Only 3 of 360 repatriated Croats positive for COVID-19

Krunoslav Capak (Photo: HINA/ PIXSELL/ POOL/ Goran Stanzl)

ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) – Croatian Institute of Public Health director Krunoslav Capak said on Saturday only three of the 360 Croatian citizens repatriated had tested positive for COVID-19.

Speaking at the daily press conference of the national civil protection authority, he said the rise in those infected in Split-Dalmatia County was a consequence of the contagion in a nursing home in Split.

Capak said Split-Dalmatia County was second in the infections-number of inhabitants ratio. Krapina-Zagorje County is first with 74 patients per 100,000 inhabitants.

He said that since yesterday the situation in nursing homes had not changed, aside from two positive cases confirmed in a home in Ploce, and one resident and one staff member who tested positive in a home in Koprivnica, where 25 people are self-isolating.

Capak added that a new instruction had been prepared to tighten measures in nursing homes.

He said the national civil protection authority was not going public with figures per town so as to protect COVID-19 patients from stigmatisation, false information and negative treatment. “We stress that this is a disease, nobody is to blame, one should show empathy and not stigmatise them.”

The head of Zagreb’s Fran Mihaljevic Infectious Diseases Hospital, Alemka Markotic, said she had no information that any Croatian had experienced a recurrence of the novel coronavirus.

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic called on everyone to spend Easter without visiting or hosting. “Let’s stay home tomorrow. It’s the best way to deal with this situation. It’s hard for all of us, but I’m sure that together we can and must win.”

He said that if citizens did not comply with social distancing and other measures, tighter restrictions could be enforced, including closure of popular outdoor locations.

“We appeal on the solidarity of all citizens and we are sure that’s the only way we can win. Repression may bring short term effects but this is a marathon in which it’s necessary to keep one’s temper, morale and in which we can make it only together,” Bozinovic said.

He said the system of passes to leave one’s place of residence had accomplished its purpose. He added that it was aimed at sending the message that one should travel only in emergencies.