ZAGREB, 16 July 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday that the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 must not be downplayed, appealing to people to get vaccinated.

"I strongly reject any downplaying of COVID-19," Plenković told reporters during a visit to Farkaševac, a municipality in the northeast of Zagreb County, when asked to comment on the statement by President Zoran Milanović that it was not politically intelligent to put pressure on half the population to get vaccinated.

The prime minister said that the COVID-19 crisis had so far cost Croatia HRK 34 billion and that the matter should be addressed seriously. "This is very important. One should not downplay it but should try and help get as many people as possible to get vaccinated."

Asked why he did not condemn statements by Gordan Lauc, a member of the government's Science Council, who has publicly downplayed the benefits of vaccination, Plenković said that Lauc was speaking on his own behalf and not on behalf of the government.

"He is speaking on his own behalf, certainly not on behalf of the Council. Only I can speak on behalf of the Council after it has convened. Do not attribute to the government something that someone says on their own behalf," Plenković said.

The Council members have voluntarily decided to make their own contribution, and the cabinet members have made it clear to them that they can speak in public only on their own behalf and in line with the general agreement of the Council, he added.

"The government can in no way be connected with anyone's statements, We distance ourselves from such statements," Plenković concluded.

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ZAGREB, 14 July, 2021 - In the past 24 hours, there have been 155 new cases of coronavirus in Croatia and two people have died, the national COVID response team said on Wednesday.

Currently, there are 595 active cases in the country, including 111 hospitalised patients of whom 8 are on ventilators.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in Croatia on 25 February 2020, there have been 361,079 people infected with the virus, of whom 8,233 have died and 352,251 have recovered, including 54 in the past 24 hours.

Currently, there are 3,939 people in self-isolation.

A total of 2,201,991 people have been tested to date, with 3,965 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

As of 13 July, a total of 2,848,709 doses of vaccines have been administered and 38.5% of the population has been inoculated or 46.3% of adults. 

A total of 1,562,081 people have received at least one dose and 1,317,827 have received both shots.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 13 July, 2021 - In the past 24 hours, 83 coronavirus cases and two deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Tuesday.

There are 496 active cases, including 106 hospitalised patients, nine of whom are on ventilators, while 3,969 persons are self-isolating.

Croatia has registered 360,924 coronavirus cases to date, 8,231 COVID deaths and 352,197 persons who have recovered from the disease, including 96 in the past 24 hours.

To date, 2,198,026 persons have been tested for the virus, including 4,577 in the past 24 hours.

Also, 2,833,080 vaccines have been administered, with 38.4% of the total and 46.3% of the adult population immunised - 1,557,706 persons have received at least one dose, including 1,275,374 that have received both and 30,131 that have received the Janssen vaccine, which requires only one dose.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 7 July, 2021 - In the past 24 hours, Croatia has registered 141 new cases of coronavirus, while three people have died as a consequence of the infection, the national COVID response team reported on Wednesday.

Currently, there are 596 active cases in the country, including 120 hospitalised patients, 6 of whom are on ventilators, and 3,673 people are in self-isolation.

A total of 2,176,865 tests have been conducted today, including 4,982 in the past 24 hours.

As of 6 July, 2,714,126 doses of vaccines have been administered, with 1,518,820 people having received at least one dose and 1,195,306 having received both shots.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case of the contagion was detected in Croatia, there have been 360,483 positive cases of coronavirus, 8,224 people have died and 351,663 have recovered from the infection, including 70 in the last 24 hours.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 6 July, 2021 - In the last 24 hours, of 5,103 tests performed for coronavirus in Croatia,  1.9%, that is 96, have turned out to be positive, the national COVID-19 crisis management team stated on Tuesday.

Currently, there are 528 active cases, including 132 hospitalised patients, of whom 10 are placed on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, the COVID-related death toll has risen by two to 8,221.

Since the first registered case of the infection with this novel virus in Croatia on 25 February 2020, as many as 2,171,883 tests have been performed showing that 360,342 people have contracted the virus. Of them, 351,593 have recovered so far, including 65 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

The Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ) reported on Tuesday that 37.3% of the total population or 45% of the adult population had been vaccinated to date.

A total of 2,687,515 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to date.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

June 3, 2021 - TCN's highlights of the week. A look at the events in Croatia from June 28 through the selection of TCN's reporter Ivor Kruljac.

EURO 2020 elimination and Dario Šarić in the NBA finals. Zagreb witnessing a series of arrests related to corruption of Milan Bandić's reign and explosive device planted in Split. In the midst of it all, is COVID-19 vaccination on its way to becoming obligatory and not optional? You may prefer the good news or the bad news, but here is both, as another week in Croatia comes to an end.

