ZAGREB, Dec 2, 2020 - The European Commission on Wednesday outlined a strategy for sustainably managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the coming winter months, underscoring that every 17 seconds this infection takes a life in Europe.

In its strategy, the EC points out that winter is "a period that can bring a risk of increased transmission of the virus owing to specific circumstances such as indoor gatherings," which is why the strategy "recommends continued vigilance and caution throughout the winter period and into 2021 when the rollout of safe and effective vaccines will occur."

The European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, warned of the risks stemming from gatherings and celebrations during the Advent, Christmas and New Year holidays.

"We cannot jeopardize the efforts made by us all in recent weeks and months. This year, saving lives must come before celebrations. But with vaccines on the horizon, there is also hope. All Member States must now be ready to start vaccination campaigns and roll-out vaccines as quickly as possible once a safe and effective vaccine is available."

The Commission will then provide further guidance on a gradual and coordinated lifting of containment measures.

Considering the latest guidelines for member-states, the strategy highlights physical distancing and limiting social contacts, testing and contact tracing, and safe travel.

The EC says that physical distancing and limiting social contacts are key for the winter months, including the holiday period. "Measures should be targeted and based on the local epidemiological situation to limit their social and economic impact and increase their acceptance by people."

Testing and contact tracing are perceived as "essential for detecting clusters and breaking transmission."

"Most Member States now have national contact tracing apps. The European Federated Gateway Server (EFGS) enables cross-border tracing," says the EC.

Pandemic fatigue

The Commission says that "pandemic fatigue and mental health are natural responses to the current situation."

Member States are urged to follow the World Health Organisation European Region's guidance on reinvigorating public support to address pandemic fatigue. Psychosocial support should be stepped up too.

ZAGREB, Dec 2, 2020  - Croatia registered 3,539 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 55 people have died as a consequence of COVID, the national COVID response team said on Wednesday.

The number of active cases is 22,610, including 2,408 hospitalized patients, 252 of whom are on ventilators.

Since 25 February, when the first case was registered in Croatia, a total of 134,881 people have been infected with the virus and 1,916 have died.

A total of 110,355 have recovered, of whom 2,124 in the past 24 hours.

There are currently 52,079 people in self-isolation.

To date, a total of 769,091 people have been tested for coronavirus, with 10,077 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

ZAGREB, November 29, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours, 2,919 new cases of the coronavirus infection have been registered in Croatia, so the number active cases today stands at 23,062, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Sunday.

There are 2,273 COVID patients in hospitals, including 260 on ventilators.

Fifty-seven people have died.

Since 25 February 2020, when Croatia registered its first case of the infection, a total of 126,612 people have contracted the novel coronavirus, 1,712 of them have died, while 101,838 have recovered, including 3,373 in the last 24 hours.

There are currently 50,603 people in self-isolation.

To date, 744,319 people have been tested, including 8,217 in the last 24 hours.

ZAGREB, November 28, 2020 - In the past 24 hours 3,987 SARS-CoV-2 infections have been registered in Croatia and 55 COVID-19 patients have died, the national COVID response team said on Saturday.

There are 23,573 active cases, including 2,221 patients in hospitals, of whom 262 are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was registered in Croatia, 123,693 persons have contracted the new virus, 1,655 have died and 98,465 have recovered, including 2,767 in the past 24 hours.

Currently 51,247 persons are self-isolating.

To date 736,102 persons have been tested, including 11,282 in the past 24 hours.

ZAGREB, November 26, 2020 - More than half of Croatia's population is at risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19, that risk is high for more than a million people while more than 1.5 million are in the category of at-risk people, the Vecernji List daily says on Thursday.

The daily says the data comes from a COVID-19 vaccination plan which has already been prepared and which defines, among other things, vaccination priorities.

According to the plan, current priority groups are health workers, residents of retirement and nursing homes and their staff, as well as employees of other welfare institutions.

