empty street from several angles). Also, when shooting a detail, count at least five seconds before removing the camera to another detail.

The material should be about 5 minutes long (90 seconds of your report + frames to cover your story).

After recording everything, send us to Zagreb, preferably via WeTransfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

April 7, 2020 - Salivating over those wonderful restaurant meals from the pre-corona era? A new steak delivery service from one of Croatia's top meat restaurants has launched a national delivery service to meat your needs. 

Now that we have all got to know the four walls of our current location intimately, close your eyes for a moment and try and decide where and with whom you would be spending your self-isolation in a perfect world (let me rephrase that - in a best-case-corona-scenario world). 

A lot of people have expressed longing for the gorgeous Adriatic when I post photos and videos from my 30 minutes a day away from the laptop. And I have to confess that that half an hour by the sea is helping me keep it together, when the rest of my day is 100% consumed with digesting and reporting on the current horrors. 

But while there is a longing for location, location, location, there is also another desire which is becoming ever more prevalent as this lockdown continues - food. 

I am fortunate to be holed up with the best punica in the world, the best wife in the world, and the best sister-in-law in the world. Not only that but the fresh produce from the field of the best punac in the world means that we are eating healthily, and the creations coming out of Konoba Zorica are absolutely outstanding. Ladies, I salute thee!

But I also keep thinking back with longing to one quite extraordinarily unbelievably amazing culinary experience we had just as few weeks ago, when the living legend that is Ribafish invited us to dinner at the Temple of Meat in Varazdinske Toplice, Durina Hiza. 

Ribafish, left, and a fat Irishman, right, are sandwiched between two of my favourite things in life - the highly entertaining Durina Hiza owner, Nikola Bozic, and THAT fridge. Now THIS is a place and company I could certainly consider for self-isolation. Who needs the Adriatic?

 Nikola is also a total nutter, full of the craziest ideas, and it was hardly a surprise to me that while the whole global economy was crashing to pieces all around him, not only was he retaining his staff, but hiring MORE.

Cometh the hour, cometh the Schtig! If you can't come to Croatia's finest meat restaurant at the moment, let Croatia's finest meat restaurant come to you with your favourite steak delivery! 

Here is a sample of what is available. PLEASE NOTE that the availability of items is subject to changing availability, and I recommend you follow the Durina Hiza Facebook page for the latest info. 

I asked Nikola why he had decided to go down this route when others were closing down and laying off staff.

"Because I love what I am doing and because gastronomy is my life choice and passion. I have a group of dedicated people who support me, and we have been all working together for quite a while now. I just couldn't let them down so it came to me that I can still continue to offer the best meat and keep my family in business. This is how this delivery idea was born. Now what I am trying is to reach out to all the premium OPG's in Croatia to broaden my offer and help them survive."

Can you imagine how the quality of life in Croatia when (not if) this fabulous initiative takes off? Adding all the quality locally produced food to the network, delivered to your door? Direct support for Croatia's farmers. Celebrate the little guy and help him win. 

The Schtig has already begun deliveries, and Nikola tells me that he has the current delivery schedule. 

To order, by email only - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Today - Tuesday, April 7 - Koprivnica/Virovitica/Osijek/Vukovar

Tomorrow - Wednesday, April 8 - Varazdin and Zagreb

Thursday, April 9 - Rijeka and Istria

Friday, April 10 - Zagreb

And confirmed for after Easter:

Friday, April 17 - Split. 

Young Nikola, I salute you, and I am proud to call you a close friend. 

I really hope this initiative succeeds and grows, and the small quality producers all over Croatia come on board and turn this into the new way to get our food. 

For the latest in your steak delivery needs, follow the latest via Durina Hiza FB. 

For the corona latest, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

April 7, 2020 - The Zagreb County Tourist Board is choosing to communicate with potential travelers during the corona era - and promoting local winemakers at the same time.

The Zagreb County Tourist Board, in collaboration with the renowned GRIFFIN Sparkling Wines from Plesivica, has launched a raffle on its official Facebook page where participants will have the opportunity to win a bottle of Griffin Dark Side champagne for Easter, reports HRTurizam.

The promotion runs through Thursday, April 9, and for more details, visit the official Facebook page of the Zagreb County Tourist Board.

