ZAGREB, October 19, 2020 - A total of 393 new coronavirus cases and 11 related deaths have been recorded in Croatia in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Monday morning.

The number of active cases currently stands at 5,070. Among them are 571 people who are receiving hospital treatment and 35 of them are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Croatia, 25,973 people have contracted the novel virus, of whom 374 have died and 20,529 have recovered, including 476 in the last 24 hours. A total of 21,329 people are currently in self-isolation.

To date, 400,636 people have been tested for coronavirus, including 3,636 in the last 24 hours.

ZAGREB, October 18, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours, there have 819 new cases of the coronavirus infection in Croatia and eight fatalities, and the number of active cases now stands at 5,164, the national COVID-19 response team said on Sunday.

There are 548 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, including 32 who are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 25,580 people have contracted the novel virus, 363 of them have died and 20,053 have recovered, including 491 over the past 24 hours.

Currently, 21,148 people are self-isolating.

To date, 397,000 people have been tested for coronavirus, 4,948 of whom in the last 24 hours.

ZAGREB, October 17, 2020 - A total of 1,096 new coronavirus cases and 10 related deaths have been registered in Croatia in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Saturday.

The number of active cases is 4,844 and 530 of them are hospitalised, including 28 who are on ventilators, while 20,389 people are currently in self-isolation.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 24,761 people have contracted the novel virus, of whom 355 have died and 19,562 have recovered, including 475 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 392,052 people have been tested to date, including 6,980 in the last 24 hours.

ZAGREB, October 16, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros said on Friday that Croatia had a serious increase in new COVID-19 cases and called on citizens to act seriously otherwise the virus would control their lives.

"Today the number of new infections for the first time has exceeded one thousand. The virus is spreading to the health system, retirement homes and is a serious threat all around. It is high time we took matters into our own hands. If we give up on personal responsibility, the virus will control our lives," Beros said and called on the citizens to adhere to epidemiological measures.

The measures are not a punishment, the minister said, addressing the public together with Croatian Public Health Institute head Krunoslav Capak regarding the record high number of 1,131 new coronavirus infections in Croatia.

Over the past 24 hours, 117 patients have been admitted to hospital, and three people died yesterday, Beros said.

He said that the health system was still functioning.

"Our goal is not to shut down economy, but to find a way to coexist with the virus," the minister said.

Capak: Worrying increase in infections

Capak said that there was a serious and worrying increase in the number of new infections, although there were no particular hotspots.

"We call on the citizens to accept the measures we have adopted this week and to act responsibly because that is the only way we can stop the increase," Capak said.

He added that introducing new epidemiological measures was not being considered at the moment, as they were waiting for the recently adopted measures to take effect. However, there is still room to tighten the measures.

Arena hall and other facilities to be put into operation

Ivica Luksic from Zagreb's KB Dubrava hospital said that KB Dubrava was becoming increasingly filled with patients, while Zagreb's "Dr Fran Mihaljevic" infectious diseases hospital was filled to capacity, but the number of patients requiring intensive care had not increased significantly.

We are keeping things under control, but we as a society have to be serious and protect the health system, Luksic said.

According to Beros, the health system should be able to meet the needs, and he noted that there are 917 intensive care specialists and residents, 14,460 hospital beds, 800 ventilators and about 1,450 beds in intensive care units.

Plans are underway to put additional facilities, including the Arena hall in Zagreb, into operation if the number of COVID patients continues to grow.

"If the health system becomes overburdened, there will be problems with treating all patients," the minister said.

ZAGREB, October 16, 2020 - Of 5,693 tests performed in Croatia for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a record high 1,131 returned positive, and one related death has been reported, according to a press release issued by the national coronavirus response team on Friday.

Currently, there are 4,233 active cases in the country and 505 of them are hospitalised, including 24 who are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 23,665 people have contracted the novel virus, 345 of them have died and 19,087 have recovered, including 459 in the last 24 hours.

Currently, 17,242 people are in self-isolation.

A total of 385,072 people have been tested for coronavirus to date.

