On a recent episode of HRT's Dnevnik, the Minister of Health, Vili Beros, didn't specifically reveal the possible new epidemiological measures for Croatia this autumn, but when speaking about the obligation to wear protective masks outdoors, he said that it would make sense to introduce something similar in Croatia.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 18th of August, 2020, Minister Vili Beros emphasised that the National Civil Protection Headquarters has daily discussions on the anti-epidemic measures they must take, but they do so in constant accordance with the epidemiological situation of the time.

''At this moment in time, it isn't possible to conclude what will happen in the autumn,'' said Vili Beros. He added that the wearing of masks outdoors in the French capital of Paris is done in places where a lot of people are grouped and where no physical distance can be kept.

''It would make sense to introduce something similar in Croatia in those places where more people are grouped together, that is, on trams, in waiting areas for buses, where there are certain tourist groups, but we'll carefully monitor the situation and bring in new measures in the way we did before,'' Beros explained.

Commenting on the decline in the number of newly infected people in Croatia, ie answering the question as to whether this is a trend or a short break, Vili Beros said that it wasn't possible to say. It was a weekend and not all family doctors were working, meaning they weren't referring any patients for coronavirus testing, but the epidemiological service is working hard.

''It is a controlled pool and in that way the spread of the virus is prevented. So it's possible that these measures of ours - of course, with an emphasis on personal responsibility - will indeed cause these numbers to be smaller and smaller, but it isn't possible to conclude anything,'' he said.

Beros also said that a meeting of the expert group of the crisis staff of the Ministry of Health would be held soon and that it was possible to start some training of junior doctors from the epidemiological profession so that they could join in with the field work.

The Civil Protection Headquarters of the City of Split asked the National Headquarters to specify more clearly the conditions and measures that must be observed by catering and service facilities. Beros said that the National Headquarters would respond to their request and that talks should always be held. He added that people in the local community know all the specific circumstances of certain areas.

''Specifically, here at my place in Hvar, after the closing of night clubs and coffee bars, a problem arose with the grouping of young people in front of certain stores. Therefore, local employees can best notice this problem,'' he noted.

As for the teaching model, Beros stressed that it would be best - if the epidemiological situation allows it - for all children to be back at school, but some other models are being prepared that may be a combination of school attendance and online teaching.

''I want to say that all of us who are participating in this process, parents, teachers, healthcare workers, but also us politicians, must look at this problem in full from all aspects and try to find the most opportune solution at that moment,'' concluded Vili Beros, adding that the concept and proposal will come very soon.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 15th of August, 2020, RTL reporter Jelena Tesija talked with the Minister of Health, Vili Beros, about the record number of newly infected people and the huge challenges that await the health care system.

We recently had the worst day since the beginning of the epidemic. Did you expect such figures?

Today we have 208 infected people. The tourist season is in full swing, 830 thousand tourists are in our country and an increase in the number was to be expected. It isn't possible to predict exactly how much it would rise and what it would be. However, it is important to note that in some counties, such as Split-Dalmatia County and in the City of Zagreb, the number of new cases is significantly higher. But we have four counties with only one new patient, we have 14 counties in which there are less than 10 new patients. The most important thing is that everything is under control, that we know the source of the infection and that our epidemiological profession is working out in the field. It's necessary to constantly emphasise that we ourselves, with our caution and effort, can contribute to reducing the spread of the infection. That's what is important to say at this point.

Did we open up again too much and too soon?

I don't think so. We made this decision fully consciously. We've made life and tourism possible. Without tourism, which is one of the more important branches of our economy, everything would be far worse than it is now. We've purposefully accepted this risk. We're still of the opinion that it is controllable. I spoke this morning with my Slovenian and Austrian colleagues, in a way we're all on the same track. What was, and that is the tourist season, is now coming to an end and we need to turn to autumn, turn to the beginning of the new school year and think about what's needed.

More and more countries are putting Croatia on the red list, are we still too late with the introduction of some measures?

I wouldn't say so. As you yourself have witnessed from the beginning of this threat, we've always started with a certain supervision, and then with a gradual tightening of those measures. So far, this has always yielded certain results. As important as the measures are, the responsible behavior of all of us together is equally important. With minimal personal effort, meaning wearing a mask when recommended, maintaining distance, personal hygiene, and avoiding handshakes, we can do the most to prevent the spread of this infection. That's why it's very important that we detected certain foci, and these were nightclubs at this time, where the application of this mode of behaviour could have prevented the spread of the infection. I'm sorry that didn't happen. However, we must therefore continue to repeat and appeal, especially to young people, to adhere to these measures.

