ZAGREB, Sept 30, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros said on Wednesday that the current hospitalization of 288 Covid-19 patients did not put the healthcare system under strain and added that patients were mostly the elderly with mild symptoms of that infectious disease.

Today 213 new cases were registered which is more than the daily numbers last week of about 204 however I am more interested in the number of patients in hospitals and today there are 14 more than yesterday, Beros told reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting.

"Their clinical state is in line with their age. There are more elderly people among those infected and their state is a little more serious, however, we are still not seeing too great a burden on the health system," Beros said.

Asked about the introduction of e-referrals which was announced for October 1, Beros said that "e-referrals" will be up and running as soon as the IT system allows which could be tomorrow in fact.

With regard to setting self-isolation for Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic, Beros said that he had not spoken to Jandrokovic but that he had been informed that Jandrokovic was placed in self-isolation.

"The procedure is the same for everyone and anyone who was in contact with an infected person has to go into self-isolation. That is best for them and for everyone else," said Beros.

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September 24, 2020 - Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros confirmed a downward COVID-19 trend in Croatia, while he is worried about the state of Delnice as a new hotspot.

Index.hr reports that Health Minister Vili Beros said on Thursday ahead of the government session that epidemiological data still indicate a downward trend in the number of people infected with the coronavirus, while data on 266 people in hospital show no signs of overloading the health system.

Beros: There are no signs of overloading the health care system; I am worried about the jump in the number of patients in Delnice

"Today we have 232 infected; if we compare with last Thursday, when there were 250, it is still less. Last Thursday, there were 291, so the trend still shows a decline. Today, 266 people are hospitalized, 23 were admitted, and 30 were discharged, and still, there are no indications of overloading the health care system," Beros told reporters in front of Banski dvori.

However, he is worried about the jump in the number of patients in Delnice, among the users of the elderly home.

"This is what we say all the time, to monitor the epidemiological situation and to try to respond to any such micro-hotspots with adequate epidemiological measures," Beros said.

Minister Beros also spoke about the current situation with coronavirus at the government session.

Namely, Beros also told a government session that the number of people infected with the coronavirus had fallen for the third week in a row, while the rate of new infections had fallen by 5.2 percent in the past seven days.

"In Croatia, the number of newly infected people has fallen every week for the third week in a row. The rate of newly infected people in the last seven days is lower by 5.2 percent compared to the previous week," Beros said.

Of the total number of hospitalized, 9.71 percent are on a ventilator, up 1.71 percent from last week. The percentage of deaths relative to the number infected since the beginning of the epidemic is 1.68 percent.

With the arrival of autumn, the number of respiratory infections increases, so Beros called on citizens to adhere to epidemiological measures and timely vaccination against respiratory infections as the most effective prevention measures.

Current COVID-19 data in Croatia

There are currently 1,200 active patients with COVID-19 in Croatia, and 266 patients are in hospital.

In the past week, 219 patients were admitted, 23 were placed on a ventilator, and 223 patients were discharged. The average age of the infected is 49.2 years.

In the past week, 73 new coronavirus cases have been reported among healthcare workers, and 426 employees are in self-isolation.

Beros reported that the guidelines had been revised to shorten the isolation time for asymptomatic individuals. Thus, those with a mild or moderate clinical picture will now self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days.

Also, health care institutions should not condition the admission of patients who require hospitalization or conduct diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours, especially in emergencies or when the delay may cause health deterioration. Recommendations were forwarded to family physicians and pediatricians.

The directors of hospitals have been informed that to reduce the waiting list for certain services, when issuing approvals for additional work, doctors consider the performed obligations in the home institution, said Beros.

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ZAGREB, Aug 31, 2020- Over the past 24 hours, 146 new coronavirus cases in Croatia have been registered and two persons have died, Health Minister Vili Beros said on Monday.

Currently, there are 2,650 active coronavirus cases in Croatia.

Since the outbreak of the virus in Croatia in February, 10,270 persons have shown to be positive for the virus and 167,250 have been tested, including 1,591 in the past 24 hours, Beros said at a press conference of the national COVID response team.

Twenty-eight persons have been hospitalized in the past 24 hours, he said, adding that 14 patients were on ventilators.

To date 7,434 persons have recovered from the virus, including five discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours, Beros said.

