Croatia announces new measures

Zagreb

ZAGREB, November 5, 2021 (Hina) – Croatia’s National Civil Protection Headquarters announced new measures on Friday after an increase in COVID-19 cases.

The use of COVID certificates will be mandatory for all public and civil service employees as well the visiting public. Also, gatherings will be further restricted from tomorrow.

“To prevent the spread of the infection, it is necessary to act in three directions: achieve greater vaccination, limit gatherings, achieve greater security in doing business that will not be limited,” said the head of the National Civil Protection Headquarters Davor Božinović at a press conference on Friday.

He announced that new epidemiological measures will be introduced which will see gatherings limited from tomorrow, and the use of COVID certificates expanded from November 15.

From November 15, proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID or a negative test will be mandatory for all employees of state and public services, as well as for citizens who will use their services and come to their premises.

COVID certificates are already mandatory in the health and social care system. 

The National Civil Protection Headquarters announced also that if the number cases continues to grow, and then COVID certificates will be introduced in cafes, restaurants, gyms, recreational and indoor fitness centres and shopping malls.

Božinović announced that testing will be possible only in registered institutions, and that initially, the employers will cover the cost at the request of employees.

Changes in January 

Božinović also pointed out that, if the situation does not improve, from January 4, COVID certificates will be introduced, which will be available only to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19, removing the option for testing.

“That gap has been left because it is enough time for all those who have not been vaccinated to get vaccinated by the beginning of next year,” Božinović said.

New gathering restrictions starting tomorrow

With a new decision coming into force tomorrow, Saturday, November 6, the headquarters further restricted gatherings indoors and outdoors.

From tomorrow, all public gatherings indoors with more than 50 people are prohibited, except for those attended by people who have a COVID certificate, but from now on it will be mandatory to wear masks and maintain distance.

At open-air public gatherings, events above 100 participants can only be organiSed if all participants have an EU digital COVID certificate. Exceptionally, events over 100 people will be able to be held outdoors only with the approval of the Croatian Public Institute of Health, which will develop an epidemiological framework.

All gatherings are limited so they must be completed by midnight, with the exception of cinema screenings that begin at 11 p.m. and wedding ceremonies where everyone has a COVID certificate. Weddings must end no later than 2 a.m., and we will consider additional time limits, announced Bozinovic.

Congresses and conferences will be able to be held provided everyone has a COVID certificate, wears a mask and keeps a distance.

Sports competitions will be able to be held in the presence of spectators indoors only if everyone has a COVID certificate and face masks will be mandatory for spectators. Spectators will also have to have COVID certificates for matches outdoor, but they will not have to wear masks, Božinović said.