For the latest March 21 update click here.

March 15, 2020 - There are 49 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Information on countries and areas under travel restrictions for passengers arriving in Croatia was updated on Sunday March 15:

All foreign nationals entering Croatia from the following countries/territories:

– People’s Republic of China: Hubei Province
– Italian Republic
– FR Germany: Heinsberg County in the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia
– Republic of Korea: Daegu City and Cheongdo Province
– Islamic Republic of Iran

will be informed about their compulsory 14-day quarantine, while all Croatian nationals will be issued a decision requiring them to go into a 14-day self-imposed isolation.

All foreign and Croatian nationals entering Croatia from the following countries/territories:

– People’s Republic of China (except the Hubei province)
– Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China)
– Republic of Korea (except Daegu City and the Cheongdo Province)
– Japan
– Republic of Singapore
– French Republic
– Federal Republic of Germany (except Heinsberg County in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia)
– Republic of Austria
– Swiss Confederation
– Kingdom of Spain
– Kingdom of the Netherlands
– Kingdom of Sweden
– United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
– Malaysia
– Republic of Slovenia
– Australia
– Republic of the Philippines
– Socialist Republic of Vietnam
– Kingdom of Cambodia
– New Zealand
– Kingdom of Denmark
– Kingdom of Norway
– Czech Republic
– Republic of Finland
– Hellenic Republic
– State of Israel
– Ireland
– Republic of San Marino
– Republic of Island
– Republic of Poland
– Romania
– Portuguese Republic
– Slovak Republic
– Hungary
– Republic of Belarus
– Republic of Bulgaria
– Republic of North Macedonia
– Kingdom of Thailand
– Republic of India
– Republic of Indonesia
– Republic of Maldives
– Kingdom of Bahrein
– United Arab Emirates
– Republic of Iraq
– Arab Republic of Egypt
– Lebanese Republic
– Islamic Republic of Pakistan
– Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
– United States of America
– Canada
– Federal Republic of Brasil
– Republic of Chile
– Republic of Costa Rica
– Peoples Democratic Republic of Algeria
– Republic of Cameroon
– Republic of Peru
– Republic of Ecuador
– Principality of Andorra
– Republic of Albania
– Republic of Cyprus
– Montenegro
– Principality of Liechtenstein
– Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
– Republic of Malta
– Principality of Monaco
– Republic of Turkey
– Ukraine

will be issued a decision requiring them to go into a 14-day self-imposed isolation.

The list will be updated in accordance with recommendations and the epidemiological situation.

"It is only through joint efforts that we can contribute to maintaining this relatively peaceful epidemiological situation that we now have in Croatia," the Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters reported at this morning's press conference and repeated the following instructions:

1. People who have cold symptoms and have not been in areas that are more affected by the new coronavirus within the last 14 days should not report to epidemiologists but may contact their family physician by telephone.

2. People who have been in areas which are more affected by the coronavirus within the last 14 days, but are not coughing, who do not have a fever or other signs of a cold over must contact a competent epidemiologist, whose number can be obtained through county centers 112.

3. People who have been in areas more affected by the coronavirus within the last 14 days, who have coughs fever and other cold symptoms, are obliged to contact their family physician by phone for further instructions.

Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. | Use a tissue for coughing or sneezing. | Avoid touching your face. | Index

For some of the most commonly asked questions about coronavirus in Croatia, check out the TCN FAQ Guide here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Forty-Nine Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 15, 2020; forty-nine coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 16 in Zagreb, 10 in Rijeka, 6 in Pula, 5 in Varaždin, 2 in Sisak and 9 in Osijek and 1 TBD, who returned from New York (Numbers on map updated).

• The first patient from Zagreb became infected during his stay in Italy. The two other patients are close contacts. The fourth patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria. The fifth patient recently came back from a conference in Munich. Five new cases were confirmed Wednesday and Thursday and the patients returned from trips to Austria and Germany. Three more cases were confirmed on Friday: a child, a soldier and a contact of the soldier. Another case, confirmed Saturday, returned from Spain. Two more cases work at the KBC Dubrava (clinic in Zagreb) for a total of sixteen.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during his stay in Italy. Several other patients had contact with the first patient. The total number of cases is now ten.
• The first patient from Varaždin spent time in Italy. The second case is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth cases are close contacts of the driver. A fifth case returned from the United States, via Europe. Another patient was confirmed today.
• Six patients in Pula had returned from Italy.
• The first confirmed patient from Sisak returned from Italy. The second returned from Spain.
• Two new cases from Osijek were in contact with an infected person from Zagreb. As of today, seven more cases for a total of nine.
• Another case returned to Croatia from New York. Updates on this case to follow.

More than 6,455 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 167,291 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 86,442 cases outside of mainland China and 24,747 in Italy. 

UPDATED: March 15, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Updates

The National Civil Protection Headquarters held their daily afternoon press conference at 16:00 CET as reported by Index.

In Croatia, there are 49 cases of coronavirus infection recorded, including two doctors from KB KBC Dubrava.

"We will mobilize the entire healthcare system, staff and equipment. This is not unexpected; it is important that we have resisted this scenario for such a long time, it has allowed us to do the necessary preparatory work," Vili Beros said.

Capak has revealed that the new case is one returnee from New York. Contacts of people from Osijek are also among the new cases. Two people worked at a ski resort in Austria.

Most Cases Returnees or Contacts of Returnees

"As you can see, the situation shows that we have either returnees from countries or their contacts," he said. The minister indicated that Dubrava had previously been selected as the site of the respiratory center.

"Our exact plan was to activate Dubrava. These developments have accelerated our plans. Evacuation of patients to other hospitals is ongoing. This Zagreb scenario is ready for all regional centers. We have primary, secondary and tertiary care options in all our centers," Beros added.

"By WHO definition, as soon as the first non-imported case occurs, they consider it to be local transmission. We believe that the spread of the disease to the population has not yet taken place," Capak said.

Bozinovic Announced More Rigorous Measures, Starting Tomorrow

"What you are follow in the foreign media, we will also introduce. Our lives will change drastically, all for the purpose of protecting the population and our loved ones. We must take responsibility for ourselves and others. The measures will be implemented tomorrow, including the whole package of economic measures and closing borders is another measure," Bozinovic said.

Capak found that about 8,000 people are in self-isolation. Waiting for 15 findings. The health status of the current patients is good.

"Over 80 percent, and by some accounts, 85 percent of patients have mild symptoms. Elderly people are especially advised to adjust their activities to the new circumstances. They should avoid public transport and doctor visits," Beros repeated.

Highlights from Morning Press Conference

Seven new cases were diagnosed yesterday. At the press conference yesterday morning, the headquarters reported five new cases, in the afternoon another infected person was reported, and another case was discovered late in the evening. In total, 39 people were infected in Croatia as of yesterday (10 more infections by end-of-day March 15).

Government Will Cap Prices on Foods and Drugs

In addition, late last night the government decided to limit the prices of several foods and drugs with maximum prices remaining as they were on January 30.

57 Citizens Confirmed Violating Self Isolation Orders

Minister Bozinovic praised the computer scientists who created a system that helps identify persons who violate self-isolation measures.

"We do not act only on reports from citizens, but also on the regular treatment of the police, if someone is stopped in traffic and should be in self-isolation, they will be sanctioned," he said. 

"In the past 24 hours, controls have been carried out on 57 citizens who do not comply with self-isolation measures. 17 have been reported to the sanitary inspection and will be sanctioned," Bozinovic added.

Capak: Traffic at Border Back to Normal

Krunoslav Capak spoke about new measures at the borders, saying that the citizens of Bosnia and Hercegovina and Serbia will not need to go into self-isolation and that the regime will not change.

Minister Bozinovic said that truck traffic at the borders has returned to normal.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

(Updates provided by Index)

20:30 - The director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" and one of the key persons from the first line of defense against coronavirus, Dr. Alemka Markotic, said in an interview for Dnevnik Nova TV that there was another suspected coronavirus case in the hospital system. She also explained how everyone should behave and what is most important now.

19:00 - The ministry has announced rules for people in self-isolation:

1. Leaving home is prohibited.
2. Contact the appropriate epidemiological center every day.
3. Take your temperature in the morning and evening.
4. Pay attention to the appearance of symptoms of a respiratory infection (high temperature, coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing).
5. Wash your hands regularly with soap or use sanitary hand cleaner.
6. Regularly clean and disinfect objects and areas where you reside.
7. Regularly ventilate spaces.
8. Use your own sheets, towels and eating utensils
9. Secure a separate room and use a separate bathroom.
10. If you need to go to a health care facility, contact your family doctor beforehand.

18:00 - McDonald's closes for guests. They have released a statement.

"Just as we are responsible for serving guests safe food, we are also responsible to employees for whom we need to ensure a safe working environment. Their safety and health are our priority. With strict adherence to the quality, hygiene and cleanliness; we consider closure of our restaurants to guests one of the critical measures we will take to ensure safety and help prevent the spread of the epidemic," said Pavel Pavlicek, McDonald's Croatia director.

17:50 - Zagreb opens offices for the examination of suspected coronavirus cases. Here they are.

17:30 - A man who violated the decision to self-isolate will be punished.

