UPDATE IN TODAY'S FULL OVERVIEW HERE

March 22, 2020 - The latest news about the spread of COVID-19 in Croatia, as well as the Zagreb earthquake from the morning press conference. 

Yesterday's rolling update of the coronavirus in Croatia was fully updated late last night. You can see the full day's events here.

There are two recommended maps to follow. The first is the official government one on the Koronavirus.hr website.

This is broken down by country in terms of numbers, and Health Minister Vili Beros has announced 29 new cases overnight, bringing the number to 235, of which 5 have recovered. The locations of the new cases will be made available later today.

The other is by Index, which breaks everything down by destination. Of the two, in general, I find Index is updated quicker. Index reports one death, while the government site reports none. The reason for this difference is the death of a restaurant owner in Istria which was announced as coronavirus, is still being confirmed by official sources before going on the official website. It has been counted in the global numbers by respected sources.

11:52: The Office of Emergency Management has organized meals for all citizens who cannot return to their homes.

Meals will be available after 1 pm at the following locations:

- Zrinjevac
- Mazuranic Square
- Dr. Franjo Tudjman Square

Teams of construction experts are evaluating the damage to buildings by priority, and after inspections will mark buildings visibly. Please note that construction professionals are working specifically to assess post-earthquake damage.

"Please, strictly obey the markings and do not risk entering the building!"

11:35: Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic urged residents who live in buildings with reinforced concrete structures to return to their homes after the earthquakes this morning. They will decide how to care for those whose buildings are unsafe.

"Eighty percent of Zagreb residents live in structures that have reinforced concrete structures, and I ask them to return to their homes. There would have to be a double earthquake to demolish these buildings. That has never happened in history," Bandic said.

11:23: The Parliament building has been heavily damaged. No one can go inside without the permission of the relevant services.

11:17: The National Civil Protection Headquarters has decided to limit the opening hours of stores operating from Sunday, March 22, from 8am to 5pm.

11:04: City of Zagreb firefighters recorded 35 interventions involving 161 firefighters. These were fires that were successfully extinguished, and firefighters continue to participate in technical interventions that include rescuing people who are trapped in collapsed buildings and elevators, and removing chimneys and other objects that endanger citizens' lives. There are 57 volunteer fire companies in the City of Zagreb on alert, and the commander-in-chief of the fire department issued an order for firefighters from the Zagreb County Fire Department to be on standby.

10:58: "We met with seismologists to see the situation and to determine the course of action. I appeal for citizens to be calm and keep composure. Twice a day you will receive information from the National Headquarters," said Minister Radman.

He condemned the spread of panic and inaccuracy about new major earthquakes. "Listen to the instructions!" 

10:55: Franjo Tudjman Airport reported:

"We would like to inform you that, in these unexpected circumstances, all of Franjo Tudjman's airport duty staff responded in accordance with procedures, taking into account that safety and security of passengers were a priority and evacuated passengers from the passenger terminal at the time of the earthquake. It has been determined that there is no damage to the building itself or to the runway and other maneuvering areas. After operating systems are set up, we expect to have traffic established after 10:30 am, as scheduled," they said.

10:50: 3 more cases of COVID-19 virus have been reported in Split-Dalmatia County, which now makes the total number of 10 patients. They all feel good and are in stable condition. All contacts of newcomers are put into self-isolation and processed.

There are 56 persons quarantined: 32 of whom are Croatian nationals and 24 are foreign nationals.
The number of people in self-isolation is increasing due to the contacts of diseased persons who also have a measure of self-isolation.

10:45: The Coronavirus is more of a challenge than the earthquake, according to the crisis headquarters, said Interior Minister and Head of the National Civil Protection Headquarters Davor Bozinovic.

"On behalf of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia, I can guarantee that we will continue communication as we have hitherto, and in the crisis with the coronavirus, which is still ongoing and which in our estimations is a bigger challenge, and in this one with the earthquake," Bozinovic said.

