Croatia reports record-high new coronavirus cases, new restrictions start at midnight

(Photo credit: HINA/ Damir SENCAR/ ds)

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) – A record-high 3,573 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Croatia in the last 24 hours and there have been 47 related fatalities, the national coronavirus response team said on Saturday.

Currently, there are 19,079 active cases in the country, of whom 1,981 are receiving hospital treatment, including 213 who are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 100,410 people have been infected with the novel virus, of whom 1,304 have died.

A total of 80,027 people have recovered, including 2,640 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 45,150 people are currently in self-isolation.

To date, 667,749 people have been tested for coronavirus, including 9,877 in the last 24 hours.

New restrictions announced

The new measures, which will take effect across Croatia at midnight on Saturday are:

Public events and gatherings limited to 25 people

Maximum of 15 people allowed at weddings 

Up to 25 people at funerals, condolences should not be expressed through close contact

Private functions limited to 10 people 

Nightclubs, casinos, and gaming arcades will not work 

Restaurants, cafes, bars must close at 10 pm

Prominent notice of the maximum number of people who may be in a facility must be displayed 

An obligation for stores to display a notice of the maximum number of customers allowed

Ban on alcohol sales from 10 pm – 6 am

Other gatherings (religious ceremonies, cinema, theatres…) must allow at least 4 square meters of space per person

Implementation of the measures will be controlled by the civil protection, the police, the inspectorate, and the National Civil Protection Headquarters

The measures will be in effect from 22 November until 15 December.

The headquarters also passed a decision introducing stricter measures for Varaždin and Osijek-Baranja counties and Daruvar.

In Varaždin, all public events and outdoor gatherings attended by more than 20 people are prohibited, all indoor gatherings are banned, all catering facilities are banned, exhibitions, fairs, sports competitions, and the use of sports fields are suspended. The decisions take effect today and are valid until December 4th.

“We have been saying for the past ten days or so that unless we see a decline this week, and we obviously haven’t, the response team will consider new measures. These measures have been agreed,” Božinović said.