16:30 - At the end of the afternoon press conference, Ministers Božinović and Beroš made a special appeal to the elderly. They were urged not to leave the house unless they had to. They were also told to avoid rallies and going to the grocery store.

16:05 - A new press conference of the National Civil Protection Headquarters took place. There are currently 49 cases of coronavirus recorded in Croatia. There are still 15 more cases to be confirmed. Minister Bozinovic said the measures being introduced would be increasingly rigorous.

15:30 - Mass was held at the cathedral. There weren't many attendees.

15:10 - Penalties for violation of self-isolation have been announced. The first fine is eight thousand HRK (1052 EUR). But if someone continues to violate self-isolation, the penalties are drastically higher.

14:21 - Plenkovic said a total of 49 were infected at the very beginning of the press conference.

13:00 - Index confirmed that two doctors of KB Dubrava were infected with the coronavirus.

12:05 - Andrej Plenkovic has stated that they are taking all measures against the spread of the coronavirus epidemic that are appropriate at the moment, and if more stringent measures are needed, they will surely take them, but will ensure the normal functioning of life.

The prime minister said this after a vote in HDZ's inter-party elections, questioned whether the closure measures taken by restaurants in Istria would apply to the rest of Croatia.

11:45 - There is no cure for COVID-19, that is, therapy is only symptomatic and supportive. Although most infected people have only mild symptoms, it is still extremely important to try to avoid the infection in every way. Here's how you can do it.

11:16 - The press conference of the Headquarters of Osijek-Baranja County is underway. They said that the five cases from Osijek are contacts of the married couple from Ernestinovo. Still waiting for results for 5 people.

11:05 - From the Rehabilitation Center in Zagreb, a coronavirus case was announced on their site. They reported a virus was detected in one user.

10:50 - The Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia has decided that train drivers and the necessary accompanying railway staff may cross the border with Slovenia, Serbia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina without restrictions. They will be issued a 14-day self-isolation decision. At the invitation of the employer, they will be able to get out of self-isolation for the purpose of carrying out railway transport operations, and upon completion they shall be obliged to return to self-isolation. The employer is obliged to provide the driver and the necessary accompanying train crew with all the protective equipment they are required to use when performing the business process.

10:45 - Mate Rimac reported on Facebook that he was closing down his business Monday because of the coronavirus.

10:00 - As of yesterday, a quarantine was established in each county with a parking space for trucks to house domestic truck drivers after unloading cargo. Drivers will no longer have to be in self-isolation as before but will leave quarantine to go on route as needed and return to quarantine once their goods have been unloaded. All employers with more than five employees are required to provide quarantine/self-isolation within their business premises in accordance with the prescribed self-isolation measures.

9:45 - Archbishop of Rijeka Msgr. Dr. Ivan Devcic sent a letter yesterday to the priests with new provisions regarding the coronavirus, and at the request of the Chief of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the PGZ, who asks the local Church to suspend all liturgical rites until April 3, 2020. Churches in the Archdiocese of Rijeka must cancel masses at which would have more than 100 people and where people cannot sit with a meter of distance between them.

9:20 - The Diocese of Dubrovnik will broadcast mass over the Internet.

9:30 - Bozinovic: We found 18 people who did not adhere to self-isolation orders and they will be punished.

9:00 - Last night, truck traffic started moving through Croatia to Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, confirmed the Minister of the Interior and the Director of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, Davor Bozinovic.

The convoy of lorries, which was detained at the Italian-Slovenian and Slovenian-Croatian borders due to the coronavirus epidemic, departed yesterday evening.

(Updates provided by Index)

Live World Coronavirus Updates

• Live world updates from CNN here.
• Live world updates from The Guardian here.
• Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.

Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates

• Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
• Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
• Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.

Total Croatia News Coronavirus Coverage

• Croatia Travel Update, March 15, 2020: What You Need to Know - here.
• 10 Things Which Await You in Croatia After Corona Crisis - here.
• Mate Rimac Closing Company on Monday, Employee Health Top Priority - here.
• Croatian Government Introducing Price Controls for Certain Items - here.
• Punishments for Breaking Coronavirus Self-Isolation Rules Published - here.
• Two Dubrava Zagreb Hospital Doctors Have Coronavirus, Minister Reveals Details - here.
• Split Bus Station Stops All Lines Outside Croatia, Reduction in Domestic Lines Likely - here.
• Croatian Athletes and Staff Talk About Unexpected Time at Home - here.
• Mayor Stipe Petrina Chooses Prevention, Closes All Cafes and Restaurants in Primosten - here.
• Covid19 Emergency: Solidarity from STIP, Association of Court Interpreters & Translators - here.

UPDATED: March 15, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)

For the latest March 21 update click here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

March 15, 2020 - At this morning’s press conference held by the Civil Protection Staff they announced that the number of coronavirus infected in Croatia had increased. Seven more people were infected, and a total of 46 people were infected in Croatia.

Seven new cases were diagnosed yesterday. In the morning the headquarters reported five new cases, in the afternoon another infected person was reported, and another case was discovered late in the evening. In total, 39 people were infected in Croatia as of yesterday as reported by Index.

In addition, late last night the government decided to limit the prices of several foods and drugs with maximum prices remaining as they were on January 30.

09:17 - When asked if crowds at the borders should be expected, the minister said he should not. "We said yesterday, this is not the time to travel and we ask everyone to refrain from doing so," the minister said.

09:15 - Minister Bozinovic said that there were 52 people quarantined, in Split and Dubrovnik. "You can see for yourself that the situation in the EU is getting worse, we are not ruling it out either. I urge that the messages of the headquarters and the government be monitored because only if we follow what the profession says will we help ourselves, our loved ones and the country," he said.

09:13 - Alemka Markotic added that in self-isolation all persons were assessed as being at high risk, regardless of whether they had symptoms or not.

"The epidemic here can be made worse by irresponsible behavior. This is one of the critical aspects and it is important for people to adhere to the prescribed measures. It is for the benefit of them and their loved ones," she said.

She also commented on the decision to withdraw the decision to self-isolate people from Bosnia and Hercecogovina and Serbia. She said it was not yet about local transmission.

"These are all close contacts or infected out there. Failure to comply with the measures may result in local transmission," she added.

09:12 - Minister Bozinovic praised the computer scientists who created a system that helps identify persons who violate self-isolation measures.

"We do not act only on reports from citizens, but also on the regular treatment of the police, if someone is stopped in traffic and should be in self-isolation, they will be sanctioned," he said.

09:10 - There was a question about the use of ibuprofen, which the French minister said was not being given to the sick.

Alemka Markotic replied that it was not scientifically based. "It is not usually given to patients who are bleeding, and all of our patients receive paracetamol," she said.

Minister Beros added that the advice should be dominated by the opinion of professionals.

09:09 - Minister Beros was asked about mobilization. He said Croatia was ready for anything and how it would adapt.

09:07 - Krunoslav Capak spoke about new measures at the borders, saying that the citizens of Bosnia and Hercegovina and Serbia will not need to go into self-isolation and that the regime will not change.

Asked about the number of people in self-isolation, he said he would announce the exact number at the press conference in the afternoon (16:00 CET).

9:06 - The Minister revealed that four convoys of trucks were taken over and that over 60 trucks were moving to Bajakov and 40 to Stara Gradiška.

Minister Bozinovic said that truck traffic at the borders was normalized.

"In the past 24 hours, controls have been carried out on 57 citizens who do not comply with self-isolation measures. 17 have been reported to the sanitary inspection and will be sanctioned," Bozinovic said.

9:05 - Krunoslav Capak said that information is being collected on the new seven patients and their contacts and that more will be known at 16:00 CET at the next press conference.

09:04 - Alemka Markotic said that there is not much information about the new cases so far, but added that they do not appear to have a serious form of the virus

09:02 - There are 46 people infected in Croatia, Minister Beros said.

A full update will follow in our daily briefing, which will include details from the afternoon press conference, which will be held at 16:00 CET.

Follow this page for running Total Croatia News updates on the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia.

March 15, 2020 - A significant investment in the offer and quality sports infrastructure are prerequisites for the development of sports tourism in Croatia. 

HRTurizam reports that this could be heard from the participants of the 15th Tourism Discussion on the topic "Sports tourism in Croatia - can we do more and how?". It was attended by Tonči Glavina, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Zlatko Matesa, President of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO), Goran Šprem from Uniline, Tomislav Popović, President of the Maistra Management Board, and Sanda Čorak, Research Associate at the Institute for Tourism.

Panelists stressed that the sports industry brings in 300 billion euros, or 2% of GDP in the European Union, while according to estimates in Croatia, it accounts for 1.4%. It is concluded that sports tourism can provide more revenue and extend the season, but it is a prerequisite to attract investment in sports infrastructure.

In this context, the participants highlighted Istria as one of the positive examples of a region where existing infrastructure enables and supports the development of this specific form of tourism. The four key areas where a shift can be made are heard: recreation, athlete preparation and various camps, the organization of major sporting events, as well as publicity involving successful Croatian athletes.

As a concrete project for the development of sports tourism in Croatia, Šprem emphasized the project "Croatia - Country of Sport", which aims to attract athletes from all over the world to prepare in Croatia and to improve Croatia's position on the map of sports destinations. During the discussion, one could hear that great potential lies in the use of European funds for the construction of sports infrastructure, which Croatia has not yet started to use, and highlighted the example of neighboring Slovenia, which has so far withdrawn 100 million euros from the funds for the development of this segment.