What will Croatia look like in the coming days? Doctors are already saying they have too much work on their hands, can the healthcare system cope with what awaits us?

Thank you for your concern. However, the fact is that today there are only seven newly hospitalised people in Croatia, there's only one patient on a respirator. This, however, shows that the clinical picture is much milder due to certain circumstances and of course that doctors, especially epidemiologists, are burdened. But we're not thinking about any greater threat or burden on the health system at this moment in time. But we need to be thoughtful and prepared so we have some plans in place for September, especially for autumn, when we expect a different clinical picture and we have to be, as we were in March and April, ready for that.

What does it mean we have to be prepared? Will we have to mobilise the Zagreb Arena again, or will it not come to that?

We’re not going to talk about that now, you know I don’t like to get too ahead of myself. However, even now there are some capacities that are being preserved if needed. But we will do whatever is necessary at the given time and in accordance with the epidemiological situation.

Are you on vacation, you're in Jelsa, when will you return to work?

I'm an envoy of the Prime Minister on the day that is celebrated in the municipality of Jelsa. So, I'm officially here. But there's no rest. This morning I spoke with my Austrian and Slovenian counterparts, with the Deputy Prime Minister several times, with the Prime Minister as well. As long as the situation is like this and as long as the virus is active, there is no rest.

Is there a fear that the situation could spiral out of our control?

No. Not at this point.

What would you advise citizens? You've already mentioned wearing a mask, keeping a distance, is there perhaps anything else that citizens should be warned about?

No. But what really needs to be emphasised is that with minimal personal effort, we can do a lot for both the economy and the preservation of health and jobs in Croatia. Therefore, wearing a mask where necessary and recommended, maintaining a distance, personal hygiene, and avoiding shaking hands is absolutely a recipe for combating this infection.

For more from Vili Beros and the coronavirus pandemic in Croatia, follow our dedicated section.

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ZAGREB, July 27, 2020 - Croatia's health and IT sectors have developed and on Monday presented the Croatian version of the Stop COVID-19 app which uses temporary and anonymous data to inform users about exposure to coronavirus.

The app is available for Android and Apple mobile phones and uses Bluetooth technology.

The success of the app is based on the conscientious and solidary participation of citizens, said Health Minister Vili Beros.

After the pandemic is over, it will no longer be possible to use the app, which is secure and uses temporary and anonymous data.

The app's cross-border interoperability has also been ensured.

The app was designed under a government decision by the APIS IT agency for support to information systems and technologies.

"All data exchanged between two devices, i.e. two persons, is recorded only on mobile devices," said Sasa Bilic, chairman of APIS IT's management board.

Every user is informed anonymously that they have been in contact with infected persons sometime over the past 14 days. Users will be notified by text if the contact has been high, medium or low risk based on precisely defined parameters.

"We took distance into account. A text about a high risk is when a person has been two meters away for more than 15 minutes over the past 48 hours," said epidemiologist Tomislav Benjak.

The user will receive a text saying they have been in high-risk contact, to stay home and contact their family doctor. Texts about medium and low-risk contacts are created similarly.

A dozen EU member states (Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, France, and Hungary) have designed mobile apps to track contacts and inform users about exposure to COVID-19.

Bozinovic: App is secure, has all the necessary certificates

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, who heads the national COVID-19 response team, said the Stop COVID-19 app had all the necessary certificates.

"The European Commission said the health authorities in each member state should manage the app. Simply put, it's communication between two mobile phones. The person who possibly receives a text that they have been near an infected person doesn't know who this person is, and the infected person can activate the app only if they want to," he told press.

No third party can know anything about that communication, he said. "It couldn't be more secure. After all, the app has all the necessary certificates."

ZAGREB, July 25 (Hina) - Health Minister Vili Beros on Saturday visited the children's hospital in downtown Zagreb which was flooded in last night's heavy rain, saying the costs of dealing with the damage would be covered by the hospital, the city, and his ministry.