In the coming days, more winemakers from Zagreb County will join this promotion, points out Ivana Alilović, director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board, such as winemakers from the Zelinska wine road, Škrlet from Moslavina, wines from the Samobor area, and more.

This is an excellent move by the Zagreb County Tourist Board, as it promotes local wineries and winemakers from the Zagreb County area, and keeping communication going during times of crisis. 

Remember, during an emergency or crisis, it's worst not to communicate. While most tourists recycle old content, it is certainly commendable to see initiatives like this and different types of communication.

Of course, this action will not sell hundreds of wines, but it certainly provides a positive example and thus promotes local products.

Can other tourist boards join this action and make the same or similar promotion in their area, and help local winemakers who are also directly affected by this situation?

Otherwise, the vineyards of Zagreb County belong to the Bregovita Hrvatska wine region. Situated on elevated terrain, these are the slopes of the mountains and the lower highlands, which on their southern slopes have excellent conditions for producing high-quality grapes.

The climatic characteristics of the Zagreb County area led to the development of a typical continental assortment. These are the same varieties as in the neighboring countries, and introduced into these parts a hundred years ago (mostly chardonnay, riesling, pinot white, red, Sauvignon white, Graševina, and others) in the Zelina region, and according to Moslavina, also autochthonous škrlet. Of the international red varieties are portugizac, syrah, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon.

According to county data, Zagreb County boasts 5 million vines planted on more than 900 hectares of land. It is at the very top of Croatia in terms of the number of winemakers, wine labels, wine roads and wine projects in general.

Among the most successful projects are county brands - such as the Kingdom of Zelina and Portugizac Plesivica. There are also three wine roads - Samoborska, Plešivička and Zelinska, while in the Ivanićgrad area bordering Moslavina, there is a “Škrlet Land".

Another good move of the Zagreb County Tourist Board should be highlighted. As great initiatives have opened up for Facebook groups with a list of local OPGs selling products and delivering, as well as a boom in opening web stores for them, the Zagreb County Tourist Board has made an effort and collected all e-marketplaces in the Zagreb County area in one place.

You can find online markets in Zagreb County HERE

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 7, 2020 - Do foreigners in Croatia feel more or less safe sitting out COVID-19 here than in their home country, and what are their experiences? A new series on TCN, with Daniela Rogulj from California in Split as our 29th contributor.

Oxford University recently published some research on government responses to coronavirus which showed that Croatia currently has the strictest measures in the world. While inconvenient, this is a good thing in terms of reducing the spread of the virus, and I am certainly not alone in my admiration of the official Croatian handling of this crisis in recent weeks, both in terms of action and communication. 

But what do other expats here think? And how does it compare with the response in their home country? Would they rather sit this one out here or there? In the first of a new series on TCN, we will be featuring expats from all over the world to see what their views are on life in corona Croatia rather than back home. So far we have heard from expats in Croatia from Romania, USA, Ireland, UK, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Singapore, Holland, Canada, India, Hong Kong, Venezuela, Latvia, China, Honduras, Hungary, Moldova, South Korea and Germany. Next up, TCN's Daniela Rogulj from California in Split.

If you would like to contribute to this series, full details are below. Now, over to Split.

Firstly, how are you? Are you alone/with someone? Tell us a little about your situation and sanity levels.

I’m at home, in Split, with my mother, father, and grandmother, all of whom are high risk. My grandmother is 87 and, as you’d expect, has a lot of underlying health conditions at her age. My father is no spring chicken at 66, while my 59-year-old mother just finished breast cancer treatment.

Our spirits are as good as they can be at the moment. Grandma is (mostly) blissfully unaware, and I would like to keep it that way, since she doesn’t leave her ‘bunker’ of an apartment below us anyway. She’ll ask once or twice a week about the latest news with a troubled expression stretched across her face. I tell her not to let any strangers in and to keep washing her hands. Her daily routine improved, in a way, since we can’t beg her to come out to dinner with us once a month. Any excuse to stay at home. 

