LATEST: Croatia now at 551 coronavirus cases, 37 full recoveries

Vili Beros (Photo: HINA/ Daniel KASAP)

ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) – Fifty-six new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Croatia, bringing the tally to 551, the national civil protection authority said on Friday.

“Over the past 24 hours, 70 new patients have been detected, which is satisfactory data from the epidemiological aspect because we are still in the stage of linear, not exponential growth,” Health Minister Vili Beros said at a press conference.

To date, 4,482 samples have been analysed, including 524 in the past 24 hours. Three persons have died and 37 have recovered from the novel coronavirus.

Patients are aged 48 on average, 54% are men, and 25% are over 60.

Indications for testing for COVID-19 among medical staff are being expanded, Croatian Institute of Public Health head Krunoslav Capak said on Friday, adding that 23 doctors, six residents, nine nurses and two dentists in Croatia are infected.

Speaking on Croatian Radio, he said the testing of medical staff would increase, primarily the contacts of those who had been in contact with those infected with coronavirus.

Capak said equipment was being procured for those doing the testing at check points. “There’s no testing without protective equipment.”

Also today, the Interior Ministry said three police officers were positive for coronavirus and that 121 were self-isolating.