Hospital director Goran Roic told Hina the biggest damage was done to the pharmacy in the basement, where the cafeteria, locker room and radiology ward were also flooded.

Other hospital services are working normally, he said.

Visiting the hospital, Minister Beros said the hospital pharmacy stored very expensive drugs so the damage was yet to be estimated.

"However, the provision of healthcare is not undermined at this moment. But the corona crisis, the earthquake, and now flooding have only highlighted the need to build a new national children's hospital. Many only talked about it, but this government has recognized this need and included this idea into its programme for the coming period, and I as minister will do my best so that it is realised."

A feasibility study is being done for the Blato location and when it is done, we will see whether it's the best location, Beros said.

As for the financing of the new hospital, he said everything would be done to find the fastest solution. "Whether it's EU funds is difficult to say because the procedure is long, and we can now see how long the feasibility study is taking," Beros said, adding that "we are also looking at other financing possibilities for the construction of these health facilities that we urgently need."

Beros said he had talked with the directors of most of Zagreb's hospitals and that none had reported any major damage after last night's storm.

For a long time now, the amount one needs to fork out for a coronavirus test, which is mandatory for entry into certain countries, has been a problem for many. Minister Vili Beros recently announced that cheaper tests would soon be available for Croatian residents, and now the price has been confirmed.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 17th of July, 2020, the National Civil Protection Headquarters has announced the latest data on the situation with the coronavirus during a regular press conference held at 14:00, in which there was also talk of the new new prices for coronavirus tests.

"We have information from HZZO that by analysing the available data on reagent prices, more favourable reagents are on their way. The price of the testing will now be between 500 and 600 kuna. As such, we'd like to encourage the introduction of more cost-effective methods. HZZO will continue to monitor the market dynamics and determine the most favourable model,'' explained Health Minister Vili Beros.

So far, the single price was 1506 kuna for two antigens, but that price is changing, and it will more than likely be a sigh of relief for many cash-strapped people who are already struggling in the now enfeebled domestic economy which has been ravaged by the ongoing global pandemic.

In 21 institutions in which coronavirus testing is carried out, the price for those who want to be tested without a referral for two sequences will be 501 kuna, and for three sequences, it will cost 698 kuna. HZZO will continue to monitor the market dynamics and determine the most favourable model for coronavirus testing, with the hope of making the process a little easier on the currently shallow pockets of many.

"75 million kuna has been set aside for all coronavirus tests in Croatia. That was a month ago,'' added the director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Krunoslav Capak.

For more on coronavirus in Croatia, follow our dedicated section.

Some are winning, some are not. Under this title, a list of countries according to a single criterion was published on the Endcoronavirus.org website: whether they managed to curb the ongoing coronavirus pandemic or not, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 11th of May, 2020, the countries listed are divided into three categories: those that are winning the war against the new coronavirus, those that are just about to put an end to the epidemic, and those that have yet to take decisive action to stop the spread of the infection. The classification was made on the basis of processed data on the number of new cases up to the 4th of May, 2020.

In the first group - those who are claiming victory over the virus - there are a total of twenty countries across the world. Along with Australia, Austria, South Korea, China, Slovenia, Vietnam, Iceland, Slovakia, Greece, Taiwan, New Zealand and others, Croatia is also included.

''Croatia is once again among the countries winning the fight against coronavirus! This is a compliment to everyone and an incentive for #OstanimoOdgovorni/Let'sStayResponsible,'' the Croatian Minister of Health, Vili Beros, wrote on from his Twitter profile with pride.

Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Iran, Denmark, France, Spain, Turkey and Italy are among the countries that are one step away from defeating the coronavirus, and there are 21 such countries in total.

The third group highlghts the countries which have dealt badly with the spread of the new coronavirus. It includes either countries that have not yet flattened the curve, or those in which the curve is falling, but still not by enough to avoid the danger of a new flare up of infections. This group includes, but is not limited to, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Sweden, Mexico, Finland, India, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Chile, Egypt, and Belarus.

Federal states within the United States are also discussed in detail, and the results are somewhat striking because as many as 36 of them belong to the third, worst group. The group for which the war against coronavirus is still very intense.

Endcoronavirus.org is a website launched by the American New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) under the leadership of Dr. Yaneer Bar-Yam. The institute brings together epidemiologists, physicians, analysts, professors, and students from MIT, Harvard, and other American universities. The institute advocates a strict five-week lockdown, travel bans, mass testing, self-isolation for those with little or no symptoms, wearing masks in public places, and an emergency supply of protective and medical equipment for hospitals and medical staff.