As any good Balkan mother would, my mother is often seen disinfecting the house multiple times a day with bleach, in between bouts of CNN and N1, while my recently-furloughed travel agent father now has the time to work through his immense music collection, composed of thousands of records, CDs, and box sets. I’m sure the whole Firule neighborhood could hear the speakers blast from our balconies - 'Tata Quarantino tunes of the day', I call it.

My life has changed a lot and not at all. Being a freelancer in Split for almost five years, I’m used to working from home and already have a routine in place. My mornings still begin with warm lemon water and articles for Total Croatia News, though with all of the corona news we have been covering, I’d say those days roll into the evenings fairly quickly - and the TCN team is easily working upwards of 14 hours/day on average. Since I have no reason to leave the house other than grocery shopping, I’ve converted my bedroom and balcony into my home gym and force myself to get 30 minutes of exercise every day. Fresh air and Vitamin D seem to be doing wonders for my mental health. The warm weather in Dalmatia lately is also a huge bonus - and a foolproof way to bypass burnout. And I couldn't imagine quarantining without my cats.

Keeping in touch with friends has been key, and Zoom chats are increasingly on my agenda -  especially with my boyfriend, a water polo player for Jadran Split, who had to jet back to Australia 24 hours before Croatia went on lockdown… to prepare with the Aussie national team for the Olympics Games, which have been postponed for next summer. I’m not sure when I’ll see him again, but have hope his career will continue in Europe once all is said and done. Going through the corona crisis without your partner has certainly has its ups (I’m too busy for anyone else) and downs (for obvious reasons). 

All things considered, my sanity levels are steady, though the bags under my eyes are growing darker.

When did you realise that corona was going to be a big issue? 

About a week before my trip to London at the beginning of March. My boyfriend and I had a quick weekender planned March 5-8 as he had no water polo games scheduled at the time (the national teams of Croatia and Montenegro were using the month to prepare for the final Olympic qualifying tournament in Rotterdam). Croatia only had one case at the time, though the outbreak was spreading around Italy - and fast. Paul Bradbury (my lovely TCN boss) seemed to know before everyone that the coronavirus would take off here. I remember him telling me to rethink my London trip as he had a feeling borders would close soon. My mother begged us not to go, either, as she’d been in the middle of the corona buzz since day one, but I often shrugged her off as I thought she was panicking (in those early times, she was). 

We got to London on a half-empty plane and took an Uber to our hotel to avoid public transportation, as that was the one promise I made to my mother, who packed us with gloves and face masks to wear while we were there. Life had not stopped in London, then. While there was a lot of talk, no one really seemed to be taking things too seriously and blamed the media for hype. We went to packed pubs, busy dinner spots, museums and markets, and even a Chelsea game. 

It wasn’t until our flight back that things grew eerie. Heathrow was slower than ever, and our plane empty. When we arrived in Zagreb, the passport control woman asked if we’d been to China or Italy in the last two weeks. We got back to Split late that night and I was convinced that my sore throat was a symptom of COVID-19 - and not due to the fact that I was still nursing a hangover from two days before.

Things escalated in the following two days. Airlines began announcing cancellations in Europe, the Croatian Ministry of Tourism put all marketing activities to a halt, and Croatia went from 1 to eight cases in a matter of days. My mother begged me not to leave the house, and I didn’t. I have been self-isolating since March 11.

What is your impression of the way Croatia is dealing with the crisis? How safe do you feel?

Croatia is very lucky that former Health Minister Milan Kujundžić was dismissed just days before the coronavirus hit here, or else we’d be in big trouble.

Overall, I’m very pleased with how Croatia has dealt with the crisis. The National Civil Protection Headquarters is a team of superheroes and our shining light during this crisis, and they’ve done a brilliant job introducing measures early to keep the infection at bay and the numbers low.

I feel safer than ever as the chances of getting hit by a bus or car are slimmer than ever (we all know how Croatian drivers can be). The streets are empty. The shops are taking proper hygiene measures and only allowing a certain number of shoppers in at once. They are also fully stocked, so IF things got really bad, at least I’d have enough toilet paper to get me through it. It’s rare to see anyone without a mask, and the two-meter rule is mostly taken seriously.

Is there anywhere better than Croatia to self-isolate, anyway?

Now compare that to your home country and how they are handling it. What is Croatia doing better/worse?