10:36: In Istria, three more people have been infected with coronavirus and 26 patients are currently hospitalized at the Pula hospital, the County Civil Protection Headquarters announced today. Of the 18 samples taken on Saturday from a sample of persons from the Istria County who were sent to the Infectious Diseases Clinic "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", three were positive for coronavirus.

10:35: An aftershock felt at 10:13 was magnitude 3.3. It was felt most strongly in the eastern part of the city.

10:30: A total of 11 people have contracted coronavirus disease in Karlovac County, three newly diagnosed people have been in contact since before and the epidemiological processing of their contacts is underway.

"For now, we have no information that anyone is developing a more severe clinical picture," said epidemiologist Biserka Hranilovic.

10:27: The director of the Croatian Emergency Medicine Institute, Maja Grba-Bujevic, appealed to citizens who took to the streets this morning for the Zagreb earthquake, to dress appropriately and keep themselves out of the cold and to keep distance from each other to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection.

10:25: A strong earthquake hit twice Sunday in the Krapina-Zagorje County area, with the largest property damage reported in the municipalities of Gornja Stubica and Donja Stubica, said Mayor Zeljko Kolar.

"According to the information provided by the Mayor of Donja Stubica, we have two houses that have suffered and the families will have to move. There are four in Gornja Stubica for now," Kolar said.

10:23: The European Commission said on Sunday it is monitoring the situation in Croatia after the Zagreb earthquake and is ready to help.

"We are closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Croatia after the earthquake in Zagreb.

"Our Emergency Response Coordination Center is in contact with the Croatian authorities. We are ready to help," said Crisis Commissioner Janez Lenarcic.

10:06: The quake has no effect on the coronavirus, said Interior Minister and Head of the National Civil Protection Headquarters Davor Bozinovic, urging citizens to keep a distance. The minister urged citizens who came out after the earthquake to keep a distance of at least three meters to prevent the spread of coronaviruses.

10:05: The army took to the streets.

"They are all in operation. I gave the order to bring in the Croatian Armed Forces, we are available to assist the city of Zagreb. Our task is, as part of the homeland security, to help our citizens when it is most difficult," said the Ministry of Defense.

10:01: “The most important thing at this point is to listen to the Government and the Headquarters. Listen to the news of those in charge. They exist because of situations like this, you can ignore everything else," President Zoran Milanovic said.

"The quake was 5.5 magnitude, the strongest in the last 140 years," said Prime Minister Plenkovic.

"There is a lot of damage. We urge citizens to exercise caution. We recommend that you stay in front of the buildings for the time being," Plenkovic said. You can read the full press conference here.

10:00: A15-year-old child is in critical condition.

Goran Roic, the director of the Klaiceva Children's Hospital, said on Sunday that the 15-year-old is in a very critical condition and is undergoing additional diagnostics.

"The child is very, very critical, but we are still doing further and doing everything we can," Roic told N1.

09:53: The Zagreb Office for Emergency Situations has urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings following three earthquakes in the capital on Sunday morning. 

"After the earthquakes in Zagreb this morning, we are informing citizens not to enter the damaged buildings. Teams of construction experts are coming to the scene, who will prioritize damage assessment of buildings and mark buildings according to the assessment. The priority is hospitals and later all other buildings. 

In addition, teams of construction workers have been hired to clean roads and corridors,” they reported.

"There is also a Special Search and Rescue Civil Protection Unit on the ground, and it is starting to work. All general-purpose Civil Protection units are invited to report to their assembly sites and take on tasks.

NO Krško is not damaged and the electricity supply is normalized and the failures are not large. Unfortunately, we cannot know when and what the subsequent earthquakes will be, but according to seismologists, they should not be stronger than the first earthquake.

We ask all citizens to remain calm and follow the notices of official sources. We ask all citizens to respect the coronavirus-related social distance recommendations in this situation as well," they said.