Make sure to follow our dedicated section for more on coronavirus in relation to Croatia.

May 10, 2020 — Croatia’s Health Minister Vili Beroš has emerged as an unexpected star during the coronavirus. Often commended for partially orchestrating the Civil Protection Directorate’s response to the pandemic, the publicly humble and professorial neurosurgeon shies away from taking credit.

But with parliamentary elections likely this summer, the minister has become an unexpected trump card in the ruling Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) electoral ambitions.

Beroš spoke about Croatia's pandemic response, healthcare system and his role in the elections — including rumors he’ll be HDZ’s candidate for Mayor of Zagreb — in an interview with Jutarnji List.

How long is the working day of the Minister of Health at the time of the corona?

Oh! I got up at 5:30 a.m. and the night before I came home very late. It’s not exactly like that every day, but mostly it doesn’t go any differently. There is not only coronavirus, but also a number of other things that need to be done. 

In recent days, I have been focused on reopening the health care system. There is always a danger of the virus entering, so it is important that nothing is overlooked, that patients and employees are not endangered, and that the system works at the same time.

The numbers say we won the battle with the coronavirus. Have we won the war, or what must we do so that a possible second wave does not surprise us?

The numbers show that the epidemic in Croatia is on a downward trajectory. This is what we have always wanted, that the number of infected and sick people is getting smaller day by day and that the infection is coming to an end. However, this still does not mean that, as you say, war has been won, because the infection is still going on in our country, but also in most countries in our environment. 

As long as there is a real danger of its spread and a possible flare-up of the second wave, there must be no relaxation of either the citizens or the health system. 

In addition, until a suitable vaccine and cure for coronavirus is found, we must all adapt our daily lives to the new conditions, take care of our own protection, but also the protection of others, avoid risky behaviors in public, maintain personal hygiene and do everything to whatever is possible to avoid possible infection.

Can we relax and how much? Are you afraid that this could ruin everything that has been done in the fight against coronavirus in recent months? The pressures are great. It seems like everyone would open everything right away!

There are relaxations of measures in everyday life and they will be in line with the further development of the epidemiological situation, but there is no relaxation for anyone, neither for the citizens nor for us health professionals. We see that even the slightest relaxation and inattention immediately bring the newly infected and the sick. 

We have done a lot so far and we can all be happy and proud of it, but it would be a great sin to spoil it all with reckless moves and easy understanding of the situation in the days ahead and return to the beginning or worse. 

Coronavirus is a new virus, a new world plague, it has a lot of unknowns and with previous experiences with it we need to be very careful.

We can defeat it, but it takes the common strength of all of us. We are witnessing what happened recently when only four people returned from abroad or the latest case on Brač, where a double-digit number of cases was recorded in just one day. This can very quickly, unfortunately, change the epidemiological picture. Such things can cause a chain reaction. 

We follow what is happening in countries that started with faster opening, such as Denmark or Austria, where there were no major problems, and we are also in communication with world experts. They all warn of the possibility of a new wave. That's why caution is never enough.

Some resent you for opening churches, but not theaters, for banning work on Sundays, claiming it’s all done for political gain?

As the Minister of Health, I had the least influence in these opening measures. I left the decision on what is best to epidemiologists and ministries who gave recommendations on when and how to “loosen” a measure. It doesn’t matter, for example, how to open theaters, unless maybe it’s a monodrama. Not only must the audience be protected, but also the actors, because the performances require their interaction. 

At the beginning of this epidemic, I pushed the profession to be careful so even now it's all the result of their thinking. I am more for talks and agreements, but provided that the result is containing the disease. The right measure is sometimes difficult to find, but it is important to give a general epidemiological framework.

You had moments during the epidemic when ‘everything went great’, but probably also those when tensions were rising. Uncertainty in the procurement of equipment at the beginning of COVID-19 in Croatia was certainly a very stressful circumstance.

From the beginning, we had the situation under control because we very quickly detected the zero patient who brought the virus from Italy, and then all other direct and indirect contacts, and therefore it was possible to keep the flow of infection under control.