Recall, earlier this week, the city of Zagreb announced plans to demolish the existing Dinamo stadium in Maksimir and build a new one with 30,000 seats, with an auxiliary stadium of 3,000 - 4,000 seats, and athletic fields and various outdoor courts alongside the pool complex. Construction on the new stadium should begin in 2022.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 14, 2020 - With the decision of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) leadership and coach Zlatko Dalic, the Croatia national team will not gather this March, HNS announced on Friday.

"After the planned Doha Friendly Tournament was canceled due to the global coronavirus pandemic, where Croatia was scheduled to measure their strength against Switzerland and Portugal, the Federation’s leadership and coach Dalic have agreed that there will be no national team meeting this month in the scheduled representative term.

HNS has informed the clubs of all the invited national team members about this decision.

The decision was made keeping in mind the current situation in Croatia and Europe, that is, the global pandemic of the new coronavirus, to protect the health of the national team. It is the view of the Federation and the expert staff, headed by coach Dalic, that at this moment, it is safest for the representatives to stay in the cities where they reside, in quarantines or under other measures in force in certain countries,” HNS announced on its website. 

The Croatia national team will only gather at the end of May ahead of the European Championships, and it will also be their first gathering after a friendly match against Georgia in November 2019. However, the Euro is under question.

President of the Health Committee of the Croatian Football Federation, prof. dr. sc. Dragan Primorac, was a guest on Dnevnik Nova TV, where he commented on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on Croatian and European football.

Have all the measures taken by leading football organizations been taken on time? Hajduk, Dinamo and Rijeka have stopped training. Should all other clubs follow suit?

"At times when there needs to be a broader responsibility, when we see that the spread of the infection is unstoppable, I welcome this move and the recommendation of the HNS Health Commission is to go in that direction until the situation stabilizes."

How long can it take?

"Well, you see, most organizations in the world have made a recommendation every two weeks, and after that we will monitor what is happening and make the next decisions."

HNS has postponed all matches under its jurisdiction, with UEFA only this Friday. Should this have happened earlier?

"Well, look, sure, but it's not easy for big organizations to make decisions that have a huge impact, both financially and others, but thank God they recognized that the health of the players and the audience are far more important than any interest."

There were some Europa League games played on Thursday night. How risky is playing those matches?

"Here, when you look at some of the most famous coaches, including Arsenal and their players, contracting the coronavirus, it becomes clear that no one can circumvent this spread. This is one of the strongest messages; it needs to take preventative action rather than cure. And that's exactly why UEFA made that decision."

Next week, UEFA decides on possibly postponing the European Championship to 2021. L 'Equipe wrote that it has already been postponed. 

“It is the responsibility of both UEFA and FIFA. Because if the competition starts and the rapid spread of the virus happens, then you have direct responsibility. UEFA does not want this and no national Federation wants it, I think it is a wise path, and the final decision will be in the coming days. "

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 14, 2020 - There are 37 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Information on countries and areas under travel restrictions for passengers arriving in Croatia can be found here (courtesy of Croatia Airlines and updated March 12).

New Information for Passengers Entering Croatia

1) All foreign nationals entering the Republic of Croatia having visited the following countries/territories in the previous 14 days:

• Italy
• Iran
• China (Hubei province)
• South Korea (Daegu city and Cheongdo province)
• Germany (Heinsberg county in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia)

will be subject to compulsory 14-day quarantine at their own expense.

2) All foreign nationals entering the Republic of Croatia having visited the following countries/territories in the previous 14 days:

• France
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Spain
• Germany (except area listed above)
• Austria
• Great Britain
• Netherlands
• China (except area listed above)
• South Korea (except area listed abouve)
• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Bahrein
• Slovenia (area Bela Krajina)

will be subject to compulsory 14-day self-imposed isolation. Foreign nationals that do not have residence in the Republic of Croatia must have evidence of booked accommodation.

3) All Croatian citizens entering the Republic of Croatia who have visited countries/areas listed in 1) and 2) will be subject to compulsory 14-day self-imposed isolation/quarantine.

4) For some of the most commonly asked questions about coronavirus in Croatia, check out this TCN FAQ guide, which was published on March 14.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Thirty-Seven Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 14, 2020; thirty-seven coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 14 in Zagreb, 8 in Rijeka, 6 in Pula, 5 in Varaždin, 2 in Sisak and 2 in Osijek (Numbers on map updated).

• The first patient from Zagreb became infected during his stay in Italy. The two other patients are close contacts. The fourth patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria. The fifth patient recently came back from a conference in Munich. Five new cases were confirmed Wednesday and Thursday and the patients returned from trips to Austria and Germany. Three more cases were confirmed on Friday: a child, a soldier and a contact of the soldier. Another case, confirmed Saturday, returned from Spain.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during his stay in Italy. Several other patients had contact with the first patient. The total number of cases is now eight.
• The first patient from Varaždin spent time in Italy. The second case is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth cases are close contacts of the driver. A fifth case returned from the United States, via Europe.
• Six patients in Pula had returned from Italy.
• The first confirmed patient from Sisak returned from Italy. The second returned from Spain.
• Two new cases from Osijek were in contact with an infected person from Zagreb.

More than 5,547 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 148,923 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 68,099 cases outside of mainland China and 17,660 in Italy. 

UPDATED: March 14, 2020 14:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Update

In Croatia, five new cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed which brings the total number of cases to 37 as reported by Index. The National Civil Protection Headquarters reported the new cases at their morning briefing, which began at 8:45 CET. And the Ombudsman for Children appealed to the media to maintain high professional standards, especially when reporting on children.

COVID-19 Croatia Patients, Tests, Health Surveillance and Quarantines

So far, a total of 37 patients have been confirmed in the Republic of Croatia, two of whom have recovered.

So far, a total of 616 samples have been tested and 24 more are currently being tested. To date, 6300 people from areas affected by the new coronavirus have been placed under health surveillance. In Croatia, 47 persons are quarantined.

New Cases are Imported or Close Contacts

The Director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) Krunoslav Capak emphasized that these were still cases of imported cases and close contacts of earlier confirmed patients.

The Director of the Civil Protection of the Republic of Croatia Damir Trut added that another person is expected to be confirmed during the day.

Second Twin Brother Recovered, Released

Capak also said the second twin brother, who was the first to be infected, has recovered. He is negative at the 48-hour test interval and will be released home during the day.

He reports that up to 500 people in Croatia have been tested so far. He said that everything is ready for testing at two locations in Zagreb, which would mean that 160 to 200 tests per location could be done in four shifts. "We can start right away. We have done some testing, and everything is working fine," he said.

Capak Addresses Border Crowds, Self-Isolation Orders

When asked about crowds at the border, Capak replied that they could not let people across the border without obtaining an order for self-isolation.

"From now on, border inspectors will not print the order, but will give official notices to those who arrive from countries marked as category two. The inspector only needs to take their first and last names, phone numbers and where they are traveling. This procedure will take two minutes. The official notices are being completed at HZJZ right now,” Capak said.

The form should be completed today, after which it will be distributed to border crossings.

Capak believes that it is far more important to enforce self-isolation control than penalties for violating self-isolation.

He confirmed reports about the migrant who did not adhere to self-isolation measures and indicated that it was a man from Syria who had returned from Austria.

"It's difficult to control in Porin (hotel near Zagreb designated for asylum-seekers), and this is non-disciplined person. We did our best to quarantine him, I don't know if we were successful. I'll get an update and provide a follow up later," he added.

Pirnat Dragicevic: Do Not Publish Information on Infected Children

Considering that there is one child from a kindergarten in Zagreb infected with the coronavirus so far; Ombudsman for Children Helenca Pirnat Dragicevic urged journalists and editors to adhere to the highest level of professional standards and to protect the welfare of the child in their reporting.

"The role of the media is extremely important, and one with great responsibility given that you play an important role in transmitting information. Children are not excluded from this situation, they are a vulnerable group and it is extremely important not to disclose a child’s information, identity, or disclose information that would allow the public to determine which child is involved, or which child came into contact with an infected person," she said.

It is important, as the ombudsman pointed out, that the approach isn’t sensationalist "which is certainly not in the public interest, and solely to the detriment of the child concerned."

Noting that the City of Zagreb had published information about the child and a kindergarten, she said that citizens and services should publish only verified information and protect the privacy of the child.

School Suspended for Two Weeks Starting Monday

As of Monday, classes in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and higher education institutions will be suspended for two weeks. Distance learning will be organized by the Ministry of Science and Education. Children up to the age of 11 will be looked after in kindergartens and schools if both parents work and there is no other option.

Postponing, Cancelling Events Over 100 Recommended

It is recommended to further postpone any gatherings and organized gatherings which would be attended by more than 100 people. It is recommended that public events of sports or entertainment are not held at all (night clubs, concerts, etc.).

It is also recommended to hold sports competitions without spectators.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

(Updates provided by Index)

16:00 - Strict new measures have been announced for Istria, including the closing of all cafes and restaurants for a month from tomorrow. More on TCN here.

13:17 - Dubrovnik is suffering huge losses due to coronavirus, and the season has not even started. 

13:13 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called on citizens today to trust the country and not stockpile home supplies, saying that there are enough products "for a year" and that "no one will go hungry".