09:43 The Civil Protection again urged citizens to keep the necessary clearance even in these extraordinary conditions to prevent the spread of coronaviruses.

"We know you are scared, you feel fear and discomfort. Despite the intense emotions and fear that has arisen, we urge you to keep the required gap in these extraordinary conditions," the Civil Protection Directorate announced.

09:39: There was another earthquake, this time of 3.0 magnitude.

09:38: Contrary to initial reports that a 15-year-old child was the first victim of an earthquake in Zagreb, the child has apparently been resuscitated and is fighting for his life 

09:33: Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic told citizens of Zagreb this morning to keep their distance.

"I repeat, keep your distance. Do not cluster. We are dealing with two serious crises in parallel, an earthquake and an epidemic. There are protocols when it comes to earthquakes, but when it comes to an earthquake and an epidemic, it is a more complicated situation, we have to make the right decisions for the benefit of all of us,"  Bozinovic said.

For the latest update from the official government website for COVID-19 in Croatia, click here (Croatian language only, Google Translate is your friend).

We will have more in our comprehensive daily update later. For the latest news on COVID-19 in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

For the latest TCN coverage of the Zagreb earthquake, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

 March 22, 2020 - After this morning's devastating earthquakes, a drone flight over Zagreb Cathedral to assess the damage by Cro Drone.

The Croatian capital of Zagreb is struggling to come to terms with the double devastation of the coronavirus and five earthquakes which rocked the Croatian capital between 06:24 and 09:10 this morning. 

You can read the initial TCN report here, as well as an updated article with more videos here. 

The most prominent building to be affected by the earthquake was Zagreb Cathedral, which had one of its spires damaged, among other damage. 

We are very grateful to the team from Cro Drone for posting this video overview of Zagreb Cathedral from the air, to make clearer the extent of the damage. 

Heartbreaking.  

We are trying to get the latest and most accurate information in these challenging times. For the latest on the Zagreb earthquake from TCN, follow our dedicated section. 

March 22, 2020 - The Zagreb Office for Emergency Situations has urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings following three earthquakes in the capital on Sunday morning. 

We transmit their statement in full from Index.hr:

"After the earthquakes in Zagreb this morning, we are informing citizens not to enter the damaged buildings. Teams of construction experts are coming to the scene, who will prioritize damage assessment of buildings and mark buildings according to the assessment. The priority is hospitals and later all other buildings. 

In addition, teams of construction workers have been hired to clean roads and corridors,” they reported.

"There is also a Special Search and Rescue Civil Protection Unit on the ground, and it is starting to work. All general-purpose Civil Protection units are invited to report to their assembly sites and take on tasks.

NO Krško is not damaged and the electricity supply is normalized and the failures are not large. Unfortunately, we cannot know when and what the subsequent earthquakes will be, but according to seismologists, they should not be stronger than the first earthquake.

We ask all citizens to remain calm and follow the notices of official sources. We ask all citizens to respect the coronavirus-related social distance recommendations in this situation as well," they said.

An extraordinary Government session was held, attended by the President, reports Dalmatinski Portal.

“The message to citizens is to listen to news and information only from those in charge, which is the Civil Protection Headquarters at the moment. You can ignore anything you hear from the public,” said President Zoran Milanovic.

“According to the Seismological Service, the earthquake was 5.5. It is the strongest earthquake in Zagreb in the last 140 years. In 1880 it was stronger.

It is evident that there is plenty of damage to buildings, exterior and interior. We urge all citizens to exercise caution. At this point, we will recommend that most fellow citizens be outside their buildings even though it is cold. There is no need to panic and go to gas stations. Keep distance as recommended by the Civil Protection Headquarters. We have two contradictory crises.

We will centralize all activities of the Civil Protection Headquarters and the Government will manage this crisis as well. I ask the citizens to listen to the instructions of the Headquarters, which will be available for both crises twice a day.

The Croatian Army and all Zagreb city services have been engaged in repairing the damage. We will endeavor to repair the roads as soon as possible.”