On the other hand, we have had and still have very professional people in the health care system, especially in the epidemiological and infectological part, so this has also contributed to Croatia dealing with the epidemic effectively so far.

We had uncertainties and tensions over the procurement of equipment like all other countries, because the pandemic found the whole world with greater and urgent needs than the existing stocks and capacities of manufacturers at that time. The most important thing is that with the efforts of the entire Government and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, we managed to overcome these obstacles as well.

Do we have enough equipment today to welcome a possible new wave of COVID-19?

We have enough equipment for the needs of our health system. We have more than 800 respirators, and we expect more soon as part of joint procurement in the European Union. We have protective equipment such as suits, masks, visors and gloves, as well as the necessary disinfectants in stock, but they are also constantly renewed in accordance with needs. 

Having experience with the procurement of equipment, we must think about renewal and domestic production, because we must not be completely dependent on imports tomorrow. I believe we can do it.

Do you still think that we should have gone with these very restrictive measures? Swedish epidemiologist Johan Giesecke claims that we have exaggerated, that is, that at some point those who have closed up will fare worse. According to him, it is best to ‘close’ only the elderly, and the rest to ‘freely infect’ so the economy doesn’t suffer.

It would be nice if there was a universal recipe for organizing the defense of the population from a pandemic infection like this. There are so many approaches and ways to fight the virus. All this is still going on and it is not over so there is no one who could say, “This approach is the best.”

We in Croatia did what the epidemiological profession considered the most effective and this, to our happiness and satisfaction, proved successful when it comes to controlling the infection, measuring the number of infected, sick, isolated, cured and, unfortunately, dead.

Our economy has suffered all this time. However, we have committed ourselves to preserving people’s lives and health, believing that this is the most important thing. But we have also created the conditions for the gradual opening of economic activities whenever and wherever possible. Time will tell if we have chosen the best approach, but I personally believe that we did the best we could, and the results give me the right to do so.

Could we have prevented the entry of COVID-19 into homes for the elderly, and many are wondering how ‘no one is to blame’ for the spread of COVID-19 in the Split home for the elderly in Vukovarska?

When you look at the homes that the virus entered in relation to their total number in Croatia, and compare it with the situation in other countries, then you can see that we have long resisted its breakthrough into these institutions. There is no country that has managed to prevent the spread to homes for the elderly and infirm. 

I wish it hadn't happened, as well as the entry of the virus into the hospital system, but this simply cannot be prevented, because nursing homes, as well as hospitals, cannot be completely isolated from all external influences due to the organization of work of all employees.

Nobody in the world has succeeded in that completely, not even us. If we look at the situation in the world, 64 percent of mortality in Norway was related to old people's homes, in Canada 57, Ireland 55, Spain 52, France 49, Belgium 46, and in Croatia 44 percent.

The coronavirus epidemic has shown many good sides of the Croatian health care system, but also where the bottlenecks are. Can it be expected that healthcare will finally move into an organization that will be at the service of patients, rather than a form without function?

I have been talking about the need to direct the health care system towards the patient since the beginning of my term. I want to get the patient back into the focus of the healthcare system. This means that patients do not need to adapt to the system, but vice versa, so that help arrives on time or when it is needed.

However, this epidemic is also very specific due to the occasional entry of the virus into the health system and the inability of health professionals to perform their work activities due to infection or epidemiological self-isolation. Only the rapid mobilization of health workers from other institutions could enable the continuous provision of health care. So far, we have completely succeeded in such activities.

Some health professionals did not like the opportunity to work ‘where it should be’.

I must admit that I did not receive any expressions of dissatisfaction from health professionals. On the contrary, I think we were all aware of our role.

After the epidemic, even longer waiting lists were created for examinations, diagnostics and surgical procedures. Reportedly, private individuals will also be hired to help clear them up.

At the moment, the analysis of waiting lists is underway and all health care institutions have been given the task to review the real situation with waiting lists and through communication with patients to ensure that what is missed is covered. 

Therefore, it will be necessary to adjust the organization of work, additional shifts and work on weekends will be introduced. It is necessary to know, however, that the functioning of the health system will be adapted to epidemiological requirements in the future, until the end of the epidemic. 

We will therefore need to have more precise answers to some very important questions such as, for example, who works how much, which means the introduction of staffing norms for employees, and with the help of computerization waiting lists should be arranged so that there is no duplication or triplication of orders.

