ZAGREB, Sept 24, 2020 - Over the last 24 hours, of 5,351 tests performed for coronavirus, Croatia reported 232 new cases and four more COVID patients have died, while there are currently 1,200 active cases, the national COVID-19 management team said on Thursday.

There are 266 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, including 24 who are on ventilators.

In the past 24 hours, 296 people have recovered. Currently, 9,329 people are self-isolating.

Since February 25, when the first case of the infection was registered in Croatia, a total of 15,572 people have contracted the disease, 261 have died and 14,111 have recovered.

To date, 279,035 people have undergone coronavirus testing.

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ZAGREB, Sept 23, 2020 - Over the last 24 hours, there have been 204 new cases of the coronavirus infection and two deaths, and the number of active cases in Croatia stands at 1,268, the national COVID-19 management team said on Wednesday.

There are 278 COVID patients in hospitals, including 27 who are on ventilators. In the past 24 hours, a total of 6,387 tests have been performed and 828 people have recovered.

Currently, 9,314 people are self-isolating.

Since February 25, when the first case of the infection was registered in Croatia, a total of 15,340 people have contracted the disease, 257 have died and 13,815 have recovered.

To date, 273,684 people have been tested for coronavirus.

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September 22, 2020 - For six consecutive weeks this summer, the Martinska venue alone welcomed over 10, 000 international visitors to its music festivals in Sibenik. Zero cases of Coronavirus occurred.

Over recent years, three things have firmly placed Croatia on the international stage – Game Of Thrones, the World Cup and music festivals. Running for over a decade now, music festivals are the oldest of these. They have elevated places like Pula and Tisno to become among the most-Googled destinations in the country.

So popular now are Croatia music festivals, that many say the summer season of music festivals in Croatia has supplanted the famous hedonistic holidays of Ibiza as the hippest place to go. Incredible disappointment was therefore felt by tens of thousands of expectant party people earlier this year when most of the international Croatia music festivals decided to cancel their 2020 events. They did so in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

One venue stood alone – Martinska, a 20-year-old site for music festivals in Sibenik. Over six consecutive weeks, all of their 2020 festivals took place. They did so under strict adherence to epidemiological guidelines. And, following a wait of two weeks after the final event (to cover any potential Coronavirus incubation period), site organisers Pozitivan Ritam have released their results - zero cases of Coronavirus.

“It's not only the five festivals and one concert event that we did,” Pozitivan Ritam director Vedran Meniga told TCN, “The Fortress of Culture in Sibenik had more than 30 events this summer and Project Vojarna in Sibenik had two parties this year with over 4000 people. On one RTL television show, they described Sibenik as the Croatian Wuhan when 3000 people were in the town for one techno party there. But, at the end of the season, none of these events resulted in a single Coronavirus infection. Not one.”

Following a successful lockdown earlier in the year, cases of Coronavirus were limited in Croatia at the start of the season. Yet, some were understandably hesitant to come. Music festivals in Sibenik still managed to attract visitors from Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany to Martinska. Even after the middle of August when cases began to appear in other regions and international visitor numbers dried up, the festival site was still busy with Croatians and partygoers from near-neighbouring countries. At the end of August, there were no more than five infected persons in Sibenik. None were music festival or music event attendees. Throughout much of the summer, Sibenik recorded zero cases.

“The music festivals in Sibenik are proof that it's possible to work doing events during the era of Corona,” Meniga tells TCN. “Of course, all of our events were open-air and no doubt that helped.”

"When cases started to reappear elsewhere at the end of July, I went to the civil authorities and epidemiologists immediately, before they came to us,” says Vedran. “The civil authorities and the police grant the license for the events. I presented them with a plan and they were satisfied. They allowed us to continue.”

“It helped that Martinska is across the bay from Sibenik. Festival attendees don't even need to go into the town to come, they drive here straight from the Magistrala (Croatian coastal highway). Also, Martinska's capacity is five times bigger than the numbers we were going to cater for. The site can accommodate six to seven thousand. We expected no more than 1500 daily. That was more than enough space to maintain physical distance. We carefully took all contact details for each attendee at the entrance, in case something appeared and we (or authorities) had to later contact people. We also took everyone's temperature. And in addition to the required epidemiological sanitization, we also installed disinfectant pillars at every single point where money or goods exchanged hands. All our staff wore not only masks but also gloves. Four times the civil authorities made surprise visits to the site for inspection along with epidemiologists and police. Each time they were completely satisfied.”

Current forecasts for the Coronavirus response predict that a vaccine will not be available to cover everyone until the autumn of 2021. This has serious implications for at least one more tourist season. Yet, with the incredible achievements seen this summer at Martinska's music festivals in Sibenik, we can all take hope that events, tourism, and even life itself may continue to be enjoyed in the near future, as long as we're all smart about it.



All photos 2020 Martinska © Seasplash / Pozitivan Ritam. 

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ZAGREB, Sept 19, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, of 5,457 tests performed for coronavirus, 212 have returned positive, and there have been no COVID-related deaths, Croatia's COVID-19 crisis management team reported on Saturday.

Currently, there are 2,128 active cases, and 9,714 contacts are self-isolating.

Of those active cases, 288 are receiving hospital treatment, including 24 placed on ventilators.

Since 25 February, when the first case of the disease was registered in Croatia, a total of 14,725 people have been diagnosed with this infection. Of them, 12,353 have recovered and 244 have died.