13:06 - Ivan Djikic, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, explained why so many people became infected in Italy in the short span of time.

"You are fighting an enemy, but you don't really know where it is. It happened in China. Then, through rigorous measures, they were able to do something that many admire. They were able to stop the danger on their territory. The virus was brought to Italy from China. And it was spread not by one patient, but by a dozen or even a hundred. Italy did not know about these cases because no one was doing the right epidemiological analysis of the people who were working in China," explained Djikic of Italy's problem in an interview on HRT.

12:45 - Another 16 people entered quarantine in Split last night.

12:43 - This is how the Zagreb Arena Center looked Saturday afternoon. Arena is one of the busiest shopping centres in Croatia.

Photo Credit | Index Reader

11:46 - European Parliament proposes new plan to help hospitals in Europe fight the coronavirus. Parliament Speaker David Sassoli said on Saturday that all European countries would receive assistance for their health systems.

This includes providing materials to hospitals and funding research to develop a coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible.

In addition, Sassoli announced financial assistance to help maintain jobs and keep the economy stable in the EU states. the European Union has provided at least 37 billion EUR to its members to assist with economic issues.

11:34 - Germany and Italy have increased respirator production in their respective countries to respond to the pandemic that is yet to come.

According to Reuters, Germany has ordered 10,000 respirators, while Italy has ordered 5 thousand respirators. One respirator is about 15,254 EUR.

10:40 - Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic downplayed the risk of coronavirus infection at first. Now he has changed his tune and is paying for ads in the media which warn of the danger.

10:30 - Among the newly infected is a married couple from Slavonia. They were previously infected by a son-in-law. Everyone is in stable condition.

9:42 - Both twin brothers, the young men who were among the first infected in Croatia, have recovered from the coronavirus.

9:40 - The National Caterers Association has submitted a proposal for self-isolation measures and job placement in the hospitality industry. The proposal, signed by Marin Medak, president of the National Association of Caterers, was sent to President Milanovic, the government, the ministries of tourism, the police and economy, the City of Zagreb and the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts.

9:20 - There are five new confirmed cases in Serbia.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic delivered bizarre address to the nation in which he tried to explain how they wanted to cheat Germany because of respirators.

9:00 - The new Slovenian government, which held its first session immediately after the parliamentary confirmation ceremony on Friday night, has set up a coronavirus epidemic headquarters with Prime Minister Janez Jansa at the helm. Every member of the government wore a face mask at the session.

8:45 - At the morning press conference of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, it was revealed that there are 37 recorded cases in Croatia, which includes 5 new cases.

7:30 - Hungary has introduced drastic measures. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said all schools were closing. He added that this would probably last for months.

(Updates provided by Index)

Live World Coronavirus Updates

• Live world updates from CNN here.
• Live world updates from The Guardian here.
• Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.

Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates

• Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
• Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
• Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.

Total Croatia News Coronavirus Coverage

• Coronavirus in Croatia: 5 New Cases Brings Total to 37, Initial 2 Patients Recovered - here.
• FAQ Coronavirus Croatia: Your Common COVID-19 Questions Answered - here.
• Konzum Prepared, Issues Request to Croatian Coronavirus Stockpilers - here.
• NP Krka: “National Park Open, Acting in Accordance with Instructions” - here.
• Minister Maric Sends Out Message to Croatia's Coronavirus Panic Buyers - here.
• Croatia National Team Will Not Gather in March, Euro 2020 Questionable - here.

UPDATED: March 14, 2020 14:00 CET (Central European Time)

For the latest March 20 update click here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 13, 2020 - There are 32 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Information on countries and areas under travel restrictions for passengers arriving in Croatia can be found here (courtesy of Croatia Airlines and updated March 12).

New Information for Passengers Entering Croatia

1) All foreign nationals entering the Republic of Croatia having visited the following countries/territories in the previous 14 days:

• Italy
• Iran
• China (Hubei province)
• South Korea (Daegu city and Cheongdo province)
• Germany (Heinsberg county in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia)

will be subject to compulsory 14-day quarantine at their own expense.

2) All foreign nationals entering the Republic of Croatia having visited the following countries/territories in the previous 14 days:

• France
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Spain
• Germany (except area listed above)
• Austria
• Great Britain
• Netherlands
• China (except area listed above)
• South Korea (except area listed abouve)
• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Bahrein
• Slovenia (area Bela Krajina)

will be subject to compulsory 14-day self-imposed isolation. Foreign nationals that do not have residence in the Republic of Croatia must have evidence of booked accommodation.

3) All Croatian citizens entering the Republic of Croatia who have visited countries/areas listed in 1) and 2) will be subject to compulsory 14-day self-imposed isolation/quarantine.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Thirty-Two Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 13, 2020; thirty-two coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 13 in Zagreb, 8 in Rijeka, 4 in Varaždin, 6 in Pula and 1 in Petrinja (Numbers on map updated).

• The first patient from Zagreb became infected during his stay in Italy. The two other patients are close contacts. The fourth patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria. The fifth patient is a hairdresser and recently came back from a conference in Munich. Five new cases were confirmed Wednesday and Thursday and returned from trips to Austria and Germany. Three more cases were confirmed on Friday: a child, a soldier and a contact of the soldier.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during his stay in Italy. Several other patients had contact with the first patient. The total number of cases is now eight.
• The first patient from Varaždin spent time in Italy. The second case is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth cases are close contacts of the driver.
• Six patients in Pula had returned from Italy.
• The first confirmed patient from Petrinja  returned from Italy.

More than 5,397 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 144,078 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 63,263 cases outside of mainland China and 17,660 in Italy. 

UPDATED: March 13, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Update

The daily press conference of the National Headquarters for Civil Protection was held at 16:00 CET. Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros reported a new case of the coronavirus. Another coronavirus case was detected as of this morning, so there are now 32 cases in Croatia.

Still No Signs of Local COVID-19 Transmission

"He is close contact with an earlier infected person, we still have no signs of local transmission," Beros noted. He added that 553 samples are currently undergoing tests, 15 are awaiting results and 5991 people are being monitored.

Director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" Alemka Markotic said the new infected person had mild symptoms.

"All other recommendations remain, control and self-discipline are essential for us to tackle this (outbreak) together," she added.

At the conference, they also said that the police were investigating whether a person who had been at Klaiceva (Children’s Hospital Zagreb) although they had the coronavirus. However, because of their state of health, the investigation was not completed.

Barracks at Črnomerec Closed Due to Surveillance

Index learned today that the barracks at Črnomerec were closed for several hours, no one was permitted to leave, and an epidemiological surveillance was carried out.

"No soldiers have the coronavirus, however the contact of one of the soldiers is coronavirus positive. No quarantine was introduced at the barracks at Crnomerc, but an epidemiological service is in progress. They are conducting all scans to see if a coronavirus positive contact with people in the barracks, "HZJZ Director Krunoslav Capak told Index. There are hundreds of soldiers and staff in the barracks at Črnomerec.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

(Updates provided by Index)

17:15 - Recommendations for nightclubs in Zagreb have been published.

17:05 - A statement was issued from Klaiceva stating that people should behave appropriately. The day before yesterday, a man with the coronavirus came with a baby.

17:00 - Croatia Airlines cancels numerous flights.

16:33 - In a statement, the City of Zagreb announced that one child from kindergarten was infected.

"It has been confirmed that a coronavirus has infected one child from a kindergarten in Zagreb. The decision was made to close the facility for 14 days, and that 119 children must go into self-isolation, as well as 16 employees are obligated to take," the statement read.

16:23 - A part of the media reported that the first child infected with coronavirus has been reported in Croatia. At a press conference, they did not want to confirm this by calling for the privacy of the infected family. It is reportedly a kindergarten child.

16:20 - At the press conference at 16:00 CET, it was announced that another coronavirus-positive person was in Croatia. One soldier was also confirmed to be infected.

15:15 - Pavle Kalinic commented on Milanovic's statement about panic and going to shops on N1 television.

14:45 - "Regarding your inquiry, you will receive information on that subject at a press conference of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia today at 16.00 CET," the Ministry of Defense told Index about what is happening at the Črnomerec barracks.

14:40 - Zagreb nightclub H2O will not be open this weekend.

"The health of all of us comes first and we believe that by working together, following the Centre's instructions, together we can help improve the health situation (regarding the spread) of the coronavirus," the club's Instagram page stated.

14:15 - GLAS MP Anka Mrak Taritas said the health team was doing a good job regarding the coronavirus in Croatia and called on the government to come up with concrete measures to help the economy.

14:13 - Pharmacies in Croatia have run out of prescription syrup for fevers.

14:12 - Numerous bus routes from Croatia abroad have been canceled.

14:08 - "No soldiers have the coronavirus, however a contact of one of the soldiers is coronavirus positive. A quarantine was not introduced at the barracks at Črnomerec, but an epidemiological survey is underway there. They are conducting scans to see if the person who is positive for the coronavirus was in contact with other people in the barracks," HZJZ Director Krunoslav Capak told Index. There are hundreds of soldiers and staff in the barracks at Črnomerec.

14:00 - By noon, eighty people who have entered Croatia from a European area at high risk of coronavirus infection have been placed under the medical supervision of Karlovac County Public Health Office by noon and are required to report to an epidemiologist.

