Croatia intending to cut mandatory self-isolation duration to 10 days

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic (Photo: HINA/ Daniel KASAP)

ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Hina) – Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Thursday that there was an intention to cut the mandatory self-isolation duration to 10 days, and added that it would be more desirable if the mandatory period could be agreed upon at a multinational level so that the same standard applied everywhere.

“There is still no unequivocal answer,” Bozinovic said, adding that it would be better if a multinational standard is reached.

“For us, it is important that the European Union takes a position, so as to avoid situations when one country has one standard and the other has another standard because the virus is the same,” Bozinovic said.

There are discussions at the global level when a coronavirus positive person is probably less dangerous for people around them, he said.

Bozinovic recalled that at the very beginning of the epidemic, the self-isolation period was 28 days, adding that it had been reduced to 21 days and now it lasted 14 days. “There are now discussions that self-isolating should last seven days, France is taking steps towards this standard,” he said, specifying that the mandatory duration of seven days would be for those who tested positive.

Epidemiologist and a member of the government’s Science Council, Branko Kolaric, said on Friday that there were indications that the duration of isolation for those infected with the coronavirus could be reduced to 10 days, and the decision could be made within a week or two.

Those with a positive PCR test exhibiting mild symptoms or no symptoms would not be in isolation for 14 days but for 10 days, said Kolaric in the Croatian Radio programme “U Mrezi Prvog”.

According to him, those who have been in contact with the infected person should self-isolate for 14 days.

“The difference between isolation and self-isolation is that infected persons are in isolation, they have a positive PCR test and we are talking about reducing the duration of their isolation. Self-isolation lasts 14 days, which is the incubation period, and it is still recommended for it to stay 14 days. There are indications that the duration of isolation could be reduced by a few days,” Kolaric said.

He would leave experts to agree on the recommendations for the duration, he said, so as not to confuse the public.

On Thursday, Slovenia reported that it had decided to shorten the 14-day quarantine to 10 days upon entry into the country for people coming from COVID-19 high-risk destinations. The decision to shorten the mandatory quarantine period enters into force this Sunday.