Enhanced Corona Measures: Supervision of Larger Gatherings and Increased Criteria for Entry into Croatia

After a record 116 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Friday, Health Minister Vili Beroš announced new measures related to increased supervision of gatherings, raising the criteria for entry into Croatia from neighboring countries, and the obligation to wear masks in hospitality and retail.

– We are discussing all necessary measures and they will be finalized today – said Beroš to reporters after meetings of the Scientific Council at the Banski dvori and also announced the possibility of resuming regular press conferences of the National Civil Protection Headquarters.

– Gatherings in recent days have caused an increase in the number of infected, and in our new measures we have turned to this, but in such a way that we will not prohibit them but will emphasize all the epidemiological measures that have so far yielded results – said Beroš.

Organizers of gatherings will have to make a little more effort to ensure that epidemiological measures are respected and keep a record of the number and names of all participants to facilitate the work of epidemiologists if an outbreak occurs. Greater supervision of gatherings is also anticipated to prevent them from becoming a source of infection.

– We have also considered the situation at the borders. It has significantly improved, but given the progression of the epidemiological situation in neighboring countries, we will certainly raise the criteria for entry into Croatia and introduce self-isolation lasting 14 days and isolation that will last somewhat shorter, but with the possibility of PCR testing – says Beroš.

He announced that new guidelines regarding the use of masks in certain activities assessed to pose the highest risk for the spread of infection, such as hospitality and retail, will be issued.

There Are No Restrictions, Only Selective Measures

– There are no restrictions, there is no ban, especially not general ones. If we go in that direction, such measures will be selective and targeted – he stated.

He announced the possibility of returning regular press conferences of the National Headquarters as they played an important role in objectively informing citizens.

– If the situation requires it, and I think it does at this moment, we will consider returning the press conferences – he added.

Andreja Ambriović Ristov from the Ruđer Bošković Institute assessed that by adhering to all measures taken by the Headquarters, we can return to numbers of nearly zero infected.

– The virus remains the same, and only through responsible behavior and reduced spread will we prevent it from potentially mutating – said Ambriović Ristov.

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