“We will have a particular focus on healthcare facilities because we want patients to have all the proper care they need. We have information about one child who was seriously injured who is at the Klaiceva hospital,” said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

"When and if a major earthquake will occur cannot be predicted. And if it does, the gaps cannot be predicted. A stronger one can happen quickly or in 20 days. The experts cannot predict and give a solution. The fact is that after such a large earthquake, subsequent earthquakes happen," said Ines Ivancic, head of the Seismological Service.

It is a priority now to consider the structural safety of the buildings. It was agreed that patients should be returned to stable buildings to provide them with adequate health care. We have information about one patient who is severely injured in her spine, with neurosurgery expected. We cannot predict the final outcome," said Health Minister Vili Beros.

Click here for the latest updated article. 

March 22, 2020 - A 5.3 magnitude earthquake rattled Zagreb this morning, which was followed by a second just 30 minutes later. 

Not even 24 hours after the Croatian capital was shut down and residents asked to stay indoors due to the developing coronavirus crisis in the country, the Croatian capital awoke to yet another scare - a 5.3 magnitude earthquake. 

The first earthquake hit at 6:24 am, which was followed by another of 5.0 magnitude 9 kilometers north of the capital. 

The photos that emerged were catastrophic. Rubble spilled onto the streets, blocks of cement crashed into cars, bedroom walls cracked, roofs destroyed, and perhaps one of the most shocking scenes came from the University Hospital Centre, where nurses evacuated with newborn babies in hand. 

Damage to property in the city center is inconceivable, and many parts of the city are without electricity or water. 

A challenging 24 hours in Zagreb, indeed, though it has once again proved that Croatian solidarity prevails. 

Hajduk Split, the eternal rival of Dinamo Zagreb, sent a message to the capital this morning in the wake of the earthquake news. 

“Hang in there, Zagreb” reads the caption, posted with a photo showing one of the damaged spires on top of the Zagreb Cathedral.

A 15-year-old boy is in critical condition following the collapse of the building at Djordjiceva 13 due too the earthquakes.

TCN reported three initial earthquakes, all a few kilometers north of Zagreb. The first had a magnitude of 5.3 at 06:24, the second 5.0 at 07:01, and a third at 07:41, measuring 3.7. We are also hearing of another small earthquake at 09:07, although this has to be confirmed. Follow this official global earthquake monitoring website for the latest.

March 22, 2020 - A Croatia earthquake March 2020 Zagreb update with the latest information, photos and videos.

As previously reported on TCN, the city of Zagreb was rocked by a series of earthquakes this morning, three in all, which has caused considerable damage in the Croatian capital at a time when its citizens were already dealing with the coronavirus emergency. Follow the live updates by Index.hr transmitted below:

12:00: You can find the latest on the Coronavirus crisis in Croatia and the Zagreb earthquake with our press conference update.

11:52: The Office of Emergency Management has organized meals for all citizens who cannot return to their homes.

Meals will be available after 1 pm at the following locations:

- Zrinjevac
- Mazuranic Square
- Dr. Franjo Tudjman Square

Teams of construction experts are evaluating the damage to buildings by priority, and after inspections will mark buildings visibly. Please note that construction professionals are working specifically to assess post-earthquake damage.

"Please, strictly obey the markings and do not risk entering the building!"

11:35: Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic urged residents who live in buildings with reinforced concrete structures to return to their homes after the earthquakes this morning. They will decide how to care for those whose buildings are unsafe.

"Eighty percent of Zagreb residents live in structures that have reinforced concrete structures, and I ask them to return to their homes. There would have to be a double earthquake to demolish these buildings. That has never happened in history," Bandic said.

11:23: The Parliament building has been heavily damaged. No one can go inside without the permission of the relevant services.