13:50 - Numerous events around the country are canceled or delayed.

13:40 - President of the Independent Union of Secondary School Employees Branimir Mihalinec, in a letter to Education Minister Blazenka Divjak, opposed the recommendation that children be kept in school facilities in light of the coronavirus infection, but argued that childcare should be provided on the premises of local boards.

13:30 - According to the decision of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, all forms of teaching and placement for full-time and part-time students of the Josip Jovic Police School, of the High Police are canceled at the Police Academy beginning Monday March 16 for 14 days. Seminars, courses and other forms of professional development are also postponed.

13:25 - Three coronavirus infected persons in the County of Primorje-Gorski Kotar are members of the extended family of the first patient.

13:22 - City swimming pools and second-hand fairs are closing in Varaždin, all large gatherings of citizens are canceled, and some institutions will be working shorter hours. These are among the measures announced by the Varaždin City Civil Protection Headquarters.

Therefore, from Sunday, March 15, visitors to the Varaždin City Pools will close, the sale of second-hand goods will not be held at the old Banfica fairgrounds, and all major citizens' gatherings, concerts, theaters and cinemas will be canceled.

The city administration recommends that all public services minimize the need for citizens to come and carry out work which can be delayed, and arrange for citizens to arrive at counters in the payment area one-at-a-time while others wait outside the building.

13:20 - There are no coronavirus patients in the Osijek-Baranja County. 11 people have been tested so far and all of them were negative, according to the County Civil Protection Headquarters.

Head of Staff, Deputy Mayor Goran Ivanovic and Mayor Ivan Anusic, at a press conference, denied the rumors that there were patients, but that staff has remained silent.

Ivanovic reported that numerous public events, including some sports competitions, were canceled, and the headquarters, if necessary, prepared quarantine facilities and accommodation for the possibly ill, who could immediately function.

12:40 - Minister of Finance Zdravko Maric addressed the public

"As far as the supply chain is concerned, there is enough of everything. Both manufacturers and distributors have months to go. If any shelves are empty, there is enough product to fill them up again," Maric reassures. "I have first-hand information and we are talking about increased consumption. I repeat again: we have everything in quantities for several months to come. There is no need for excessive stockpiling at retail chains and prompting the creation of additional and excessive supplies," he added.

"All production is working normally for us. We have several months of supplies of everything, we were preparing for the season because we will ensure continuity of production, Croatia will not run out of food and medicine," said Pucar from Podravka. And he urges citizens not to stockpile.

12:30 - Due to new circumstances related to the COVID-19 epidemic in the Republic of Croatia, as recommended by the Central State Office for Sport (SDUS) and in the interest of protecting athletes, coaches, fans and the entire sports community, Croatian Gymnastics Federation (HGS), suspends all competitions in all categories in Croatia, as well as planned refereeing and coaching seminars from today March 13 to April 1. They also suspended including the National Refereeing and Coaching Seminar, scheduled to take place tomorrow, March 14, at the Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb. All judo competitions were canceled until April 30.

11:50 - Following the recommendations of authorities of the County of Istria and their decision to restrict public gatherings, close schools and kindergartens and restrict the use of public spaces – the largest hotel company in Croatia, Valamar Poreč, decided to temporarily close the Diamond Hotel in Poreč and Sanfior in Rabac.

11:17 - Croatia PM Plenkovic said that kindergartens and colleges are closing. If parents are unable to ensure that the child is home, they should bring the child to school. Teachers will be in schools.

"So, if the kids have no place to go, if parents can't provide for them, they can come to kindergarten and school."

11:06 - Croatia PM Plenkovic addressed the public. "The whole world is at war with this virus. The responsibility of every citizen is to exercise discipline which will affect the spread of the epidemic. I call on everyone to be accountable and to listen carefully to the guidelines set forth by public health professionals. Press conferences will be held daily at 9:00 and 16:00."

After the meeting, Maric went to meet with representatives of industrial food chains in order to inform the citizens that there is no reason to go shopping for supplies in disproportionate quantities.

We will focus on jobs take measures that will help small businesses.

"We will defer payment of income tax, income tax, contributions. The central budget will replace that."

11:00 - Huge crowds on borders, travelers to Maclj are waiting up to 12 hours: "We're hungry and thirsty."

10:59 - Minister of Science and Education Blazenka Divjak announced today that, apart from the programs on HRT 3 for lower elementary grades, a program for upper elementary and secondary schools with video materials will be launched on Sportska televizija (Sport Television), which will be available online.

10:49 - Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic met with National Civil Protection Headquarters and ministers at 10:00 CET.

10:27 - Students and teachers at several schools in and around Novi Sad have been quarantined on suspicion of being infected with a coronavirus after returning from competitions in Pula and Porec, Radio Vojvodina (RTV) reported.

8:57 - The court in Pula has been closed today completely in response to a possible coronavirus infection. There is a notice on the door, Regional Express reported.

8:43 - According to initial information, one of the judges of the Pula court is said to be positive for the coronavirus, but official confirmation of that information is awaiting. Concerned employees came out this morning outside the courthouse and are waiting for the President of the Pula County Court to speak to them, the Voice of Istria announced.

8:23 - The last two infected patients are from Umag. They are stable, and have mild symptoms, N1 television reports.

8:06 - Bartol Kašić Elementary School has released a statement regarding the steps it is taking after one student's father tested positive for the coronavirus.

7:40 - The Croatian Auto Club (HAK) advised drivers and passengers on Friday to stay informed by checking the page of the Civil Protection Directorate and the HAK page before traveling to neighboring countries, especially Italy and try to delay trips to risky areas.

A Summary of Recent Events

Chief education adviser Marko Kosicek said today that schools have received instructions regarding preparation for virtual classes if coronavirus outbreak prompts school closings and stressed that they must be prepared regardless of when the virtual class model is launched.

Health Minister Vili Beros announced at a government session a new measure to curb the spread of coronaviruses, which recommends delaying or restricting gatherings with more than 100 people.

The Headquarters of the Zagreb County Civil Protection Department concluded in the course of the day that it recommends postponing all rallies and organized gatherings, regardless of size, in the Zagreb County area. The County Headquarters urge the organizers to keep the Coroner's recommendations and postpone all events to prevent the spread of coronaviruses and urge residents of Zagreb County not to attend the rallies.

Several employees of the Environmental Protection Fund Sent Home

Several employees at the Environmental Protection Fund were sent home yesterday because they had been in contact with a female who had had contact with a hairdresser infected with the coronavirus. As the spokeswoman told us, some 40 or 50 employees were sent home because one of these persons was in contact with the infected person.

(Updates provided by Index)

Live World Coronavirus Updates

• Live world updates from CNN here.
• Live world updates from The Guardian here.
• Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.

Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates

• Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
• Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
• Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.

Total Croatia News Coronavirus Coverage

• COVID-19: UK Government Publishes Updated Coronavirus Travel Advice for Croatia - here.
• Punishments for Croatian Coronavirus Patients Breaking Isolation Rules - here.
• Coronavirus Outbreak Poses Grave Threat to Croatian Wood Industry - here.
• COVID-19: All Schools in Croatia to Close from Monday - here.
• Flight Cancellations in Croatia: Ryanair Postpones Zadar Base until 2021 - here.
• City of Split on Coronavirus: Don't Panic, Follow Instructions, Help Your Grandparents - here.
• Coronavirus Press Conference in Croatia: 4 New Cases, Panic Bigger Threat - here.
• Milanović: No Mistake Made in Dealing with Coronavirus - here.
• Strategic Stockpiles Enough for 30 days in Worst Case Scenario - here.
• Less Important EU Council Meetings Cancelled, Postponed Over Coronavirus - here.
• Daily Migration of Croatian Workers to Bela Krajina Not Possible As of Friday - here.

UPDATED: March 13, 2020 19:00 CET (Central European Time)

For the latest March 20 update click here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

March 13, 2020 - The Davis Cup Finals will be played for the second year in a row at Madrid's Caja Magica Tennis Complex, scheduled for November 23-29. The Croatia tennis team will fight against Australia and Hungary.

The Croatian tennis team will play in Group D of the Davis Cup finals with Australia and Hungary, the draw revealed on Thursday at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) headquarters in London.

Croatia was in the first-seeded group with Spain, Canada, France, the USA and Serbia.

Croatia pulled one of the toughest rivals from the second group, the national team of Australia, which is the 11th-ranked Davis Cup team, and Hungary, the 23rd best national team in the world.

The Davis Cup Final will be played for the second year in a row at Madrid's Caja Magica Tennis Complex, scheduled for November 23-29.

The title will be defended by the national team of Spain, which is in Group A with Russia and Ecuador.

The system of competition remained unchanged: 18 teams were divided into six groups of three, from which the winners and the two best of the six second-ranked teams will compete in the quarterfinals, which will begin the knockout phase of the competition.

Spain was better than Canada in last year's final.

2020 Davis Cup Finals (Madrid, November 23-29):

Group A: Spain, Russia, Ecuador

Group B: Canada, Kazakhstan, Sweden

Group C: France, United Kingdom, Czech Republic

Group D: Croatia, Australia, Hungary

Group E: USA, Italy, Colombia

Group F: Serbia, Germany, Austria

Recall, Marin Cilic saved the day for Croatia against India in the Davis Cup playoffs, celebrating 6-0, 6-1 against Sumit Nagal, and for the 11th time in his career, brought the winning point to the Croatia Davis Cup team.