© Marin Tironi / PIXSELL

Highlights of the week: Uskok arresting Zagreb entrepreneurs and associates of former mayor Milan Bandić

The Office of Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević said on Wednesday that a preliminary investigation by members of the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor and the Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) started at the city administration offices at 6 am on Wednesday.

As TCN wrote, several people were arrested on suspicion of corruption, including the director-general of the HRT public broadcaster, Kazimir Bačić, Andrea Šulentić, and Ana Stavljenić-Rukavina. Both Šulentić and Rukavina were directors in Zagreb administration offices and close associates of former mayor Milan bandić. At the same time, details Bandić's heavy corruption (suspected and known publicly earlier) came to light.

© Goran Stanzl / PIXSELL

Highlights of the week: Croatia eliminated from Euro 2020 after losing to Spain

Croatia and Spain met in Copenhagen on Monday for their EURO 2020 round of 16 match. It was a decent effort from Croatia, but not enough. Despite the Spain own goal in the 20th minute, the distraction as Rebić went to change his boots saw Spain even the score. The score towards the end of regular time went to 3:1 for Spain, but Croatia managed to lower to 3:2 and finally, in the added time, Pašalić scored for 3:3.

But, the euphoria was ruined for Croatia as in extra time, Morata earned Spain 4:3, and by 103rd minute, the total and final score was 5:3 for Spain. It was one of the more intense games on Euro so far as both teams show incredible spirit and persistence. 

© Dusko Jaramaz / PIXSELL

Highlights of the week: Opposition parties against vaccination being required for job-keeping payments  

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) called on Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday not to make vaccination a requirement for job-keeping payments, while the Most party said business owners were being blackmailed into vaccination.

As TCN reported, SDP leader Peđa Grbin elaborated his dissatisfaction via social networks.

"In Croatia, mandatory vaccination is possible, but the obligation is first established under the law on the protection of the population and then regulated and worked out under Immunisation Rules and the Mandatory Vaccination Programme. The obligation of vaccination can't be imposed in another way, notably not by linking support for entrepreneurs with vaccination," SDP president Grbin posted on Facebook.

"Most is against entrepreneurs, who are being forced into vaccination through blackmail, saving the government's mindless epidemic policy", stated the Most party on its official Twitter account. They added that Croatia was stuck with over 300,000 surplus vaccines because of poor government moves and communication omissions.

© Hrvoje Jelavic / PIXSELL

Highlights of the week: Dario Šarić becomes 5th Croatian basketballer in the NBA finals

Šibenik's Dario Šarić is the 5th Croatian basketball player to reach the NBA finals! As TCN wrote, Šarić became only the fifth Croatian basketball player in the NBA league finals, joining the company of Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Žan Tabak, and Ante Žižić. Šarić plays for Phoenix Suns. They topped the Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 in the NBA Western Conference Finals. Apart from basketball, Šarić also likes to enjoy sipping coffee on Šibenik cafe terraces, as portrayed in the photo. 

© Milan Sabic / PIXSELL

Highlights of the week: Bomb planted in Split. One person injured
In the night from Thursday to Friday, an unknown person placed an explosive device underneath a vehicle. The explosion damaged six cars, and one person required medical attention. The investigation is ongoing since Friday morning.  

To learn more about Croatia, have a look at our TC website.

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ZAGREB, 2 July 2021 - Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tomislav Ćorić said on Friday that vaccination is the only way we can all be responsible and that, if the tourism season fails, it will not be possible to find the necessary funding for all the needs in the years to come.

"Our economy is in the process of recovering, but it is highly dependant on tourism. If the tourism season fails, there is no magic wand with which we will be able to find additional funds to finance our needs, this year and in the years to come. That is why we all have to be responsible towards the country we live in and its economy, particularly to the most vulnerable groups of citizens. The only way for us to be responsible together is to be vaccinated," said Ćorić.

Asked about the possibility that entrepreneurs will have to be vaccinated if they are to receive aid, and whether this has been discussed with entrepreneurs, Ćorić said that that would be a responsible move.

Ćorić said that Croatia had the lowest percentage of inoculation of all Mediterranean countries.

"Anyone who is responsible should be rewarded and those who aren't should be subjected to criticism from the rest of us," he said. "Benefits should be linked to responsible behaviour above all."

Asked about the situation at the Brodosplit shipyard and whether workers should fear for their wages or dismissal, Ćorić said that the workers would fight for their rights.

"Brodosplit is a private company on the market. There are several companies within that conglomeration. According to information received, some of them have had their accounts blocked. Some of the problems are being resolved and I hope that Brodosplit, with more than 2,000 workers, will continue operating," he said.

The situation at Brodosplit is a reflection of the situation on the global market as many shipyards have lost ground to the competition, above all, China, he said.