Yikes, where do I begin? The United States, as a whole, is a nightmare. They have a president who wanted the churches to be full on Easter, only to retract and say that 100,000 deaths is ‘very good’. The death toll has already topped 10,000. New York is scrambling to obtain ventilators and is already over 130,000 cases - and that’s just one state! I have to tip my hat to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is doing the best he can given the circumstances. 

I am from California, where Governor Gavin Newsom ordered a mandatory ‘shelter in place’ to all 40 million residents in the state early on. Only grocery stores and essential retail are open, while restaurants and bars are delivery only, large gatherings are banned, and social distance learning is in place for schools. California currently has over 15,000 cases and is 4th in the US. 

Croatia wins on taking measures earlier than the US as a whole, though it’s hard to compare a country of 4 million and 327 million.

What about official communications from the authorities, compared to your home country?

Are we basing this off of the daily White House briefings? Enough said. 

What the Fauci?

Dr. Anthony Fauci curbs his Trump enthusiasm. pic.twitter.com/HRFKKVmuW8

— Lauren Werner ? (@LaurenWern) March 20, 2020

Also, thank you, Paul, for putting me on the live corona updates, so I always know what’s going on in Croatia at any second of the day.

What's the one thing you wish you had taken with you into self-isolation.

My trainers, who have been amazing and publishing all workouts online (thank you F & T). I also wish I brought my will to drink with me, since I haven’t had an alcoholic beverage since March 8, and feel like a chilled gin & tonic would spice up the corona updates nicely during happy hour.

Maybe another sweatshirt to add to my rotation weekly rotation would have been smart, too.

I am grateful, however, that I am a relatively low-maintenance woman who will not suffer too severely from her beauty salon closure, though I do wish I learned how to do my eyebrows properly before all this hit. 

One thing you have learned about yourself, and one thing you have learned about others during this crisis. 

As I mentioned above, I’ve been more or less self-isolating since March 11, which is nearly a month, and not once have I felt restless or anxious, which is a bit out of character. Maybe I’m numb to it all by now, or maybe I’ve grown into the homebody I always knew I was. But I feel good; a bit tired and nostalgic here and there, but good. It’s important to go with the flow, because we can only live one day at a time right now, and I think that is a massive lesson I've learned through this. 

This crisis also made me a bit more generous. While my bank account certainly isn't growing, I’ve been donating to various animal shelters across Croatia since I am essentially 'saving' money on taxis, coffee dates, and nights out. It’s a win-win, isn't it?

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world at the moment and I feel like I am wrapped up in a lot of my own worries at home, but it is comforting to know that we’re all in this together - and there is a light, somewhere. I want to believe that this is the shift we needed to check ourselves and everything around us. While I never imagined it’d take a global pandemic to get us back to square one, let’s hope that the grass is greener on the other side and we make the most of hitting rock bottom. It can only go up from here (I think).

Thanks, Dani, stay safe and see you on the other side. And thanks for all you do for us at TCN - you have a lot of fans.Thanks, Dani, stay safe and see you on the other side. And thanks for all you do for us at TCN - you have a lot of fans.

TCN is starting a new feature series on foreign experiences of sitting out COVID-19 here in Croatia compared to their home country. If you would like to contribute, the questions are below. Please also include a para about yourself and where you are from, and a link to your website if you would like. Please also send 3-4 photos minimum to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Corona Foreigner

If you would be interested to record a video version for our partners www.rplus.video please let us know in the email. Thanks and stay safe. 

Foreigners Self-Isolating in Croatia: Do You Feel Safer Than in Your Home Country?

Firstly, how are you? Are you alone/with someone? Tell us a little about your situation and sanity levels.

What do you think about the economic measures the government is taking, are they helping your business? (PLEASE IGNORE IF THIS DOES NOT AFFECT YOU)

When did you realise that corona was going to be a big issue? 

What is your impression of the way Croatia is dealing with the crisis? How safe do you feel?

Now compare that to your home country and how they are handling it. What is Croatia doing better/worse?

What about official communications from the authorities, compared to your home country?

What's the one thing you wish you had taken with you into self-isolation.

One thing you have learned about yourself, and one thing you have learned about others during this crisis. 