Marin rushed through the first set in 29 minutes. The second set was even quicker, and the 22-year-old Indian player managed to retain his serve once and save himself from a 6-0, 6-0 defeat. It took only 56 minutes for Cilic to win the match and ultimately advance Croatia to the finals.

Source: Gol.hr

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

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 12, 2020 - There are 27 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Information on countries and areas under travel restrictions for passengers arriving in Croatia can be found here (courtesy of Croatia Airlines).

Today, the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia is banning all events with over 100 people. Several upcoming events have been cancelled. Updates to follow.

More than 4,970 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 134,475 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 53,679 cases outside of mainland China and 15,113 in Italy. 

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Twenty-Seven Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 12, 2020; twenty-seven coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 10 in Zagreb, 8 in Rijeka, 4 in Varaždin, 4 in Pula and 1 in Petrinja (Numbers on map updated).

• The first patient from Zagreb became infected during his stay in Italy. The two other patients are close contacts. The third patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria. The fourth patient is a hairdresser and recently came back from a conference in Munich. Five new cases were confirmed Wednesday and Thursday. The latest patients returned from trips to Austria and Germany.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during his stay in Italy. The four other patients are close contacts. As of today 3 more cases from Rijeka, all of whom had contact with previous cases.
• The first patient from Varaždin spent time in Italy. The second case is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth cases are close contacts of the driver.
• Both patients in Pula had recently returned from Italy. Two additional cases were reported today and both had returned from Italy.
• The first confirmed patient from Petrinja (confirmed today) returned from Italy.

UPDATED: March 12, 2020 23:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Update

At the daily press briefing, as reported by Index, which began today at 16:00 CET, Croatian Health Minister Vili Beroš confirmed that there are five new cases of infection in Croatia, for a total of 24 total cases (end-of-day: 27 cases). Among these, three contacts of patients from Rijeka are currently under supervision and have very mild symptoms. They had been in self-isolation and there is no evidence that they had violated that order.

The other two infections were contracted in Germany and Austria. One is of moderate severe symptoms while the other has with mild symptoms," said Alemka Markotić.

Gatherings, Events Limited to 100 People

The president of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, Davor Božinović, reported that the headquarters is limiting public gatherings to 100 people. Minister Božinović said that the situation in Europe was not good and that Croatia was introducing new measures to stop the spread of the virus.

"The best protection is to follow all our instructions," Božinović said.

"The best way to protect yourself is to strictly adhere to the instructions we cite. Personal hygiene, avoiding certain types of social contact, following HZJZ instructions ... If we do not adhere to this, all measures will have a limited effect," Božinović added.

All Sporting Events Held Without Spectators

He also spoke about strict border measures and other measures being taken. He added that public gatherings are limited to a maximum of 100 people.

"All sporting events should be held without spectators. We have expanded the list of countries that will be subject to tighter border controls when their nationals arrive in Croatia. These are Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden," Božinović added.

No Time to Travel 

Božinović said this was not the time to travel outside Croatia and recommended that citizens not travel. He also spoke about some social media posts, saying that they were lies.

Whoever Breaks Self Isolation Will be Criminally Liable

"The goal of these conferences is to keep citizens informed in a timely and truthful manner. That is why we will have a conference tomorrow at 9:00 CET. Some irresponsible individuals are using this situation to raise social tensions. The police will locate and sanction those who do," Božinović said.

Capak said it was also a crime to violate quarantine or self-isolation and put others at risk of becoming infected. There are currently 5900 people in self-isolation, and it is impossible to control everyone’s behavior.

Brother of First Coronavirus Patient Recovered, Released from Hospital

Earlier today, Minister Will Beroš confirmed that the brother of the first coronavirus patient had been released from the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" after his test findings were negative twice, while brother and his girlfriend were still in the hospital.

The Minister of Health added that the recommendations issued by the National Headquarters are controllable and effective, but bans will be enacted, if necessary, given the situation.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

(Updates provided by Index)

21:00 - Two more cases of infection in Croatia have been confirmed. These are Croatian citizens who came back from Italy and were hospitalized in Pula. There are now 27 people with the coronavirus in Croatia, according to a brief statement from the National Civil Protection Headquarters.

19:43 - According to the recommendation of the Central State Office for Sport, the Croatian Football Federation has decided to suspend all football competitions until March 31, 2020.

19:40 - The University of Zagreb has postponed all activities which are not directly related to teaching, and rector Damir Boras has provided instructions to the University of Zagreb staff on how to deal with the coronavirus epidemic. The dormitories must elevate hygiene measures and increase the availability of disinfectants. At the Faculty of Political Science (FPZG), all meetings, including teaching (lectures in compulsory subjects) academic and public events, with one hundred or more participants, are suspended until further notice. Classes with less than one hundred participants will be held, but attendance is optional.

19:00 - All cultural and artistic programs and public events in the European Capital of Culture project announced in the calendar of events up to April 14 are postponed until further notice, Rijeka 2020, the company managing the ECOC, reported.

18:33 - Another person with the coronavirus has been confirmed at the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" in Zagreb. The patient was hospitalized in Sisak. This person came back from Italy, where she worked. She reported herself to the border police officer and was still subject to the necessary protocol.

18:00 - The Civil Protection Crisis Headquarters of the Split-Dalmatia County reported on Thursday that there would be no class cancellations or school closures in that county.

Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor Luka Brcic said there were 28 people quarantined in Split's Duilovo, including nine Croat citizens, foreigners remained, and one citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina went to his country. Other passengers aboard the "Marko Polo" ship that marched from Ancona to Split's port on Wednesday are in self-isolation.

There are still no infected people in the Split-Dalmatia County, and the situation with the passengers is satisfactory given that none of them shows any signs of illness.

17:29 - Two gynecologists were sent to isolation from the Clinic for Female Diseases and Births in Split. According to Dalmatinski portal, one was in the company of a coronavirus positive hairstylist and the other was at a ski resort from where the number of infected people is growing rapidly.

17:20 - According to Dalmacija danas, cases of home isolation were also reported in Šolta. The information was confirmed by the mayor of Šolta, Nikola Cecić-Karuzić.

"Two Croatian nationals who were temporarily working in Italy until yesterday are in home isolation on Solta," he said.

17:11 - The Director of the Institute of Public Health of the County of Istria, Aleksandar Stojanovic, confirmed on Thursday that they are awaiting the findings of test samples from four people who reported yesterday with a mild case of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

16:49 - Coronavirus cases in KBC Zagreb are delaying any medical check-ups which are not necessary. At Split KBC they are performing only emergency operations. In KBC Sestre milosrdnice (Sisters of Mercy) they have issued instructions regarding a strict protocol for staff and patients.

16:44 - Two-thirds of tradesmen are already feeling the effects of coronavirus and are reporting a decline in revenue of more than 30 percent, the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (HOK) reported today, based on the latest survey data.

16:27 - At a meeting at the Rijeka Mayor's Office on Thursday, it was decided to postpone all cultural events in the institutions of the City of Rijeka until April 14, Mayor Vojko Obersnel reported.

"We made the decision in view of the pandemic's development and the fact that the Crisis Staff of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County requested the suspension of classes in kindergartens, schools and colleges until April 14," Obersnel said.

16:17 - Minister Vili Beroš has confirmed that there are five new cases of infection in Croatia, now there are 24. There are contacts with patients previously ill from Rijeka. They were confirmed during the night. They are under supervision and have very mild symptoms.

As for the two infected who came from Austria or Germany, one with moderate symptoms and the other with milder symptoms, said Alemka Markotić.

Markotić said that false information to hide the exact number of infected insults all health professionals who trying and working so hard.

16:03 - The Lika-Senj County Civil Protection Headquarters on Thursday recommended the postponement of all organized public, cultural, sports and other gatherings indoors to prevent coronavirus infection and its spread. The headquarters also recommended the postponement of all planned trips and excursions outside Croatia, noting that the epidemiological situation in the area of ​​Lika-Senj County is favorable and that all necessary measures are continued to maintain it.

Epidemiologist of the Institute for Public Health reported that in the Lika-Senj County, coronavirus surveillance was assigned to 222 people, 187 persons expired and 35 more were actively monitored, and coronavirus testing was performed on seven people and all findings are negative.

15:50 - In Serbia, all public gatherings indoors attended by more than 100 people have been banned since Thursday, and one of the government's measures to curb the spread of coronaviruses and more effective control of passengers in international traffic is to temporarily close 44 less frequent border crossings.

15:30 - The City of Zagreb has issued an appeal to citizens regarding the coronavirus. See document.

APEL Građanima Grada Zagreb... by Index.hr on Scribd

15:21 - The HAC also released a statement on the coronavirus outbreak.

"As protection and prevention measures against the coronavirus have been raised throughout Croatia, and as part of an effort to minimize the possibility of transmission, the Croatian Highways urge all users planning a highway trip these days to use contactless payment whenever possible via the ENC device. This minimizes the possibility of transmission of the infection through cash and cards, but also speeds up travel time only”.

In addition, they add that the cost of using ENC devices is 40 percent lower.