In cases where it is established that the public health system will not be able to provide all the necessary services, the prolongation of which could cause health consequences, as has been the practice so far, part of the private health sector may be engaged to some extent.

Isn't this an opportunity to get additional information on the justification of many hospital visits and tests that are required?

This world crisis is an exceptional opportunity to learn certain lessons. Modern medicine should be based on clinical guidelines that would clearly indicate the need to perform certain both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Such guidelines, in addition to affecting the quality of health care delivery, also contribute to system optimization. If I am able, I will direct my efforts towards that goal. This also means that 80 percent of all cases must be resolved in primary health care, and only about 20 percent in the hospital, more expensive, system, which is not happening at the moment.

What will happen to KB Dubrava, which was turned into a respiratory-intensive center due to COVID-19, and now it will no longer be necessary. Namely, this is the only new hospital in Zagreb with a capacity of more than half of the never built hospital in Blato, which has been largely used so far. Can it be expected that, for example, it will merge with KBC Zagreb, which would make it possible not to have to rebuild three clinics destroyed by the earthquake?

KB Dubrava played, along with the Clinic for Infectious Diseases "Fran Mihaljević", the most important role in the care of patients with coronavirus. Thanks to the existing infrastructure, a primary respiratory-intensive center was formed in it.

The conversion of KB Dubrava is temporary during the COVID-19 epidemic. By my decision, after the expert working group of the Crisis Staff of the Ministry of Health adopted a joint consensus, KB Dubrava, along with three other large centers (KBC Split, KBC Rijeka, KBC Osijek) was designated as the primary respiratory-intensive center for the treatment of patients with coronavirus. It was a logical choice because it is a hospital complex with very good traffic access, with a heliport, with the possibility of accommodating about 300 patients who need respiratory help.

Dubrava will be in such a state of readiness until the epidemic passes, until the health profession estimates that we can return to the state before the epidemic. During the reactivation of the health system, polyclinic activity started in KB Dubrava from the beginning of May, and from May 18 it plans to start working on part of invasive diagnostics, and then the operating program. After the end of the epidemic, KB Dubrava will return to its usual activities.

The headquarters has received strong public support since the beginning of its work. You were accepted as experts and even your HDZ background did not matter. As soon as the stories about the upcoming parliamentary elections appeared, the political public and the Civil Protection Headquarters became associated with the political party. Its expertise was called into question. They say that the Headquarters is in the function of politics, that even strict measures have been relaxed so that elections can be held?

The Civil Protection Headquarters has done, and still does, in addition to the entire health system, a very important role in the effective fight against the coronavirus epidemic in Croatia. From the first day, it shares all information about the infection with the Croatian public and citizens, sends them complete and timely messages on how to most effectively protect themselves from the infection, how to ensure that the infection does not spread further, how to organize life and activities in these circumstances.

Holders of activities in the Headquarters are top experts and professionals, not only those who regularly appear at press conferences, but also a huge number of those invisible to citizens. 

Don't the results we have speak best about the efficiency of everyone, from citizens, health workers to those services that have enabled life to take place in these not-at-all easy circumstances? 

The political coloration is created by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, and I, as a Minister, because we are both part of the Government, and the Government is a political body. 

When the Government is HDZ, then I see no reason why anyone should be surprised that both ministers are members of that party.

What are your political ambitions? Will you be on the HDZ list in, it seems, the upcoming elections?

My political ambitions are that as the Minister of Health and a member of this Government, I do everything to make the public health system as efficient and accessible as possible for Croatian citizens. The coronavirus epidemic has shown that our healthcare system is ready to deal with all challenges, that we have top experts in many fields, and that with small organizational shifts we can be better and more efficient.

So far, I have been most engaged in the epidemic, but I am devoting more and more time and energy to reducing waiting lists to provide our patients with everything they have been deprived of in the past two or three months, as well as solving all other problems plaguing our health system. 

The recent earthquake in Zagreb further shook our hospitals, reduced capacity and imposed on us the urgent need to address capacity. My ambitions, as well as the policy of this Government, are to look for quick and economical solutions in this area. I believe we will show very soon that our plans are not just words.

According to some sources, you will not only be on the list for the parliamentary elections. The party reportedly has bigger ambitions for you. Many say that the HDZ has not had a real candidate for mayor of Zagreb for a long time and that you would be ideal. Do you intend to run?