TCN has recently become a partner in Robert Tomic Zuber's new R+ video channel, initially telling stories about corona experiences. You can see the first TCN contribution from this morning, my video from Jelsa talking about the realities of running a news portal in the corona era below. If you would like to also submit a video interview, please find Robert's guidelines below 

VIDEO RECORDING GUIDE

The video footage should be recorded so that the cell phone is turned horizontally (landscape mode).

There are several rules for television and video news:- length is not a virtue- a picture speaks more than a thousand words

In short, this would mean that your story should not last more than 90 seconds and that everything you say in the report should be shown by video (for example, if you talk about empty streets, we should see those empty streets, etc.).

How to do it with your cell phone? First, use a selfie camera to record yourself telling your story for about a minute and a half. Ideally, it would be taken in the exterior, except in situations where you are reporting on things in the interior (quarantine, hospital, self-isolation, etc.). Also, when shooting, move freely, make sure everything is not static.

After you have recorded your report, you should capture footage that will tell your story with a picture, such as an earlier example with empty streets.

One of the basic rules of TV journalism is that the story is told in the same way as a journalist with his text. Therefore, we ask you for additional effort. Because we work in a very specific situation, sometimes you may not be able to capture footage for each sentence of the report. In this case, record the details on the streets: people walking, the main features of the city where you live, inscriptions on the windows related to the virus, etc.

The same rules apply if you are shooting a story from your apartment, self-isolation, quarantine. We also need you to capture footage that describes your story.

When shooting frames to cover your reports, it is important that you change the angle of the shot (in other words, shoot that empty street from several angles). Also, when shooting a detail, count at least five seconds before removing the camera to another detail.

The material should be about 5 minutes long (90 seconds of your report + frames to cover your story).

After recording everything, send us to Zagreb, preferably via WeTransfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 6th of April, 2020, in addition to the donation of three million kuna by the Adris Foundation for the procurement of respirators for hospitals in Rijeka and Pula, the Adris Group's administration has decided to donate two million kuna for the restoration of cultural monuments damaged in the recent earthquake in Zagreb.

In order to overcome the gravity of the situation caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Adris Group's management, with the consent of its supervisory board, has made a number of decisions that will affect the operations of their affiliates, primarily their liquidity and profitability, and the long-term sustainability of the company in these unprecedented new circumstances.

Regardless of the current circumstances here in Croatia and across the world as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hold the economy in its firm grip, the Adris Group's management board decided that there would be no layoffs within that company. The Afris Group will realise already contracted and ongoing investments, and they will continue to prepare for planned projects.

Aware of the circumstances and the unknown situation we're all in when it comes to the potential duration of the coronavirus crisis - and despite the exceptionally good business results it achieved in 2019,  the company's management have agreed to cut their salaries by 30 percent over the next three + three months.

It has been recalled that, according to unaudited consolidated reports for the fourth quarter of 2019, the Adris Group generated a total revenue of 6.1 billion kuna in 2019, marking an increase of five percent. Revenue from the sale of goods and services amounted to a massive 5.4 billion kuna and is seven percent higher than it was back in 2018. Revenues from foreign markets increased by five percent to 1.59 billion kuna. Net profit amounted to 506 million kuna, marking an increase of 13.4 percent. Net profit after minority interests amounted to an impressive 402 million kuna and is 31 percent higher than it was last year.

Make sure to follow our dedicated section for information on coronavirus in Croatia.

April 6, 2020 - Do foreigners in Croatia feel more or less safe sitting out COVID-19 here than in their home country, and what are their experiences? A new series on TCN, with Rebecca Echevarria from California in Trogir as our 28th contributor.

Oxford University recently published some research on government responses to coronavirus which showed that Croatia currently has the strictest measures in the world. While inconvenient, this is a good thing in terms of reducing the spread of the virus, and I am certainly not alone in my admiration of the official Croatian handling of this crisis in recent weeks, both in terms of action and communication. 

But what do other expats here think? And how does it compare with the response in their home country? Would they rather sit this one out here or there? In the first of a new series on TCN, we will be featuring expats from all over the world to see what their views are on life in corona Croatia rather than back home. So far we have heard from expats in Croatia from Romania, USA, Ireland, UK, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Singapore, Holland, Canada, India, Hong Kong, Venezuela, Latvia, China, Honduras, Hungary, Moldova, South Korea and Germany. Next up, Rebecca Echevarria from California in Trogir.