11:04: City of Zagreb firefighters recorded 35 interventions involving 161 firefighters. These were fires that were successfully extinguished, and firefighters continue to participate in technical interventions that include rescuing people who are trapped in collapsed buildings and elevators, and removing chimneys and other objects that endanger citizens' lives. There are 57 volunteer fire companies in the City of Zagreb on alert, and the commander-in-chief of the fire department issued an order for firefighters from the Zagreb County Fire Department to be on standby.

10:58: "We met with seismologists to see the situation and to determine the course of action. I appeal for citizens to be calm and keep composure. Twice a day you will receive information from the National Headquarters," said Minister Radman.

He condemned the spread of panic and inaccuracy about new major earthquakes. "Listen to the instructions!" 

10:55: Franjo Tudjman Airport reported:

"We would like to inform you that, in these unexpected circumstances, all of Franjo Tudjman's airport duty staff responded in accordance with procedures, taking into account that safety and security of passengers were a priority and evacuated passengers from the passenger terminal at the time of the earthquake. It has been determined that there is no damage to the building itself or to the runway and other maneuvering areas. After operating systems are set up, we expect to have traffic established after 10:30 am, as scheduled," they said.

10:35: An aftershock felt at 10:13 was magnitude 3.3. It was felt most strongly in the eastern part of the city.

10:25: A strong earthquake hit twice on Sunday in the Krapina-Zagorje County area, with the largest property damage reported in the municipalities of Gornja Stubica and Donja Stubica, said Mayor Zeljko Kolar.

"According to the information provided by the Mayor of Donja Stubica, we have two houses that have suffered and the families will have to move. There are four in Gornja Stubica for now," Kolar said.

10:23: The European Commission said on Sunday it is monitoring the situation in Croatia after the Zagreb earthquake and is ready to help.

"We are closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Croatia after the earthquake in Zagreb.

"Our Emergency Response Coordination Center is in contact with the Croatian authorities. We are ready to help," said Crisis Commissioner Janez Lenarcic.

10:05: The army took to the streets.

"They are all in operation. I gave the order to bring in the Croatian Armed Forces, we are available to assist the city of Zagreb. Our task is, as part of the homeland security, to help our citizens when it is most difficult," said the Ministry of Defense.

10:01: “The most important thing at this point is to listen to the Government and the Headquarters. Listen to the news of those in charge. They exist because of situations like this, you can ignore everything else," President Zoran Milanovic said.

"The quake was 5.5 magnitude, the strongest in the last 140 years," said Prime Minister Plenkovic.

"There is a lot of damage. We urge citizens to exercise caution. We recommend that you stay in front of the buildings for the time being," Plenkovic said. You can read the full press conference here.

10:00: A 15-year-old child is still in critical condition.

Goran Roic, the director of the Clinic for Children's Diseases, said on Sunday that the 15-year-old is in very critical condition and is undergoing additional diagnostics.

"The child is very, very critical, but we are doing everything we can," Roic told N1.

09:53: The Zagreb Office for Emergency Situations has urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings following three earthquakes in the capital on Sunday morning. 

"After the earthquakes in Zagreb this morning, we are informing citizens not to enter the damaged buildings. Teams of construction experts are coming to the scene, who will prioritize damage assessment of buildings and mark buildings according to the assessment. The priority is hospitals and later all other buildings. 

In addition, teams of construction workers have been hired to clean roads and corridors,” they reported.

"There is also a Special Search and Rescue Civil Protection Unit on the ground, and it is starting to work. All general-purpose Civil Protection units are invited to report to their assembly sites and take on tasks.

NO Krško is not damaged and the electricity supply is normalized and the failures are not large. Unfortunately, we cannot know when and what the subsequent earthquakes will be, but according to seismologists, they should not be stronger than the first earthquake.

We ask all citizens to remain calm and follow the notices of official sources. We ask all citizens to respect the coronavirus-related social distance recommendations in this situation as well," they said.

09:39: There was another earthquake, this time of 3.0 magnitude.