I am a member of the ruling party, and teamwork is very important in politics. And as a minister, I am part of a successful team. I would like us to gain the trust of voters in the next parliamentary elections to continue to lead the state policy of Croatia. 

The president and party bodies decide on the electoral lists, so eventually my place in the elections will depend not only on my ambitions but also on the needs of the HDZ and the electoral strategy. I believe in the success of our party in the elections, and then we will put together teams for new victories.

Are you planning a vacation?

If it's possible. In that case, I will go to my Jelsa. I recharge a lot of energy there. If I succeed, it will be a reward for me to “honor” myself after this “baptism of fire” with a corona epidemic.

The coronavirus measures that we've all now become used to are constantly being questioned by many. The weather is improving, the leaves have turned green and the sun is gradually beginning to shine with more strength and vigor.

With people's feet itching at the first signs of warmer, more stable weather approaching, the possibility of relaxing the Croatian Government's stringent anti-epidemic measures are being discussed more and more frequently, and in some circles - with increasing levels of frustration.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 17th of April, 2020, Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros, who has become a household name since the beginning of the pandemic in Croatia, along with other members of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, paid a visit to the continental Croatian county of Krapina-Zagorje, not too far from Zagreb. A press conference was organised at the very end of the visit.

Health Minister Beros answered, among other things, a journalist's question about the possibility of loosening the strict anti-epidemic measures still in place to attempt to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

''The defense strategy [against coronavirus] is based on five elements, and the exit strategy depends solely on the epidemiological situation, not just the number of patients we have in one day, but a number of other elements, too.

The exit strategy and [what things will look like] when we loosen the measures are ready. It's important that remain very careful. There is the possibility of decentralisation, that is, that we start with the relaxing of these measures first in the counties that aren't significantly affected by the infection,'' stated Minister Beros, as was reported by N1 Hrvatska.

Make sure to follow our dedicated section for all you need to know about coronavirus in Croatia. For long and interesting texts by eminent Croatian scientist Igor Rudan, follow this page.

April 2, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros answered questions about the coronavirus on N1 television Thursday morning. 

Index.hr reports:

"We are evaluating the situation day by day, the figures are sometimes like this, sometimes the same, but we still recommend that everyone adhere to the measures. I expect the numbers to get better if we adhere to the measures and if there are no extraordinary circumferences," Vili Beros said.

Vili Beros spoke more about the measures.

“The pandemic curve is linear, which gives us optimism. But there must be no looseness. You saw how many patients flew in from Turkey.

Personally, I don't like talking about loosening measures; it's not okay to announce it now. We need to be strictly focused on self-care and hygiene measures. Only when we are without new cases or fewer patients for 5 to 7 days can we think about loosening measures.

We never ran excessively and acted with rigorous measures.”

What might be the first measures?

"One is staying out outside, and the other is economic activity. At this point, we are thinking about how markets can function and follow directions. We are often thinking about how we can enable something and have everyone adhere to the measures. We will always base our estimates on the expert views.”

Travel recommendations

“I recommend that the Croats refrain from traveling for Easter. Everyone should stay where they are, because there are restrictions. I recommend traveling only in exceptional situations.”

25 people died from the flu this year. Even a child. Why the restrictions for the coronavirus?

“The thesis is unfounded. The fact is that flu is a disease that has been present for decades, some of it has immunity, and there is a vaccine.

Comparing this with a new disease where the population has no immunity and no vaccine, that is the reason for the measures. So I think the measures are fine. Italy and America are the best examples.

It's okay for everyone to have their say, but I urge that those opinions be grounded. It does not occur to me to make expert comments about something that is not my profession.

It's good for everyone to have their say, but it should still be fact-based.

Speaking physically, more people will suffer from the coronavirus than from economic problems.

If the truth is accessible to all, it is easier to deal with the problem. Very early on, psychologists and psychiatrists were involved in all of this, self-isolation inevitably leaves some trace. All of this is understandable.”

When could a pandemic end globally?

“I would hate to delve into the elaborations of this; there are numerous theses. I hope the virus will be seasonal, but it is impossible to predict how it will behave. We have to be ready for anything.

If it acts like most other respiratory viruses, it could be back in late fall, but I wouldn't talk about it because we don't know yet.”

