Croatia to get new set of coronavirus measures which will remain in force until Christmas

(Photo: HINA/ Edvard ŠUŠAK/)

ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) – Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic announced on Tuesday that the national coronavirus response team would prepare a new set of more stringent measures against the coronavirus epidemic that would become effective later this week and remain in force until Christmas. 

Bozinovic made the announcement after a meeting with county prefects.

“Tomorrow the national coronavirus response team will prepare a new set of measures which will be presented to the county prefects and which will be in force until some time before Christmas. These will be more stringent measures. Some people think that the measures already in place are enough, but the numbers are not falling, so we are moving forward with new measures taking into account that this is a long battle,” Bozinovic told a press conference.

He said that the new measures would target specific sectors of the economy, notably hospitality, as well as culture and partly education.

“We are bringing in measures to protect people’s lives, but on the other hand we must also bear in mind the economic aspect and see to what extent closures can have a negative impact on the mental state of the nation,” Bozinovic said.

“Draft measures will be prepared for the inner cabinet and presented to the county prefects. We will see their reactions and then take a decision that will enter into force most likely before the end of this week,” he added.

The purpose of the new measures is to stop the spread of the virus, ease the burden on the healthcare system and ensure that all patients, not just those infected with the coronavirus, receive adequate healthcare, Bozinovic said..

He said that as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Croatia it was necessary to vaccinate as many people as possible, adding that 70 percent of the adult population would need to be vaccinated to stop the epidemic.

Responding to questions from the press, Bozinovic said that introducing a curfew was never an option and that there would definitely not be another lockdown like the one in the spring.