09:38: Contrary to initial reports that a 15-year-old child was the first victim of an earthquake in Zagreb, the child has apparently been resuscitated and is fighting for life

Index had initially reported breaking news that the 15-year-old boy died due to the earthquakes. Hina had confirmed that the child died at the Zagreb Institute of Emergency Medicine, having been transported there by ambulance following the collapse of the building at Djordjiceva 13.

There were three initial earthquakes, all a few kilometres north of Zagreb. The first had a magnitude of 5.3 at 06:24, the second 5.0 at 07:01, and a third at 07:41, measuring 3.7. There were two further quakes, both 3.0, 6km north of Zagreb at 09:04 and 09:10. Follow this official global earthquake monitoring website for the latest.

Perhaps the biggest symbol of the physical devastation is Zagreb Cathedral, which has lost part of one of its iconic towers.

The Zagreb earthquake today comes at a critical time for Croatia, as it battles to stop the COVID-19 catastrophe currently happening in Italy. The Croatian authorities have imposed strict new rules, and Zagreb residents were advised to stay indoors and off the streets, public transport was largely cut, and efforts were being stepped up to enforce the required social distancing. 

And then, this. One of the most most worrying aspects of these earthquakes is the fallout from the hospital at Rebro, which was also damaged. 

What to do? Where to run? One of the scenes of confusion and fear in the immediate aftermath. Heartbreaking. 

We will follow the developments of the earthquake live here on this article. 

Our thoughts are with you, Zagreb. 

AN ADDITIONAL UPDATE TO THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED AT 09:30

March 22, 2020 - And now a Zagreb earthquake. The day after the Croatian capital was effectively shut down, residents were woken by a 5.3 earthquake at 06:24.

This is a developing story - more updates soon. 

Residents of Zagreb were rocked by an earthquake at 06:24 this morning, whose epicentre was 7 km north of the city.

Initial reports suggest that there has been damage to buildings in the city, as the lead photo from Index would suggest - we will bring you more as soon as we have it. 

It has been a challenging 24 hours for the citizens of the Croatian capital. The day before the Zagreb earthquake, strict new measures came into effect to combat the coronavirus threat. You can learn more about these changes here. 

Updates:

TCN writer Forrest Stilin sent us these two photos, showing he had a lucky escape as a chandelier fell on his bed.

And damage to the building is clear to see.

07:03 - A SECOND earthquake has hit, 9km north of Zagreb, magnitude 5.0.

One of the spires of Zagreb Cathedral has been damaged. 

With thanks to Dario Luketa for the photos below.

 Rebro - children's ward.

Click here for the latest updated article. 

The Croatian Government was busy finalising some coronavirus-oriented measures today in an attempt to minimise the virus' potentially devastating effects on the country's economic situation and the City of Zagreb has offered an olive branch to those who are the most vulnerable. 

Coronavirus is far more dangerous for older individuals, those with underlying, chronic health conditions and those who have compromised immune systems.

Owing to that fact, the City of Zagreb has generously announced that it will allow people over the age of 65 who are drawing their pensions the possibility to delay the payment of monthly bills for services to Zagreb Holding, Gradska Plinara (gas), the water and sewerage supply and the City of Zagreb itself.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 16th of March, 2020, this is stated in a statement released by the City of Zagreb intended for the media:

Recognising the sheer gravity of the current situation regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, the recommendations of numerous top health experts and appreciating the fact that in the current concerning climate, we need to show additional social sensitivity and solidarity, the City of Zagreb has decided to extend the deadline for payment of monthly fees and services to the aforementioned group of people who are at the most risk from more severe coronavirus related complications.

Owing to the City of Zagreb's new move for this group of residents, the obligation to settle monthly bills for those over the age of 65 has been further extended by three months from the due date indicated on the payment slips, and in the case of non-payment, no interest will be accrued or triggered on whatever the amount due to be paid is.

The City of Zagreb also called upon other legal entities such as HEP to act in a similar generous and socially-conscious way, according to the aforementioned press release.