Namely, Index.hr. reports that, as for the decision on the work of the gym, it will be changed and the gyms will be able to work with the application of all measures. When asked how the gyms became safe within 4 days, Božinović answered that it was a question for the local headquarters.

"We made the decision based on the conclusion of the Split-Dalmatia County Headquarters. And by arguing that the focus is to be extinguished in such a way that, if detected, in this case, 4 gyms, to take all measures allowed by law to remedy the situation as soon as possible and so that the activity can continue to go. The last option should be to close something for 14 days. We need as many field trips as possible, more precise information, to remedy the situation. On this occasion, we call on all those who use and give their services to make every effort to implement the measures of the Croatian Institute for Public Health", said Božinović.

When asked about the protests of caterers, Capak said that the goal is always to find a balance and adapt as much as possible to the necessary epidemiological measures.

"We strive to find balance all the time. Epidemiological measures and restrictions are being imposed at various levels around the world. In some European cities, restaurants are completely banned. We have balance, working cafes, restaurants, nightclubs until midnight. Everyone has the right to protest. We think we have found a balance between the economy and health", Capak concluded.

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August 31, 2020 - A few days ago, epidemiologists showed they'd had enough of belittling, endless days, and disrespect for their profession, reports Jutarnji.hr. That's why the President of the Croatian Epidemiological Society, Dr. Miroslav Venus, accompanied by three other colleagues, took a list of their requests to the Minister of Health, Dr. Vili Beros.

The proposal of measures for the improvement of the work on the control of the spread of the new coronavirus was published on August the 29th on the Society's website. In addition to most of the 11 requests/proposals, the epidemiologists meticulously wrote a possible solution. They left no room for excuses. In addition, Dr. Venus says that everything that is written is also achievable. Most of this can already be implemented in practice today and make life easier for Croatia's epidemiologists.

Endless questions

After countless requests, and finally warnings, too, the Ministry is first asked to remove their phone numbers from the TV screen.

"Sick people, those who suspect that they've contracted the disease or want a consultation must call an epidemiologist directly. Well, one hundred and three of us spend most of our time answering endless questions from worried people. Their concern is clear, but the answers should be given to them by the service that was abolished today on the number 113," says Dr. Venus on behalf of all of his colleagues.

It would also be good, they suggest, to open up the possibility of communication via SMS.

Since they need help, because the service is not only bursting at the seams but is also threatened with collapse, they suggest that newly graduated doctors who would work under supervision could help them. They also want to enable the redeployment of specialists within the Institute. Underestimating their profession was never clear to them. So, while the Ministry finances specialisations in all fields today, epidemiologists must be paid by the Institute itself. They are looking for a change to this.

Croatia's epidemiologists are aware that the economy can no longer suffer and are proposing a new model for referring people to self-isolation. "The SARS-CoV-2 virus is in local transmission, so the measures of wearing masks, physical distance, hygiene, and disinfection apply to everyone. Only the contacts of those infected should be placed in self-isolation if they are from strategic activities - such as health workers and people working in nursing homes. All other contacts would do their job with precautionary measures in place anyway," the epidemiologists state as a suggestion on how to help the economy, especially small businesses.

They also suggested to Vili Beros that all institutes should have their own testing devices, and they can buy them from decentralised funds that the state has provided to local governments. Most importantly, they require the greater involvement of family doctors in combating the spread of the virus. Family doctors are a sharp thorn in the side of epidemiologists.

"We're looking for their greater involvement, such as enrolling in the platform and checking in on those who are infected. When I enroll them I don't want to take care of them anymore. I leave them to their chosen doctor because new infected people come to me and I have to make time for them at that point. They have a contract with HZZO, let them threaten to terminate the contract and then the problem is solved," said one epidemiologist.

The human factor

"I read somewhere that concessionaires were involved in only 10 percent of activities during the epidemic, as if it doesn't concern them. Clearly I can't generalise though. I told Vili Beros precisely that. Don’t let us convince you that this is impossible. Personally, there are family medicine doctors in our field with whom we have excellent cooperation and those with whom we don't. It all comes down to the human factor. This is too serious of a situation for ‘I'd like to or I'd not like to. I would not like to that much either. I'd also go out and watch football today, but I have to call the contacts of those infected and those who are infected," explained Dr. Venus.

