ZAGREB, 22 July 2021 - Istria County prefect Boris Miletić on Thursday welcomed tighter COVID restrictions along the coastline because of the spread of the Delta variant, saying it was in everyone's interest to keep the tourist numbers recorded to date as long as possible.

Speaking to the press in Pula, he said arrivals and overnights in the first seven months of this year were at 60% of those in the corresponding period in 2019, a record year for tourism.

"2020 can't be a reference point of comparison as it would turn out that we were 200% better. In July alone, in the first 20 days, we recorded 90% of the arrivals and overnights recorded (at the same time) in 2019."

More tourists than the domestic population in Istria

Miletić said 236,000 tourists were currently staying in Istria, which has a population of 209,000, adding that 38% were staying in private accommodation, 38% in campsites, and 24% in hotels.

"In any case, we have to be maximally responsible because tourists don't want big parties and big gatherings, but to spend their annual vacation normally," he said, adding that he hoped responsibility would be evident at all levels so that this tourist year could be much better than the last.

Miletić said big gatherings were not necessary, except for various festivals like the ongoing Pula Film Festival. He added that big outdoor gatherings were a problem because it was difficult to control that many people and impossible to ban someone from coming.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, including travel, border, and quarantine rules, as well as the locations of vaccination points and testing centers across the country, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

January 16, 2021 - Istria could be the first in Croatia to loosen measures because it has the best epidemiological situation in the country, along with Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

The Chief of the Istria County Civil Protection Headquarters, Dino Kozlevac, announced that communication with the National Headquarters would begin next week about making adjustments. He did not state precisely what should return to normal first, but it will probably be gyms or sports activities.

"We will first restore activities that have an impact on fitness, life, and work—that first, and then gradually the rest. We are cautious because the situation in some neighboring countries is not good, and it is getting worse. We would not like to reduce the measures that would have to be returned very soon," Kozlevac told Nova TV.

Asked if the National Headquarters would agree to different measures in different regions, Kozlevac said he would 'find a common language.'

"I believe that regional specificity and results will be respected. It is not fair to wait for someone who still has work to do. Our citizens, who are most responsible for reducing the number of cases because they adhere to the measures, deserve to be the first to receive concessions," said Kozlevac.

He emphasized that Istria has good numbers, and the number of new cases has been declining for the fourth week.

On Friday, 249 swab samples were tested for COVID-19 at the Istria County Institute of Public Health. 13 newly infected persons from the county were confirmed.

Nine infections came from self-isolation measures or close contact with an already known positive person. One person is an imported case from the area: Italy (1).

Thirty people were cured. There are currently 229 active COVID-19 positive individuals in Istria County and 1109 people under self-isolation measures.

At the General Hospital in Pula, at the Department of Infectious Diseases, 51 people are being treated, of which five are in the respiratory center.

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