Croatia announces new measures to curb coronavirus

Interior Minister Davor Božinovic (PHOTO: HINA/ Daniel KASAP/dk)

ZAGREB, 20 November 2020 – Croatia’s National Civil Protection Headquarters presented the latest data on the coronavirus situation in Croatia on Friday and announced new measures that will take effect this weekend.

In the last 24 hours, there were 2,958 new cases in Croatia, which brings the total number of cases to 18,193. There were 8,320 tests conducted yesterday, with about 18 percent of them positive. There are currently 1,990 people in hospitals, with 217 on a respirator. 2,522 people recovered yesterday and there were 57 related deaths. 

The average age of those infected is 43, whilst the average age of those who died is 76. The average age of those in hospitals is 62. 

Croatian Public Health Institute director Krunoslav Capak said the 14-day incidence rate is 837.7, which puts Croatia in 22nd place in the European Union. The highest incidence is in Varaždin and Međimurje counties, where it is twice as high as the Croatian average, with Istria the lowest.

New measures, which will take effect at midnight on Saturday, were announced by Interior Minister Davor Božinović and are:

• Public events and gatherings limited to 25 people
• Maximum of 15 people allowed at weddings 
• Up to 25 people at funerals, condolences should not be expressed through close contact
• Private functions limited to 10 people 
• Nightclubs, casinos and gaming arcades will not work 
• Restaurants, cafes, bars must close at 10 pm
• Prominent notice of the maximum number of people who may be in a facility must be displayed 
• An obligation for stores to display a notice of the maximum number of customers allowed
• Ban on alcohol sales from 10 pm – 6 am
• Other gatherings (religious ceremonies, cinema, theatres…) must allow at least 4 square meters of space per person
• Implementation of the measures will be controlled by the civil protection, the police, the inspectorate, and the National Civil Protection Headquarters

The measures will be in effect from 22 November until 15 December. 

The headquarters also passed a decision introducing stricter measures for Varaždin and Osijek-Baranja counties and Daruvar.

In Varaždin, all public events and outdoor gatherings attended by more than 20 people are prohibited, all indoor gatherings are banned, all catering facilities are banned, exhibitions, fairs, sports competitions, and the use of sports fields are suspended. The decisions take effect today and are valid until December 4th.

“We have been saying for the past ten days or so that unless we see a decline this week, and we obviously haven’t, the response team will consider new measures. These measures have been agreed today,” Božinović said.