Minister Beros listened to the proposals and immediately called his associates who could look into them and gave them instructions. This is a good sign for Croatia's enfeebled epidemiologists. In doing so, some of the solutions do not require additional time and money. Their implementation can begin from September the 1st. “Family doctors can be immediately warned to increase their engagement,” the epidemiologists suggest.

"All of this doesn't make sense anymore. People, let's get serious. We feel like we've drawn the short straw here, we've been second-class citizens for months because someone protests whatever we do," complained Dr. Venus.

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ZAGREB, Aug 27, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros told the government on Thursday that during the past seven days, Croatia experienced the biggest spike in coronavirus cases, and that the numbers are not good, however, the clinical status of people infected with the virus is milder than at the onset of the epidemic.

Since the outbreak the epidemic of the coronavirus on 25 February,  8,889 people in Croatia have been diagnosed with this infectious disease, and 157,387 people have been tested for it.

Currently, there are 2,352 active cases, Beros said.

Of those active cases, 174 are receiving hospital treatment, and this is 7.4% of all those currently infected. There are 10 patients on ventilators or 0.4% of the infected, Beros said.

Responsible behaviour can markedly reduce the spread of the infection, and the minister called on Croatians to strictly comply with epidemiological measures.

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ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020- In the last 24 hours, there have been a record high 358 cases of infection with coronavirus in Croatia, and currently there are 2,352 active cases, the national COVID-19 response team said on Wednesday.

Health Minister Vili Beros informed a news conference that 184 COVID patients were currently being treated in hospitals, which is 7.4% of all active cases, and 10 of those patients are now on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, 26 new patients have been admitted to the hospital, while 19 have been discharged.

Also, 7,993 people are now in self-isolation.

Croatia's COVID-related death toll stands at 175, and a total of 6,362 have recovered.

Thus, since the onset of the epidemic on 25 February,  8,889 people in Croatia have been diagnosed with this infectious disease, and 157,387 people have been tested for it.

Currently, 130 healthcare workers are positive for COVID.

In Split-Dalmatia County where 136 people have been diagnosed with this infection in the last 24 hours, new hotspots have appeared in fitness gyms.

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ZAGREB, August 26, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros said on Wednesday ahead of an inner cabinet meeting that today's numbers of coronavirus cases were not the best and that they are higher than yesterday, when 219 new cases were registered, adding that new clusters have emerged in Split.

"I am in contact with epidemiologists. It is good that, in line with our previous agreements, the county response team is recommending new measures that will be appropriate. It is of essential importance that people in the field have daily information about new clusters as new ones are emerging, including fitness centres, gyms," Beros told reporters.

Beros said he would meet with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic before the cabinet meeting because the latest developments require a speedy reaction.

In reference to a recording of a conversation between him and the deputy director of the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Zagreb, Dijana Zadravec, Beros said that yesterday they had tried to identify who recorded that conversation and asked reporters to concentrate on the contents of the conversation.

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ZAGREB, Aug 24, 2020- Over the past 24 hours, there have been 136 new cases of the coronavirus infection in Croatia, after 1,722 tests were carried out, Health Minister Vili Beros told a press conference of the national COVID-19 response team in Zagreb on Monday.

There are 163 patients in hospitals, including 12 on ventilators. Two more people have died, and those victims were two elderly men.

Currently, there are 2,213 active cases, including 119 health workers, and 7,519 people are self-isolating, 515 of whom are health workers.

Since the first case of the infection was reported, a total of 8,312 people have tested positive for the virus, 5,926 people recovered, and 173 died.

Head of the COVID-19 response team and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said that given the increase in the number of new infections they had agreed that local teams should define hotspots more precisely.

He expects some teams will come up with concrete measures, and if all teams have similar demands, then a measure can be introduced for the entire country.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 21st of August, 2020, Health Minister Vili Beros commented on the recent jump in the rate of newly infected people for N1. On the 20th of August, Croatia recorded a significant increase...

"I was surprised by the numbers because they weren't like that in the morning, however, later on, some more data came from certain hotspots. We're thinking about all the elements and we're trying to find a way to stop it,'' Vili Beros said.

