Croatia introduces new measures: Masks mandatory in all closed spaces, restrictions imposed on gatherings

(Photo: HINA/ Edvard ŠUŠAK/)

ZAGREB, Oct 12 (Hina) – Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, who chairs the national COVID-19 crisis response team, said on Monday that wearing protective masks in closed spaces would be mandatory, and some restrictions would be imposed on gatherings involving more than 50 people.

We are introducing mandatory mask rules for closed spaces, where there are physical contacts between people and where it is not possible to keep a minimum distance of two metres,” Bozinovic told a news conference in Zagreb.

Citizens are required to wear protective face masks or respirators in an appropriate way, covering both the mouth and the nose, he explained.

For instance, masks are mandatory for healthcare personnel, family members, and friends visiting patients in hospitals, social care institutions’ workers, drivers, and other workers in public transportation services.

Also, this rule is applied in shopping centres, in shops, in hospitality services, and also for guests in cafes and restaurants all the time except when they sit at their tables and consume drinks and food.

Considering public events, such as attending plays, films in cinemas, sports events, or gatherings for weddings and funerals, religious rites and so on where there could be more than 50 people, the organisers are required to report the events five days in advance to the relevant authorities to ask for permission which will be granted or turned down in accordance with the developments on the ground.

As of today, wearing protective masks is also recommended outdoors when it not possible to keep a distance of two metres. Masks should also be worn outdoors where keeping one’s distance is not possible, such as in queues, and that recommendation has been put in place today.

“We cannot be satisfied with the epidemiological situation in Croatia even though it is not much different than in entire Europe,” he said, adding that those two new decisions should reduce the spread of the disease.