14:55 - Nela Sršljen provided an update from Italy. She says the Italians have responded well to the quarantine, but that even more drastic measures would be introduced. She also says a virologist friend told her this was just the beginning.

14:51 - "One of the employees of the Fund was contacted by the Epidemiological Service of the City of Zagreb and was warned that it was recorded that she had been in contact with the person identified as COVID-19. The worker was immediately sent to a 14-day self-isolation unit. The Fund immediately informed the Croatian Institute of Public Health and is complying fully with the protocol for the above situation.

In order to protect other employees, office space was promptly disinfected, and employees who were in contact with the said person would be released home by Monday. In coordination with the Crisis Staff and the Public Health Institute, the Fund will take any further necessary action," the Environmental Protection Fund said.

14:49 - Coronavirus symptoms have not yet been confirmed in any person in Međimurje County, so far there are no instructions for self-isolation of persons who came from Slovenia, Austria and Germany, and the Institute of Public Health is calling on citizens to behave responsibly.

14:30 - As we learned, up to 11 people were able to enter the Siemens building this morning, and there was also a disinfection service.

14:27 - Some of the Environmental Fund employees were sent home because they were in contact with a female who had contact with a coronavirus infected hairdresser. As the spokeswoman told us, about 40 or 50 employees were sent home because one person was in contact with the infected person.

14:00 - The Istria headquarters have released new information. It was decided that cafes could only stay open until 18:00 CET.

13:59 - Varazdin will no longer issue licenses for meetings with more than 100 people.

13:52 - The Zagreb Faculty of Political Science will also introduce online lectures.

“We urge students to monitor the reports on relevant services in a rapidly changing situation. If there is a complete suspension of teaching at the Faculty; teachers will contact their students and inform them of continuing lectures through the Faculty's web pages and/or other digital channels. The summer semester classes will go ahead anyway. If necessary, they will be held remotely," reads a Facebook post.

13:41 - A Siemens d.d. employee was discharged from her Zagreb headquarters to prevent the spread of a coronavirus case, which infected one of the employees. As we learned from a foreign service employee who answered the phone at the Siemens headquarters in Zagreb's Heinzelova Ulica, there were no longer any employees in the building. "Everything is closed for quarantine and there are no staff members," he said.

13:29 - Health Minister Vili Beroš confirmed that they released the brother of the first coronavirus patient from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihajevic"after his test findings were negative twice, while first patient and his girlfriend are still in the hospital.

13:15 - Beljak: We have closed the market in Samobor and have restricted gatherings.

12:40 - Miroslav Skoro said the situation was serious. He says that it is not easy for the government either and that in these situations they must be outstanding.

12:35 - Jandrokovic does not rule out the possibility of postponing elections in the HDZ.

12:10 - MOST MP Ines Strenja praised the work of the National Civil Protection Headquarters who have transparently and repeatedly presented all information on the coronavirus which the public should accept as fact as they are "health professionals" and understand the gravity of the situation.

Strenja told reporters that there was no room for comments, newspaper articles and “experts trying to present a different image and send a different message to the public about the coronavirus.

11:55 - SDP's Gordan Maras posted on Facebook.

"We cannot completely prevent the worldwide coronavirus pandemic in Croatia. Unfortunately, there will be a lot of people who are sick and probably will be deceased. What we can do is prepare and take steps to keep the number of infected as small as possible and to prevent the disease from getting worse in the shorter term.”

11:35 - The town Supetar on Brac introduced drastic measures. There are no public gatherings, the library closes, sports events are postponed.

11:30 - In accordance with the decision of the Government, Croatian Radio and Television, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Education, will implement the TV curriculum and distance learning. From Monday March 16 at 8:00 a program called School on Channel 3 will broadcast at the Channel of HRT.

11:20 - "Postpone all meetings in Zagreb County"

The Headquarters of the Zagreb County Civilian Protection Board recommends postponing all rallies and organized gatherings, regardless of size, in the Zagreb County area.

The Zagreb County Civil Protection Headquarters will no longer issue approvals for holding public gatherings in the Zagreb County area.

"Please note that the City of Zagreb is not part of the Zagreb County (the Zagreb City Civil Protection Headquarters is responsible for events in the Zagreb area).

The cities of the Zagreb County include Dugo Selo, Ivanic-Grad, Jastrebarsko, Samobor, Sveta Nedelja, Sveti Ivan Zelina, Velika Gorica, Vrbovec, Zapresic…

If, despite the recommendation of the County Headquarters, the organizers decide to hold a public gathering, they are obliged to implement all the highest hygiene standards prescribed by the Civil Protection Staff of the Republic of Croatia and assume full responsibility for the safety of all participants and visitors of the public gathering.

Again, the organizers of the gathering are required to:

• Provide checkpoints with disinfectants
• Provide clear instruction to participants to refrain from habitual non-verbal communication involving handling and avoid closer social contact
• Give clear instruction to participants if they have respiratory disease and/or fever (greater than 37.5 ° C) not to attend events

11:00 - Serbia closed part of the border with Croatia.

10:57 - Jure Kaštelan elementary school in Zagreb's Savica is functioning normally today, after it was learned yesterday that the mother of a girl who attends the school tested positive for the coronavirus.

10:35 - The session of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality The Istanbul Convention was postponed until further notice for "epidemiological reasons" because the number of those interested in attending the session was more than a hundred.

10:29 - Health Minister Vili Beroš announced at a government session a new measure to curb the spread of coronavirus, which recommends delaying or restricting gatherings with more than a hundred people.

It is also suggested to hold sports competitions without spectators.

The National Civil Protection Headquarters, at a meeting with Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic on Wednesday at Banski Dvori, decided to introduce new measures - schools will be closed in Istria on Friday and there will be no classes.

10:25 - Zagreb Stock Exchange Drops More Than 10 Percent, Trading Discontinued.

10:20 - The HDZ will be holding elections on Sunday. Tomo Medved has announced that they will go forward as planned.

10:02 - Eventim HR has launched a separate tab on their website, "COVID-19 EVENT INFORMATION", which contains all information about postponed events, related to the government's recommendation to postpone all organized rallies with more than 1000 people.

9:50 - The chief adviser to the Minister of Education, Marko Kosicek, said that the schools were yesterday instructed how to prepare for virtual classes if the coronavirus outbreak prompts school closures, and stressed that they must prepare regardless of when the model is launched.

9:50 - The Minister of Environment and Energy Tomislav Coric says that people spreading false news about the coronavirus should be held criminally responsible, and Interior Ministers Davor Božinović and Justice Drazen Bosnjakovic announced an investigation into these individuals.

7:30 - A video with false information about Zagreb being quarantined is spreading to social networks.

(Updates provided by Index)

Live World Coronavirus Updates

• Live world updates from CNN here.
• Live world updates from The Guardian here.
• Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.

Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates

• Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
• Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
• Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.

Total Croatia News Coronavirus Coverage

• Minister Maric: Shorter Work Week is Possible Because of COVID-19 - here.
• Croatian Scientist Igor Rudan Provides COVID-19 Quarantine Clarity - here.
• COVID-19 Update: Partial Serbia-Croatia Border Closures, Meets of 100+ Banned - here.
• After Banning Fans, HNS Suspends All Croatian Football Games Until March 31 - here.
• Croatian Cultural Institutions Cancel Events Until April - here.
• Preparatory Plans Change for Croatia National Team as Doha Tournament Canceled - here.

UPDATED: March 12, 2020 23:00 CET (Central European Time)

For the latest March 20 update click here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

March 11, 2020 - In addition to foreign and domestic truck carriers having problems at border crossings due to the coronavirus, they are also taking a financial hit from the migrant situation, not at the Italian border, but at the Serbian border with Croatia.

Migrants Jumping into Trucks from Overpasses

“Transportation and road transport and are the blood vessels of the economy and they must function. Truck carriers were instructed to tell their drivers how to behave regarding the coronavirus, but as far as migrants were concerned, they were not. They can’t do anything about it because migrants are jumping onto trucks from overpasses at night, cutting the tarpaulins, then settling in and waiting for the trucks to cross the border. The material damage and financial burden to carriers is immeasurable. And even when migrants are found in their trucks, the carrier is found guilty,” said Marijan Banelli, a traffic lobbyist, at Studio 4 on HRT (Croatian Radio Television).

A 28,000 HRK (3696 EUR) fine was slapped on the carrier Mario Ćurak, for example. Three migrants were found in his truck, and after Ćurak complained to customs in Osijek, the sentence was increased to 39,000 HRK (5148 EUR) and he was "neither guilty nor indebted" according to Novac/Jutarnji List on March 11, 2020.

“I have 12 trucks and every morning I expect another driver to call me and say that they have found migrants in his truck. We don’t have anything to do with this. Anything outside the cabin should not be our responsibility,” complained Ćurak.

His colleague Zeljko Marić has found migrants in his truck three times, and the last time was about three weeks ago.

Batrovci | YouTube

Croatia Fine for Carriers Found with Illegal Migrants: Up to 3036 EUR

If the driver is a foreign citizen who holds a work permit, customs confiscates the truck and the goods and the driver cannot continue until the fine is paid, which is on average 22,000 to 23,000 HRK (2904 to 3036 EUR). And we cannot delay payment for seven days, for example,” claims Marić.

