11 new Covid-19 cases in Croatia in last 24 hours, no tourists among new infections

ZAGREB, June 18 (Hina) – There were 11 new COVID-19 cases reported in Croatia in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 2,269.

A new hotspot has emerged at the Hrvoje Pozar Institute for Energy in Zagreb with four people confirmed to have been infected and 16 more have been put in self-isolation, the head of the City Department of Health, Vjekoslav Jelec, said on Thursday.

Jelec told Hina that the new cases resulted from the virus being imported from Bosnia and Herzegovina, from areas where it is still active. “Hence the disease is still with us,” he warned.

There were also new cases reported in Split-Dalmatia, Sisak-Moslavina, Zagreb and Istria counties. 

There were no new COVID-19-related fatalities reported in the last 24 hours. The current death toll stands at 107. There have been 2,142 recoveries to date, including one since yesterday. Currently, there are 20 active cases in Croatia. There no patients currently on a ventilator. 

Health Minister Vili Beros said on Thursday that the appearance of new cases of coronavirus infection in Croatia in the last few days was not unexpected and showed that caution should still be exercised.

“The fact is that the virus is still among us. The most important thing is that in all the new cases we know how the infection was transmitted, that the epidemiological service quickly detected all those infected and that the necessary epidemiological measures have been taken,” Beros told Hina.

He noted that there were no foreign tourists among those infected, but that he could not rule out that this would not happen in the future.

“We opened up at one point, that was our decision and our need. If we see a rise in the number of cases again, we have prepared the measures that we can take,” Beros said in Dubrovnik where he was attending the launch of the helicopter emergency medical service for the summer season.

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said that the latest report was “a warning that the virus is still here and that the recommendations by the Public Health Institution need to be observed.”

“It is important that our citizens do not travel abroad, especially not to countries in our neighbourhood, unless necessary, and that on returning they behave responsibly. Such behaviour is a precondition for the favourable epidemiological situation in Croatia to be kept under control, which in turn is a precondition for the normal functioning of the economy,” Bozinovic added.

He announced that two ships were expected from China on June 19 and 26 bringing 407.3 tonnes of purchased and donated medical and protective equipment.

Since late February, Croatia has conducted 70,995 tests, including 368 in the last 24 hours.