If you would like to contribute to this series, full details are below. Now, over to Rebecca.

Firstly, how are you? Are you alone/with someone? Tell us a little about your situation and sanity levels. 

I am alone. Very alone. I am an American digital nomad in my 50s from California, up until now traveling the world and enjoying every minute of it. This is my second spring in Croatia. This year I’m in Trogir. Things could be worse. I am still working online with my clients in the US, but wondering daily when they will either a) get in trouble for violating stay at home rules b) contract the virus. While I worry for them, I also have mixed feelings and am glad they are working, so I can be working.

Before the movement restrictions went into place, I woke at 7, went for a 6-mile walk, attended my swimming aerobics class in Split, shopped at the fish and fruit/veg markets, took in a museum, went to a play or got a massage and possibly went for a drive. My day now consists of sleeping till sometime between 10 am and 1 pm. Spending some time cleaning, pulling weeds in the yard of my cute apartment, watering the flowers, laying in the sun and then getting to work at 4pm when my clients are up and about on the US west coast. I keep promising myself I’m going to learn Spanish but don’t seem to get around to it. Instead I work until midnight or 1 am and then watch Netflix till 3 am, go to bed and start all over again. What is today?

My life is boring but safe and my sanity has always been in question so this really doesn’t affect it much.

When did you realise that corona was going to be a big issue? 

That’s a mixed question. I don’t’ think anyone realized how serious this situation would become. I watched it intently while it unfolded in China, assuming falsely that the western world would take measures to mitigate the damage before it began. I was wrong. Some countries have done better than others, Croatia being one of the better ones, but overall it was something that could have been prevented, planned for and mitigated against, but wasn’t.

I was in London in February and listening to the way they were blithely ignoring the entire situation and discussing herd immunity made me realize I needed to leave while it was possible. I had a choice, go back to America where health care is costly and difficult to get, where the bottom line of capitalism is measured in lives and where my country is currently run by buffoons in a clown car. The option to continue as planned and spend 3 months in Croatia seemed the smarter move. When I arrived at the airport and they asked us where we have been the last three weeks, it hit me things were getting serious.

What is your impression of the way Croatia is dealing with the crisis? How safe do you feel?

I think Croatia as a whole is handling the situation very well. Certain individuals have flouted the restrictions and recommendations and endangered others, but the government overall seems to know who they are and is taking appropriate measures. I feel safe in my little corner of the world. I do get frustrated though with others who are not taking this situation seriously even now. As an example I was in Lidl today. The workers were congregated in front in a tightly packed group enjoying a smoke break with no masks or gloves. The clerk grabbed my card from me to put in the machine even though I wanted to do it myself and there is no one monitoring how packed the store gets. So I wipe, wipe, wipe with disinfectant and keep my distance as best I can while limiting my visits to the store.

Now compare that to your home country and how they are handling it. What is Croatia doing better/worse?

My daughter who is stuck in Dublin due to her University being closed and I discussed whether or not we should seek asylum as health refugees. The US is a complete disaster. My friends who work in healthcare are afraid. Most have already contracted the virus, but were still pushed to work with patients. The bottom line is the most important thing in America. Adding insult to injury the unemployment now being driven by measures met to save Americans is not followed up with public health and food insecurity measures. I have scarred lungs from untreated Valley Fever as a child and Hashimoto’s disease. Normally nothing to be concerned or worried about. I honestly feel if I had flown home to the US I would be dead now. The inability of my country to do much of anything at the federal level at this time is borderline criminal and costing lives. I worry about my son and his wife (a medical doctor) in California due to having their first child in a few weeks.

Croatia seems to understand, not just as a government, but most citizens that a group effort is needed to keep this health emergency under control. I’m hoping the measures in place, such a limiting movement from town to town, social distancing and tracking will keep paying off. I feel infinitely safer here than I would in the US.

What about official communications from the authorities, compared to your home country?

This has been a bit of an issue because I do not speak Croatian. I keep an eye on Total Croatia News to keep me informed. My landlady has been helpful as well in keeping me up to date. I still can’t figure out where to get an actual medical mask from. People seem to have them, but I have had no luck in tracking one down.