These groups are followed by people above the age of 80, followed by people aged 75-79, people aged 70-74, and people aged 65-69. They are followed by adults under the age of 60 with high or moderate risk and others. The others category covers, for example, education workers.

The plan also provides for the vaccination of vulnerable groups, namely people who are at risk of developing a severe form of the disease or complications or are at risk of dying, the daily says.

First vaccines could be available in Croatia by New Year

The Jutarnji List daily reports today that the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech could be made available to US and European citizens by the end of December.

The vaccine is expected to be registered by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) around December 10, and the first vaccinations could start in the US the next day.

As for the EU, the registration of the vaccine with the European Medicines Agency could be completed a few days later and EU countries could obtain the first, modest quantities of the vaccine already by December 20, depending on their population size.

According to some reports, Croatia could obtain between 20,000 and a maximum of 50,000 vaccines by the New Year, which would be used primarily to vaccinate medical workers and staff at retirement homes.

Since the vaccine, which is up to 95% efficient, is applied twice, within a space of 14 days, this means that the quantity will be sufficient for the vaccination of 10,000-25,000 people.

ZAGREB, November 26, 2020 - Croatia has registered a record 4,009 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and 51 people have died, the national coronavirus response team reported on Thursday morning.

The number of active cases is now 21,725. Of them, 2,171 are being treated in hospitals, including 252 who are on ventilators.

The previous record was set on Wednesday when 3,603 new infections were reported.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 115,626 people have contracted the novel virus, 1,552 of them have died and 92,349 have recovered, including 2,924 in the last 24 hours.

Currently, 50,165 people are in self-isolation.

To date, 713,729 people have been tested, including 11,487 in the last 24 hours.

ZAGREB, November 25, 2020 - In the past 24 hours a record 3,603 coronavirus infections have been registered in Croatia and 56 COVID-19 patients have died, the national COVID response team said on Wednesday.

There are 20,691 active cases, including 2,136 hospitalised patients, 240 of whom are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was registered in Croatia, 111,617 persons have been positive for the novel coronavirus, 1,501 have died, and 89,425 have recovered, including 2,017 in the past 24 hours.

Currently 45,518 persons are self-isolating. To date, 702,242 persons have been tested for the virus, including 10,194 in the past 24 hours.

ZAGREB, November 23, 2020 - Croatia has registered 1,973 new cases of the coronavirus infection over the past 24 hours, as well as 45 related deaths, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Monday.

The number of active cases in Croatia stands at 19,275. There are 2,060 COVID patients in hospitals, including 235 on ventilators.

Since 25 February 2020, when Croatia registered its first case, a total of 105,691 people have contracted coronavirus, 1,398 of them have died, and 85,018 have recovered, including 2,638 in the last 24 hours.

There are currently 40,083 people in self-isolation.

To date, 683,104 people have been tested for coronavirus, including 6,139 in the last 24 hours.

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ZAGREB, November 22, 2020 - A total of 3,308 new coronavirus infections have been confirmed in Croatia in the last 24 hours, and the number of active cases stands at 19,985, the national coronavirus response team said on Sunday.

Of the active cases, 2,031 are hospitalised, including 223 patients who are on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, 49 people have died as a consequence of infection with coronavirus.

A total of 2,353 patients have recovered over the past 24 hours, and 9,216 have been tested, while 43,023 people are in self-isolation.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 103,718 people have been infected with the novel virus and 82,380 have recovered.

To date, 676,965 people have been tested for coronavirus, and 1,353 have died.

ZAGREB, November 21, 2020 - A record-high 3,573 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Croatia in the last 24 hours and there have been 47 related fatalities, the national coronavirus response team said on Saturday.

Currently, there are 19,079 active cases in the country, of whom 1,981 are receiving hospital treatment, including 213 who are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 100,410 people have been infected with the novel virus, of whom 1,304 have died.

A total of 80,027 people have recovered, including 2,640 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 45,150 people are currently in self-isolation.

To date, 667,749 people have been tested for coronavirus, including 9,877 in the last 24 hours.