LATEST: 78 new cases in Croatia in 24 hours, staying in public spaces restricted

Vili Beros (Photo: HINA/ Daniel KASAP)

ZAGREB, March 21 (Hina) – Croatia now has 206 COVID-19 cases, which is 49 new cases from this morning and 78 new cases in the last 24 hours, Health Minister Vili Beros said at a press conference at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Three patients were on respirators and currently 5 patients had recovered. A total of 2,100 patients have been tested. Beros urged citizens to respect the measures put in place.

We have entered the stage of an increased number of those infected in a very short time, which indicates that we are in the ascending curve of the epidemic, and this can be stopped only by complying with civil protection recommendations, Beros said.

There are citizens who don’t abide by self-isolation recommendations and instructions as well as citizens who don’t respect recommendations on gathering in public spaces. That’s not good and won’t help in containing the epidemic, he said, calling on citizens to comply with the recommendations of the civil protection authority.

Staying in public spaces restricted

The national civil protection authority on Saturday adopted a decision which restricts staying in streets, squares and other public spaces, after which police started urging citizens to go home.

The decision aimed at restricting gathering in public spaces was signed by the head of the authority, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic.

This measure to counter the COVID-19 epidemic will be in force for the next 30 days and applies to streets, squares, waterfronts, parks and all other public spaces where a large number of people can move and stay at the same time.

Local civil protection authorities were tasked with the implementation of the measure.

Commuter transport suspended, public community areas closed

All commuter transport and long-distance transport by train and bus will be suspended and public community areas will be closed.

Railway and bus stations will be closed.

Travel to islands will be possible only for people who live on islands.

As for public green areas, Bozinovic said that gatherings in such areas would be banned.

Police officers will be patrolling such sites and punish anyone who disobeys the rules, the minister said, warning that police would intervene if the recommended distance between people was not respected.

Jadrolinija restricts ferry transport 

The Jadrolinija shipping company said on Saturday only passengers with island cards or certificates of permanent residence on islands, public service and utility company employees and cargo vehicles registered in Croatia would be allowed to travel to and from islands by ferry or boat.

A decision to that effect has been made in line with the decision of the national civil protection authority which restricts public transport due to the coronavirus outbreak, the company said on its website.