“I think that the Croatian government must come forward and take responsibilty to protect the Croatian people, our carriers and drivers, because this behaviour is just protecting migrants. They must be treated as illegals who are crossing the border. The coronavirus is a force of nature, but migrants are not. The problem of Bajakovo (Croatian border town) and Batrovci (Serbian border town) must be resolved at the bilateral level, but Brussels must also be included because this is essentially a true Schengen border,” Banelli concluded.

Follow this page and our Politics page for Total Croatia News updates on the migrant crisis in Croatia.

For the latest March 20 update click here.

March 11, 2020 - There are 19 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Croatia, 3 of whom are in serious condition. Foreign nationals entering Croatia from infection hotspots (China, Italy, Iran, South Korea) will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, while a 14-day self-isolation is required for Croatian citizens.

Yesterday, the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia recommended cancelling all events for over 1,000 people. Several upcoming events have been cancelled. Updates to follow.

More than 4,585 people are dead from the virus, which originated in Wuhan City, China; and over 124,968 cases have been confirmed globally. There are 44,178 cases outside of mainland China and 12,462 in Italy. 

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Nineteen Coronavirus Cases in Croatia

As of March 11, 2020; nineteen coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have been reported in Croatia: 5 in Rijeka, 8 in Zagreb, 4 in Varaždin and 2 in Pula.

• The first patient from Zagreb became infected during his stay in Italy. The two other patients are close contacts. The third patient recently returned from a ski trip in Austria. The fourth patient is a hairdresser and recently came back from a conference in Munich. Three new cases were confirmed Wednesday evening. The latest patients returned from trips to Austria and Germany.
• A patient from Rijeka became infected during his stay in Italy. The four other patients are close contacts. 
• The first patient from Varaždin spent time in Italy. The second case is a truck driver who had been in Italy and was in preventative self-isolation. The third and fourth cases are close contacts of the driver.
• Both patients in Pula had recently returned from Italy.

UPDATED: March 11, 2020 20:00 CET (Central European Time)

Croatia National Civil Protection Headquarters Update

Prime Minister Plenkovic convened an emergency meeting with the ministers and members of the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia today at 16:00 CET regarding further measures and activities for handling the spread of the coronavirus in Croatia. The regular press conference, which is held every day at 16:00 CET at the National Civil Protection Headquarters, was not held today.

Instead, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic convened a special meeting with the ministers and members of the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia, which ended at 18:00 CET. They held a special press conference after that meeting.

Istria Schools Close Friday: Classes Will be Televised

He confirmed that there will be no more live classes in Istria schools as of Friday.

"The schools will be open tomorrow and the staff will come in to prepare a plan. We are preparing online classes which will be a substitute for live classes. In order to continue the educational process cycle from Monday with online classes, an agreement is being made with HRT (Croatia Radio Television), and Channel 3 would be used to broadcast classes. Other classes will be recorded on video. In Istria, there will be no classes after Friday, and the directors will inform the parents and children about everything else. Tomorrow will be a transition day to prepare for the necessary measures.

No Need to Rebalance State Budget

Plenkovic said there was no need to rebalance the state budget that at this time.

"The aim is to preserve jobs. We will seek initiatives that help entrepreneurs maintain the liquidity of their business, as there will be challenges in this area. We will find options and consider legislation to ease the situation for entrepreneurs and anyone who may be affected by the crisis. Regarding the budget, everything is fine and our revenues for January, February and March are as expected." the Prime Minister said.

"I believe that we have taken the measures in time which the public is aware of. The Ursula Von Der Leyen Commission is prepared to fund every EU country. There are about 25 billion EUR available and this will have an impact the budget framework over the next seven years," Plenkovic added.

Italy Will Accept Citizens Return from Split Ancona Ferry

Minister Bozinovic said that Italy would accept the return of its citizens back from the Split-Ancona ferry and the rest would be quarantined in Split.

Croatian Health Service Has the Capacity: Beros

Minister Beros said we have the necessary capacity. "We have over 500 respirators and over 300 transports. I hope that the threat is not so great that we even have to use a portion of that capacity," he said.

Croatia and Regional Daily Updates

18:30 - The first male coronavirus patient in Italy, a 38-year-old from Codogno, is gradually recovering. He was taken off his respirator yesterday and began to breathe on his own.

18:13 - In the last 24 hours, 196 people have died in Italy. Another 2313 people were infected, Italian officials said.

18:00 - In Serbia, all events with more than 100 people have been banned, but there is no need to close schools yet, state leaders and health experts have decided. Parliamentary elections scheduled for April 26 may be delayed.

17:33 - WHO declares the coronavirus a pandemic.

17:24 - Two more people from Istria are suspected of having the coronavirus, according to the Istria County Civil Protection Headquarters. They are currently self-isolated and test results are expected tomorrow.

16:50 - Karlovac High School is under supervision as a female student may have the coronavirus infection.

16:34 - Lufthansa cancels 23,000 flights between March 29 and April 24. Most are in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

16:00 - Andrej Plenkovic convened a meeting with the ministers and members of the Civil Protection Staff of Croatia, which was held today at 16:00 CET. The daily press conference was cancelled.

15:28 - About 30 trucks have been waiting at the Croatian-Slovenian border for seven hours for a sanitary inspector. Read more.

15:25 - The Montenegrin government will not introduce a state of emergency due to the coronavirus. There are no confirmed cases in Montenegro

15:20 - Forty passengers who arrived on the Marco Polo ferry from Ancona this morning will be quarantined in Split at the Zagreb Hotel in Duilovo. Among them are 12 Croats who could not fulfil the conditions for self-isolation at home.

14:40 - Plenkovic has cancelled all HDZ pre-election rallies due to the coronavirus.

14:21 - 57 infected in Slovenia. 10 new infections have been reported.

2270 people have been tested. 27 people were infected in Ljubljana, 12 in Dolenjska and Bela krajina, 3 in Styria, 3 in the coastal area and one in Murska Sobota.

13:52 - None of the Italian citizens from the Ancona ferry have entered the quarantine in Split. They will likely decide to return to Italy.

13:50 - Istria mayors demand that classes in all schools in the County of Istria be terminated.

13:35 - Many events in Croatia have been postponed and cancelled.

13:11 - Serbia bans all gatherings of over 100 people. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announces that all gatherings indoors over 100 people are prohibited - matches, weddings.

12:20 - Bosnia and Hercegovina closed all schools and colleges for at least 2 weeks.

11:58 - 47 people are infected in Slovenia. Fran Albrecht Primary School in Kamnik near Ljubljana is closing because the teacher is among the infected. The school is closed for 14 days.

11:55 - Croatian Minister of Science and Education Blazenka Divjak reported that online classes were ready, if necessary.

11:25 - Austria has stopped all passenger rail service to Italy. In Austria, 131 cases of coronavirus have been reported.

11:05 - The border police of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed a ban on foreign citizens coming from countries hardest hit by the coronavirus.

This ban applies to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and parts of China including people coming from Hubei province where the epidemic erupted.

11:02 - “A Week of Rest is Worthwhile” (Tjedan odmora vrijedan) is cancelled. The Croatia Tourist Board planned a promotion to popularize travel within Croatia and reduce the impact of coronavirus on the tourism industry by offering 50 percent discounts to Croatian citizens.

11:00 - Although numerous events are being cancelled throughout Europe, as well as Croatia, the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) has not given up on its campaign for party elections.

10:07 - Health Minister Beros said he was considering closing the Croatian border,

9:30 - Jadrolinija (largest Croatia ferry service) has just discontinued traffic with Italy.

8:40 - Labin has introduced special measures that postpone everything. They also closed the cinema, the library, and are restricting funerals.

8:05 - Seven new cases of infection have been confirmed in Serbia. The total number of coronavirus infected in Serbia has increased from 5 to 12.

7:25 - 16^th coronavirus infection in Croatia. He is a hairdresser who was in Munich for a conference.

Certificate Required to Enter Slovenia from Italy

Slovenia began monitoring the border with Italy, and all non-Slovenian citizens or permanent residents are subject to controls when entering the country.

Foreign travellers will be required to furnish written confirmation that they are not infected with the coronavirus. The certificate must be in Slovenian, English or Italian and must not be older than three days.

(Updates provided by Index)

Live World Coronavirus Updates

• Live world updates from CNN here.
• Live world updates from The Guardian here.
• Live world updates from Al Jazeera here.

Live Health Organization Coronavirus Updates

• Live updated international map tracking spread of coronavirus from Johns Hopkins CSSE here.
• Live updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
• Live updates from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (daily updates at 15:00 CET in Croatian) here.

Total Croatia News Coronavirus Coverage

• HNS Confirms: All Croatian League Football Games Without Fans until March 31 - here.
• Croatian Ministers State Coronavirus Consequences Aren't Catastrophic "Yet" - here.
• Coronavirus Flight Cancellation Status for Croatia: easyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair, Eurowings, British Airways - here.
• Plenković: Transport Sector and Tourism Hardest Hit by Coronavirus Epidemic - here.
• Croatian Tourism Industry Already Feeling Coronavirus Consequences - here.
• Croatian Tourism Ministry Temporarily Halting All Marketing Actions Due to Coronavirus - here.

UPDATED: March 11, 2020 20:00 CET (Central European Time)

For the latest March 20 update click here.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.