Make sure to follow our dedicated page for rolling information on coronavirus in Croatia.

ZAGREB, March 16, 2020 - City Cemeteries Zagreb issued a recommendation on Monday that funerals should be attended by family only, and that condolences should be offered with a bow.

"We recommend that funerals should be arranged within the family circle, that is, that they should be attended by the smallest number of people possible so that all risk contacts among people could be avoided, in consideration of the coronavirus pandemic," it was stated in the City Cemeteries' press release.

They added that all hygienic and sanitary measures for the protection of their employees and citizens from possible infection or transmission of the coronavirus were adopted in accordance with the recommendations issued by the National Civil Protection Authority.

"We have provided funeral homes at all of the 28 city cemeteries with hand sanitisers, all areas of the cemeteries and the crematorium are disinfected multiple times a day, as well as the objects used during memorial services and funerals," the press release reads.

They recommend that citizens offer condolences with a bow, without handshakes or other physical contact, and that they keep at a physical distance over one meter at all times.

The City Cemeteries ask that citizens conduct all business with them online, in order to minimise unnecessary physical contact with their employees. If they come to City Cemeteries' offices, citizens are asked to adhere to recommended precautions and measures for protecting public health.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

March 14, 2020 - With the coronavirus disrupting tourism all over the world, perhaps it is time to postpone plans a little and spend some time researching destinations for a visit later in the year. Some virtual tips to discover Zagreb.  

There is no hiding the fact that the world has changed in the last week, and that more change is on the way, as countries respond to the coronavirus threat by locking down. As with many other people, I feel a little lost in the new reality and am struggling to come to terms with the best way to proceed. Suffice to say that being a tourism blogger is perhaps not the most in-demand thing in the world right now. 

And yet...

As the season should be beginning and positive texts about the incredible things to see and do from now until the end of the summer would usually be appearing on portals such as TCN, I don't think many would disagree that promoting travel to Croatia or anywhere else at the moment, is perhaps not the wisest or most responsible course of action. 

But does that mean we should not talk about tourism promotion at all then? Not at all! In fact, in some strange way, perhaps the current situation will provide a better and more informed tourism experience in the future. With so many people now self-isolating and with perhaps a little more time on their hands as they get frustrated with the isolation, thoughts will inevitably turn to that well-deserved holiday when this whole crisis is over. 

So why not spend the time alone getting to know the destination you plan to visit a little better than perhaps you otherwise might have done? Rather than reading the guidebook on the plane on the way there, why not take a closer look at all the options available to you online, from the comfort of your self-isolation sofa. 

Why not discover Zagreb, for example? Here are ten great virtual resources to discover Zagreb. Check them out, get inspired, and we will see you in the Croatian capital on the other side... 

1. Around Zagreb Video Series

 Zagreb is much more than just a city. Zagreb County offers some outstanding day trips. Learn more in the Zagreb Tourist Board's video series, Around Zagreb. 

2. Zagreb Shortcuts

Get to know the city through its people, habits and traditions. Zagreb blogger Andrea Pisac produces a very local insight to the city through the tourist board's Zagreb Shortcuts series. Check it out above.  

3. Zagreb Trivia

 Want to impress your travelling companions on your local knowledge, or surprise your host with how much you know about the city? The tourist board's Zagreb Trivia video series is a real treasure trove of fabulous stories and useful information. 

4. Love Zagreb

Several years ago, the Zagreb Tourist Board launched a project called Love Zagreb, Stories Created by Locals. Photos, blogs, vlogs and more. Love Zagreb has been a popular addition to building a more rounded picture of the city - check it out for yourself.  

5. 360° Zagreb Panorama

Nothing beats a great photo, of course, or the chance to get 360-degree visuals of the top places of a destination.  360 Zagreb offers some of the very best views, from angles most tourists never get to experience. Check them out here.

