Coronavirus latest in Croatia

Minister Beros (Photo: HINA/ Daniel KASAP/)

ZAGREB, Oct 14 (Hina) – Health Minister Vili Beros said at a government session on Thursday that the latest figures showed a worrying yet not surprising increase in the number of new coronavirus infections, and that the situation required responsibility and self-discipline.

Earlier in the day, the national COVID-19 response team reported 748 new cases of coronavirus infection.

“The number of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants and the share of positive tests have been growing again over the past week. The number of active cases has grown from 11% to almost 15% in relation to the week before,” Beros said, calling for responsibility and self-discipline.

He reiterated that the source of new infections lately had been larger private and public gatherings and called on citizens not to take part in such events.

Currently there are 3,221 COVID-19 patients, including 441 who are hospitalised. Over the past week, 350 patients have been admitted to hospitals and 244 have been released. Currently 27 patients are on ventilators, two more than on Tuesday. A total of 192 medical workers are positive and 907 are self-isolating, the minister said.

He noted that the introduction of e-referrals made it possible to ask hospitals for exact times for specialist examinations, with patients no longer having to go to their GP for a referral, which was of great importance in the current time of epidemic.

Beros noted that this year’s vaccination against the flu would be done by family doctors.

He said that there was a sufficient number of doctors and nurses trained to care for patients with COVID-19 and that training for work in intensive care units was ongoing.

As for shortages of epidemiologists, Beros said that in places where they are in short supply, the hiring of additional epidemiologists and reassignments are possible.

PM says latest COVID-19 figures part of broader trend

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday that Croatia again had a record-high number of coronavirus infections and that the latest figures were part of a broader trend in Europe and the rest of the world, calling on young people to comply with epidemiological measures.

“After 542 cases last week, we now have as many as 748 new infections,” he said, noting that the pandemic, as previously predicted, was accelerating with the onset of cold weather, with the number of infections exceeding 38 million worldwide, as many as two million cases more than a week ago.

The number of new infections grows by around 350,000 on a daily basis. Over the past week, more than 700,000 people have become infected in Europe, he said.

“The number of active cases has grown by more than 1,000 since our last session. There are currently 3,210 active cases, which is the most since the start of the pandemic. We can say that the situation is worrying,” said the PM.

Recalling the latest epidemiological measures, Plenkovic said that success was possible only if citizens acted responsibly and showed unity and solidarity, notably towards the most vulnerable groups.

He said that the government was aware that the pandemic affected the social life, habits and wishes of young people but nonetheless called on them to comply with epidemiological measures in order to protect their dearest ones, parents and grandparents.