October 15, 2020 – Istria the only Coronavirus free region in Europe, is safe to visit this autumn

Travel information provided by Belgian Foreign Affairs authorities currently places the Croatian region of Istria as the most successful in Europe at curbing the spread of Coronavirus. The region stands alone in being coloured green on the Belgian governmental map. As things currently stand, it can confidently be referred to as Istria, the only Coronavirus free region in Europe.

The map is produced by Belgian authorities as a travel guide. Although it currently says Istria the only Coronavirus free region in Europe, the situation could change at any time. The travel advice and map are constantly updated.

The green colour allocation is the highest possible allocation on the map. It means that 'travel is possible - hygiene and social distancing rules still apply.' This is great news for those hoping to visit Istria during autumn.

The autumn season is particularly inviting to many fans of Istrian cuisine as it is the time of year in which fresh truffles can be taken from the county's forests. Anyone planning to this year join the hunt for truffles can now do so confidently as Istria the only Coronavirus free region in Europe.

On 6th October 2020, Total Croatia News's Donatella Pauković wrote about the county's excellent epidemiological situation in an article in which Boris Miletić, mayor of Pula said 'Istria is Again an Example to The Rest of Croatia!'

The head of Istria County's COVID-19 crisis management team, Dino Kozlevac, praised residents of Istria for their widespread respect of suggested hygiene measures. Explaining the county's good epidemiological situation, he said that residents of Istria have been wearing protective masks in closed spaces for three months, and it is those efforts that have created these positive results. While the awarding of the green status does not mean there is zero risk of Coronavirus being currently present in Istria, its lone standing within the continent does mean that Istria is right now the safest place you can travel to in Europe.

Istria was in the world headlines earlier this month when it was voted the world's best olive oil making region in the world, for the sixth year running. Today it may be famous as Istria the only Coronavirus free region in Europe, but it will always hold its title as one of Europe's best areas of gastronomy. As well as olive oil and truffles, Istria is internationally recognised as one of southern Europe's best wine growing regions. Istrian malvasia and teran are famous all over the world.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

ZAGREB, October 14, 2020 - A record number of 748 new coronavirus cases and four related deaths have been recorded in Croatia in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team said on Wednesday.

Currently there are 3,210 active cases in the country and 441 of them are hospitalised, including 27 who are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 21,741 people have contracted the novel virus, 334 of them have died and 18,197 have recovered, including 308 in the last 24 hours.

Currently, 16,598 people are in self-isolation.

A total of 372,683 people have been tested for the coronavirus to date, including 6,448 in the last 24 hours.

The previous record number of daily infections was reported on October 8 when 542 cases were confirmed.

ZAGREB, October 11, 2020 - A three-hour rally called the Festival of Freedom was held in Rijeka on Saturday at which participants questioned coronavirus prevention measures and reiterated their demand for people's freedom.

Organisers said they were for a well-argued and comprehensive scientific debate involving experts in all fields, not just epidemiologists.

Those who think differently from the official narrative should be respected, organisers said, calling on experts to talk about the damage caused by the restrictions.

The police said about 200 people took part in the rally and that there were no incidents.

ZAGREB, October 11, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours, Croatia has registered 508 new cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, as well as seven fatalities, and the number of active cases on Sunday stands at 2,818.

According to the national COVID-19 response team, 384 COVID patients are being treated in hospitals, and 26 of them are on ventilators.

Since 25 February 2020, when Croatia registered its first case of the infection, 20,440 people have contracted the disease, and 324 of them have died, while 17,298 people have recovered, including 345 in the last 24 hours.

Currently, 14,363 people are self-isolating.

To date, 358,515 people have been tested for coronavirus, including 4,989 over the past 24 hours, the press release said.

ZAGREB, October 10, 2020 - A total of 486 coronavirus infections and four fatalities have been registered in the past 24 hours, the national COVID-19 response team said on Saturday.

The number of active cases now stands at 2,662, including 382 people who are hospitalised and of whom 29 are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case of the infection was reported in the country, 19,932 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 317 have died while 16,953 have recovered, including 258 in the last 24 hours.

Currently 12,424 people are self-isolating.

To date, 353,526 people have been tested for the virus, including 4,576 in the last 24 hours.