6. Zagreb Apps, Apps, Apps

We live in the world of mobile apps, and a popular way to discover Zagreb is via the various phone applications which are on offer. Choose from:

Zagreb Be There - Want an insider to show you around Zagreb? This free iOS and Android app takes you to the coolest places in the city. Sightseeing with character.

VoiceGuide Zagreb - When you come to an area with tourist attractions, the application will start automatically so that you get the information about the sights near you. It will first give you the information about the area you are in and then about some sights that can be seen there.

Greetings from Zagreb - Time travel with old postcards of Zagreb. Check out how it looked then and how it looks now.

Find all the apps to discover Zagreb, and download them here. 

7. Research one of Europe's most exciting medical tourism destinations for that procedure later this year

And having researched a little and discovered what a wonderful city Zagreb is, why not combine the tourist experience with some practical stuff which will pay for the holiday AND give you some spending money? Zagreb has an excellent reputation for medical tourism, from dentistry and cosmetic surgery, to pharmacogenetic testing and stem cell therapy, and much more. Check out what is on offer in the official video above and the detailed TCN feature recently on medical tourism in Zagreb.

8. It should be over by Christmas...  

Nobody knows how long the current situation will continue, but let's hope it will be over by Christmas... One of the great things about Zagreb is that it is a year-round destination, with some pretty cool events happening all year. And if you haven't discovered Advent in Zagreb yet, come and visit and find out why it has become established as one of the best Christmas markets in the world.  

9. Light at the end of the tunnel 

One of the early casualties of the current crisis was the postponement of the popular Festival of Lights in Zagreb, as authorities commendable decided to delay the event until the situation improved. There is no fixed date at the moment, as it will depend on how things progress, but good to know that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. 

10. A rather impressive website to delve a little deeper

Keen to know more to prepare yourself to discover Zagreb? Take a tour of the very comprehensive Zagreb Tourist Board website. 

Be safe, research online, and see you in Zagreb later in the year!

March 12, 2020 - TCN catches up with Liza Belozerova from Google.org to discuss the exciting partner with IRIM bringing digital hope and change to Croatia's libraries.

With so much bad news around in Croatia and elsewhere, it is sometimes hard to see the positives. But if you look a little deeper than the surface negativity in Croatia, there are plenty of very exciting things going on. 

Among them is the STEM revolution, which is being spearheaded by leading Croatian entrepreneur, Nenad Bakic. Along with Mate Rimac, Bakic was named by the Financial Times as one of Europe's top 100 digital champions, and he has been putting part of his considerable energies into STEM projects to equip children from schools in Croatia and the wider region with the digital skills necessary for the future. 

The Institute for Youth Development and Innovativity (IRIM) is a Croatia-based non-profit organization (private foundation), which has developed and implements the largest extracurricular STEM program in EU – the Croatian Makers movement, encompassing now over 150,000 children in Croatia. Although IRIM originates from, and primarily operates in, Croatia, it has transposed its activities to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, where IRIM and local partners deliver IRIM-designed major projects (with initial funding from IRIM), reaching tens of thousands more children. Some programs are joint regional activities. Such cross-border co-operation is of utmost significance in the region which still suffers consequences stemming from the conflicts in the 1990s. You can learn more about IRIM on the official website. 

IRIM's work was noticed by Google.org, and the two joined forces in 2018 for an initial partnership worth $250,000 to expand a programme in Croatia's libraries, whereby IRIM would promote digital skills in libraries through workshops, librarian training, equipment and events. More than 1,500 workshops were conducted by librarians, and over 13,000 people took part, as Rujana Bakic explained in an earlier article on TCN (you can also see Rujana's interview with TCN below. 

Last month Liza Belozerova from Google.org was in Zagreb to present the next phase of the IRIM project, as well as announcing a second-phase funding of $400,000 for IRIM and its digital library project, as reported on TCN at the time. 

Liza was kind enough to spare a few minutes after the event for a video interview with TCN, in which she talked about the project, as well as offering some thoughts on digital Croatia in general. Thank you.