Regarding the session of the Slovenian Government and the decision on quarantine for Slovenes returning from Croatia, he said that he has been on phone with the Slovenian minister just an hour previously.

"He promised to report back to me when he finished, he hasn't responded yet," Beros said as he left the government building just before Slovenia put Croatia on the red list.

Some time later, Minister Vili Beros told RTL that we must be concerned as long as the virus is among us and that he is once again calling for responsible behaviour.

"For two days in a row, the numbers have been higher than 200, then we had 255, so we've reached the cumulative rate of patients in 14 days, which is 47, and that is significant. However, it's good that most of the hotspots are under control and that we know the sources of the infection and the contacts of these people, and our epidemiologists, just like before, are doing extremely valuable work to stop the spread of the infection,'' said Vili Beros, adding that their efforts will not be enough on their own, and that we must act responsibly.

"Many young people who were on the Adriatic coast and, understandably, relaxed, are now returning to their homes inland and there is a danger that the virus, if they're infected, will be transmitted to older people and their compromised immune systems. That's a new and additional danger,'' said Vili Beros.

Asked if we can expect further growth in the number of infected people, he said it is difficult to say. "The recent numbers are certainly a consequence of the fact that more than 2,300 tests have been carried out, by far the most so far. With such a large number of tests being taken, it's to be expected that the number of new cases will be slightly higher,'' he said, adding that we have to monitor the situation from day to day and also from hour to hour.

“My earlier warning is a step in that direction. The virus is transmitted in this way from the younger population, which is what we've witnessed in the last 20 days, because the average was, first 31, and then 36, these are relatively younger people. Now, with their return home inland, the virus can be transmitted to the elderly population, which wouldn't be good," the minister said.

He also answered the question of whether even more people should be being tested, especially since there are many asymptomatic cases of coronavirus.

"That question has been circulating since the beginning. We had a strategy that initially yielded good results. Many scientists agree that the first wave and this next wave we expect in September won't have exactly the same epidemiological characteristics. It's very ,uch possible that at some point we'll decide to start testing more,'' said Beros.

In just one day, several European countries, Great Britain, Germany and Slovenia put Croatia on their red lists. Asked if we were a safe country, Vili Beros replied: "We can't escape from our numbers of newly infected people. It is completely legitimate for these countries, to which their inhabitants return from holidays in Croatia, to take care of their health and as such they've introduced certain criteria,'' he noted.

"We've reached some of the limits with our numbers in the past few days and they reacted as they reacted," he said.

"Our idea was to warn everyone, ie to point out that the epidemiological situation in the whole of Croatia is not the same and that there are counties where the epidemiological situation in the last month is perfect. However, there are also counties, such as Sibenik-Knin and Split-Dalmatia, which show slightly worse results,'' he said. It was Germany that singled out these two counties in its decision, as opposed to the entire country.

He also answered the question of what the epidemiological situation should be in order to postpone schooling. He said that a working group in the Ministry of Education is discussing this and that there are two epidemiologists in that working group. "Together with education experts, they'll come up with criteria that will describe the epidemiological picture that could possibly delay the start of classes," Beros said, adding that he didn't expect that.

"If everything goes according to some of our predictions, the school year should start on schedule," concluded Vili Beros.

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ZAGREB, Aug 21, 2020 - Croatia has 265 new cases of the coronavirus infection, the highest daily number so far, but Health Minister Vili Beros does not consider this to be a significant departure from recent trends and believes that it is due to the summer tourist season.

Speaking at a regular news conference of the national COVID-19 response team on Friday, Beros said that 50% or 137 of the new cases were people who were in self-isolation, which, he said, showed that epidemiologists were doing a good job.

Beros noted that 1,647 tests had been conducted in the past 24 hours and that currently, 6,446 people were self-isolating.

There has been one fatality in the past 24 hours, an elderly woman.

The death toll stands at 169. Eleven people have been hospitalized since yesterday, which puts the total number of hospitalized patients at 135, including 12 who are still on ventilators, Beros said.

There are currently 1,842 active cases of the COVID-19 disease in the country.

Beros believes that the latest figures do not depart radically from those in recent days and that they are due to Croatia being open to tourists, with a large number of foreign nationals having vacationed on its coast.

The increase in infections is certainly also due to "a certain kind of behavior in the summertime," said Beros.

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