"Want we want is that workers get their wages. That is what the government wants," Ćorić said.

He recalled that the government had bailed out shipbuilding for years through state guarantees on loans.

"One of the preconditions for guarantees was that all obligations to the Tax Administration had been settled," he underscored.

Ćorić was attending  the EveryDayGreen campaign at the Rijeka farmer's market dedicated to reducing the use of plastic packaging.

The campaign is aimed at reducing the use of disposable plastic packaging and promoting the purchase of fresh produce on the occasion of Planet Day.

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ZAGREB, 2 July 2021- People who are not vaccinated should not be discriminated against, the STUH tourism union said on Friday commenting on a statement by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on the possibility of not approving jobkeeping aid to those who have not been vaccinated against COVID.

"STUH has called on and is still calling on its members and workers in hospitality and tourism to get vaccinated and we understand the prime minister's efforts and wishes for Croatian citizens to be vaccinated, considering that that would resolve many problems, from returning to a normal life to reducing government costs. We agree with the prime minister and it would be absurd to stimulate anyone who is being vaccinated now with a financial reward, but at the same time, it is unacceptable to create disincentives for those who do not want to get vaccinated," STUH said in a press release.

STUH called on the prime minister to refrain from such statements and to discuss the possible repercussions with his associates.

The union underscored that Croatia's biggest problem in tourism was the shortage of labour.

STUH said that a Council of Europe resolution, passed at the end of January this year, states that vaccination in the EU is not obligatory, hence people who are not vaccinated should not be discriminated against.

The SSSH union federation said on Friday that conditioning government support with vaccination constituted unacceptable pressure on workers who do not want to get vaccinated.

As long as vaccination is voluntary, withholding government support from those who have not been vaccinated is ripe soil for discrimination. SSSH said.

SSSH was one of the first to call on workers to be vaccinated, but workers must not suffer any sanctions if they are not vaccinated, it said.

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ZAGREB, 2 July 2021 - The Social Democratic Party called on Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday not to make vaccination a requirement for job-keeping payments, while the Bridge party said business owners were being blackmailed into vaccination.

"In Croatia, mandatory vaccination is possible, but the obligation is first established under the law on the protection of the population and then regulated and worked out under Immunisation Rules and the Mandatory Vaccination Programme. The obligation of vaccination can't be imposed in another way, notably not by linking support for entrepreneurs with vaccination," SDP president Peđa Grbin posted on Facebook.

He said the government's COVID-19 vaccination plan had failed. "Workers and entrepreneurs can't be held to account for that," he said, telling the government and Plenković, "if you want to link vaccination with some benefits, set clear criteria, define who will monitor them and enable them for all."

Bridge tweeted that Croatia was stuck with over 300,000 surplus vaccines because of poor government moves and communication omissions. "Bridge is against entrepreneurs, who are being forced into vaccination through blackmail, saving the government's mindless epidemic policy."

For more on politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated politics page.

30 June 2021 – The Pula Medical Faculty Dean has been vocal against COVID19 vaccinations, often stating quite outlandish numbers and ideas. On Tuesday he officially lost his position at the school.

Dr. Kresimir Pavelic became known to the Croatian public just a few days ago as a passionate COVID19 vaccine skeptic. He spoke on the roundtable organised by political party Promijenimo Hrvatsku (eng. Let’s Change Croatia) entitled “Coronavirus – time for truth”. Dr. Pavelic stated some alarming figures the sources of which he didn’t mention. He said that the last four months saw more patients dying as a result of the COVID19 vaccine than those of all the vaccines combined since 1990. He also mentioned very suspicious numbers of 10000 dead in the EU and 4000 dead in the USA as a result of COVID vaccine complications. Slobodna Dalmacija reports Dr. Pavelic also warned that people who already had the vaccine are now potential carriers of new mutations of the virus and should be banned from donating blood. Supposedly, he has already talked earlier about the connection between COVID19 and Bill Gates.

Aftermath

On Tuesday the Medical College of Pula let him go from the position of the Dean. College rector, Dr. Alfio Barbieri said the move comes as a direct result of Dr. Pavelic’s public anti-vaccination statements. Apparently, this is not the first time he made his opinions on the matter known. He became quite popular with the so-called anti-vaxxers in Croatia.

This bizarre story doesn’t end here. Apparently, Pula Medical College is not really an active college. Rector Barbieri told Slobodna Dalmacija National Council for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development denied issuing a permit that would make his college’s educational program valid.

It seems the COVID pandemic revealed interesting viewpoints of many people around us. Stories like this one come hardly as a surprise anymore. Still, it is not every day that a person with such a high knowledge of health and medicine speaks out against COVID19 vaccines.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.