I also think there is a bit of an issue with people believing masks and gloves make them immune from catching the disease. A pharmacist in Trogir actually told me a cotton mask would be better than a medical mask because I can wash it. I was dumbfounded he would say that. There seems to be a lack of education on how, why and when masks and gloves work, and how, why and when to use them.

What's the one thing you wish you had taken with you into self-isolation.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS. I loved to read and this seems like the perfect opportunity to do so. My children admonish me and tell me to read them on my iPad, but after a day of staring at the computer, looking at another screen just doesn’t hold any appeal to me.

One thing you have learned about yourself, and one thing you have learned about others during this crisis. 

About myself I’ve learned I am fully capable of entertaining myself. I started writing a book since I can’t read one and figured out how to do yoga on my living room floor using spare carpet squares. I’m adapting.

About others I’ve learned that we are all interconnected in so many more ways than we realize. That each life is inadvertently affected by what happens on the other side of the world, so our choices and actions affect more than just our bubble. We have a unique opportunity here to affect those outside of our normal with the smallest of actions. We need to take advantage of the opportunity and come out of this situation, not smaller but wiser, with more compassion, more resilience and more love.

Thanks, Rebecca, stay safe and see you on the other side.

TCN is starting a new feature series on foreign experiences of sitting out COVID-19 here in Croatia compared to their home country. If you would like to contribute, the questions are below. Please also include a para about yourself and where you are from, and a link to your website if you would like. Please also send 3-4 photos minimum to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Corona Foreigner

If you would be interested to record a video version for our partners www.rplus.video please let us know in the email. Thanks and stay safe. 

Foreigners Self-Isolating in Croatia: Do You Feel Safer Than in Your Home Country?

Firstly, how are you? Are you alone/with someone? Tell us a little about your situation and sanity levels.

What do you think about the economic measures the government is taking, are they helping your business? (PLEASE IGNORE IF THIS DOES NOT AFFECT YOU)

When did you realise that corona was going to be a big issue? 

What is your impression of the way Croatia is dealing with the crisis? How safe do you feel?

Now compare that to your home country and how they are handling it. What is Croatia doing better/worse?

What about official communications from the authorities, compared to your home country?

What's the one thing you wish you had taken with you into self-isolation.

One thing you have learned about yourself, and one thing you have learned about others during this crisis. 

TCN has recently become a partner in Robert Tomic Zuber's new R+ video channel, initially telling stories about corona experiences. You can see the first TCN contribution from this morning, my video from Jelsa talking about the realities of running a news portal in the corona era below. If you would like to also submit a video interview, please find Robert's guidelines below 

VIDEO RECORDING GUIDE

The video footage should be recorded so that the cell phone is turned horizontally (landscape mode).

There are several rules for television and video news:- length is not a virtue- a picture speaks more than a thousand words

In short, this would mean that your story should not last more than 90 seconds and that everything you say in the report should be shown by video (for example, if you talk about empty streets, we should see those empty streets, etc.).

How to do it with your cell phone? First, use a selfie camera to record yourself telling your story for about a minute and a half. Ideally, it would be taken in the exterior, except in situations where you are reporting on things in the interior (quarantine, hospital, self-isolation, etc.). Also, when shooting, move freely, make sure everything is not static.

After you have recorded your report, you should capture footage that will tell your story with a picture, such as an earlier example with empty streets.

One of the basic rules of TV journalism is that the story is told in the same way as a journalist with his text. Therefore, we ask you for additional effort. Because we work in a very specific situation, sometimes you may not be able to capture footage for each sentence of the report. In this case, record the details on the streets: people walking, the main features of the city where you live, inscriptions on the windows related to the virus, etc.

The same rules apply if you are shooting a story from your apartment, self-isolation, quarantine. We also need you to capture footage that describes your story.

When shooting frames to cover your reports, it is important that you change the angle of the shot (in other words, shoot that empty street from several angles). Also, when shooting a detail, count at least five seconds before removing the camera to another detail.

The material should be about 5 minutes long (90 seconds of your report + frames to cover your story).

After recording everything, send us to Zagreb, preferably via WeTransfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.