How does government scientific advice work?

“I welcome the idea of inviting our scientists to participate in all this. A smaller expert team has been formed in the ministry to keep track of all the new information about the coronavirus, gathering important data that can show us how to fight the virus.”

Who could get the vaccine first, America, China, or another country?

“It's tough for me to comment on that.”

Does the health care system suffer?

"We function in a different mode. The Ministry of Health issued instructions concerning the functioning of the system, the restructuring of the system... An additional problem was the earthquake that moved the building of the clinic in Jordanovac, the same thing happened in Petrova; all of these clinics are returning slowly into normal operation mode. Controls must be carried out but under different conditions.”

About testing

“We have already said that there will be an increase in the number of tests by healthcare professionals. We are expanding our testing capacity. For example, Osijek will be able to test 250 people a day for now. We are in contact with WHO leaders to confirm which quick tests are in order. The results must be accurate. Testing is important, but self-isolation is even more important. You can test someone today and it may be negative, but tomorrow may already be positive. Testing is important, but measures of handwashing and distancing, are far more important than testing.”

How long is a person infected with the virus?

“Most often, symptoms begin to appear within 5 to 7 days. When a patient develops symptoms, that is, according to new information, one day before, it is contagious to the environment.”

Recommendations for people with lower immunity

“For them, for the elderly, chronically ill, and cancer patients, extreme caution is worth it. If you can, do not leave your home.”

Follow TCN's live updates on the coronavirus crisis in Croatia

March 18, 2020 - Vii Beros, Croatia's Minister of Health, only took up the position a few weeks ago and walked straight into the coronavirus storm. How a Croatian minister has won the hearts and confidence of many.

These are extraordinary times in so many ways, but away from the constant corona media attention, some rather unusual things are happening elsewhere. 

The Croatian media, for example, are united in their praise of a government minister. Imagine that!

Ministers - and politicians in general - do not have a great reputation in Croatia (even less than elsewhere, perhaps), and the news has been full of scandals, corruption and other bundles of joy, for as long as I can remember in my 18 years here. Sections of the Croatian media. most notably Index and Telegram, do a great job at making many of these scandals public, but in The Beautiful Croatia, often that has little effect, a topic Lauren Simmonds explored a few weeks ago. 

On January 27, 2020, however, the then Health Minister Milan Kujundzic was finally forced to go, the final straw being some undeclared property. As a time when the country's health minister should have been preparing Croatia for the imminent coronavirus threat, most of the attention was instead focused on his private dealings. When Kujundxic was finally gone, I was curious to see who would take his place - the job seemed to be something of a poisoned chalice. 

The answer was a man called Vili Beros, who I was surprised to learn was from Jelsa, the town on Hvar where I lived for 13 years. I don't recall meeting Vili Beros, but I was encouraged by the warm words I heard about him from local friends. Tales of his compassion and humanity treating victims of the war, for example. 

Beros got straight to work, and together with his team and the other members of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, they have put together their strategy to deal with the crisis. But also - and this is extremely rare in my experience - they have managed to communicate that message clearly, calmly and effectively. A daily press conference has become two daily press conferences, where measures are explained clearly and transparently. Vili Beros has a calming and reassuring manner, leading from the front. In this time of crisis, this is exactly what the Croatian population needs. 

And others are noticing. Leading Croatian portal Index.hr, not noted for its love of Croatian politicians, has been among those with warm words for the new health minister. Additionally, Index does a weekly poll of the top 20 most positive and most negative people in Croatia, from different sections of Croatian society. Needless to say, it is not very often that a Croatian politician tops the popularity vote, but this week Vili Beros was number one for a time, before being eclipsed by another star of the crisis response, Alemka Markotic. Index said of Beros:

As soon as he took office, the health minister faced a crisis caused by coronavirus. So far, he has managed it in an unprecedentedly efficient and transparent manner in Croatia. He explains everything he is doing to the layman, understandably and reassuringly.

You can see who else made the top 20 - positive and negative - this week here.

Thank you both, and all those working hard to protect the people of Croatia. These are worrying times, but this calm and coordinated transparency reduces the stress levels considerably. 

The Croatian Government has launched an official website to coordinate all official information about coronavirus.

For the latest on the crisis, check out the dedicated TCN coronavirus section.