Restrictions will be alleviated as long as infection growth is linear, Croatian minister says

Minister Davor Bozinovic (Photo: HINA/ Daniel KASAP)

ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) – Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Friday that as long as the growth of COVID-19 infections was linear, the national civil protection authority would alleviate restrictions so that Croatia could function as much and as optimally as possible in the current extraordinary circumstances.

“Our growth is linear, which indicates that citizens are complying with instructions,” he said at a press conference of the national civil protection authority.

Specialised shops which are part of farmers’ markets will be allowed to reopen so citizens have more shopping options and to help Croatia’s agriculture, the minister said, adding that this referred to shops selling food, hygiene products and animal food as well as agricultural shops.

Stores selling construction materials in the City of Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje County will also be allowed to reopen to help deal with the effects of the earthquake that struck the Zagreb area last Sunday.

“We’ll try to alleviate the measures more and more so that we can respond in the most optimum way to all the challenges of the coronavirus crisis. The new decisions take effect today and it’s realistic to expect those shops to reopen tomorrow morning,” said Bozinovic.

Croatian Red Cross executive president Robert Markt urged citizens not to open their door to those asking for money.

“Our volunteers don’t ask for money… We provide for about 10,000 families and I’m asking citizens not to see our volunteers as a delivery service,” he said at the press conference, urging citizens to report to the police the volunteers who asked for money.