To date, Croatia's health authorities have conducted 254,480 tests for this novel virus.

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ZAGREB, Sept 17, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, of 5,948 tests performed for coronavirus in Croatia, 250 have returned positive, and the number of active cases stands at 2,108, the national COVID-19 response team said on Thursday.

There have been two more fatalities, bringing the COVID-related death toll to 238.

Currently, 300 infected patients are receiving hospital treatment, and of the 24 are placed on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case of the disease was reported in Croatia, 14,279 people have contracted the disease and 11,933 of them have recovered.

The team reported that 8,756 people were now self-isolating.

Since the outbreak of this infectious disease, 242,886 tests have been performed.

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ZAGREB, Sept 16, 2020 - There have been 280 new cases of the coronavirus infection and six fatalities in Croatia in the past 24 hours, while the number of active cases stands at 2,103, the national COVID-19 response team said on Wednesday.

A total of 293 patients are hospitalised, including 20 who are on ventilators.

With the six latest fatalities, the coronavirus death toll has risen to 236.

Currently, 8,505 people are self-isolating.

Since February 25, when the first case of the disease was reported, 14,029 people have contracted the disease and 11,690 of them have recovered.

A total of 236,938 people have been tested to date, including 6,353 in the last 24 hours.

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ZAGREB, Sept 15, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours 151 new coronavirus cases have been registered in Croatia, bringing the number of active cases to 2,107, and three persons have died, the national COVID response team said on Tuesday.

Currently, 299 patients are hospitalized, including 22 on ventilators, and 8,598 persons are self-isolating.

The death toll has risen to 230.

Since February 25, when the pandemic began in Croatia, 13,749 persons have been infected with the virus and 11,412 have recovered.

To date, 230,585 persons have been tested, including 5,571 in the last 24 hours.

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ZAGREB, Sept 14, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, Croatia has recorded 65 new COVID cases and three fatalities, and the number of active cases stands at 2,220, the national COVID-19 management team said on Monday.

Of the total number of COVID-19 patients, 310 are in hospitals, including 22 on ventilators. Currently, 8,217 people are self-isolating.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case of the infection was registered in Croatia, 13,598 people have been diagnosed with the new disease, and of them, 227 have died, while 11,151 have recovered.

To date, 225,014 people have been tested for the virus, including 3,180 in the last 24 hours.

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ZAGREB, Sept 11, 2020  - In the last 24 hours, 5,549 tests have been conducted for coronavirus in Croatia and the national COVID-19 crisis management team reports 190 new COVID cases.

There are now 2,430 active cases, including 327 patients who are being treated in hospitals, and 26 of them are placed on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, three COVID positive persons have died, bringing the country's death toll to 211.

Since 25 February when Croatia reported its first case of the coronavirus infection, 13,107 people have tested positive. Of them, 10,466 have recovered to date.

 A total of 210,805 tests have been performed to date.

 Currently, 8,720 people are self-isolating.

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Friday 11 September 2020 - As part of the national campaign Tjedan Odmora Vrijedan (Holiday-worthy week) there will be Luxury Hotel Rooms in Dubrovnik for 50 Euros in October. We're signed up! But will others follow?

Luxury Hotel Rooms in Dubrovnik for 50 Euros in October? Idemo (let's go)! In an interview given to dnevnik.hr, assistant mayor of Dubrovnik Jelka Tepšić has confirmed that many businesses in and around Dubrovnik are prepared to sign up to the national Tjedan Odmora Vrijedan (Holiday-worthy week) initiative.

The campaign, conceived by the Croatian Ministry of Tourism, has set aside a week – well, actually just over – in which they are encouraging all within the tourism sector to offer a 50% discount. Covering two weekends, from Friday 16 October to Sunday 25th October, the offer should see some luxury hotel rooms, fabulous meals, and transport carriers offering premium products at half the price. If they sign up.

Luxury hotel rooms in Dubrovnik for 50 Euros in October sounds like a good deal. And it is. During a typical October, visitors are still enjoying the sunny streets of the Old City in Dubrovnik. A luxury hotel at that time would usually cost €200 per night. Because of this year's extraordinary circumstances, those rates are currently €113 per night. Dnevnik.hr, therefore, estimates luxury hotel rooms in Dubrovnik for 50 Euros in October.


View of the islet Lokrum from Dubrovnik © visitdubrovnik.hr

Dubrovnik is a special case within Croatian tourism. In recent years it has benefitted from its ability to extend its season beyond that which other Croatian destinations can. This is due to its world-famous attributes and excellent marketing. However, being a city linked mostly by charter flights and large cruise ships, it has suffered greater this year than destinations traditionally visited by road users. It's understandable that they would want to optimistically join the initiative.

Some in the tourism sector seem less keen on the initiative. They regard October as too late in the season for such a scheme. Their pessimism may be justified. It has been a much more difficult month to promote for places other than the special case of Dubrovnik – the sea is beginning to see a drop in temperature and in continental regions, the early mornings and evenings in October may necessitate a hoodie and long pants.

But, that's not to say that such destinations couldn't benefit from attracting, in particular, domestic visitors during the initiative week. That is if such homegrown tourists have any holidays remaining. Only time will tell just how widespread the industry will embrace the initiative, and just how beneficial it will be.

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