Croatia’s COVID-19 crisis response team against closing of schools

ZAGREB, Nov 23 (Hina) – The head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), Krunoslav Capak, said on Sunday that the national COVID-19 crisis management team was against the closing of schools unless it could turn out to be the only option.

This is the position of the crisis management team of the education minister Radovan Fuchs and of my deputy, and currently, that measure is not on the table for primary schools. It could be considered for some secondary schools, Capak said adding that secondary schools could combine online and in-person classes.

Capak told the NOVA TV commercial broadcaster on Sunday evening that the COVID-19 crisis management team permanently monitored and discussed the situation.

If we notice a new source of hotspots (of the spread of coronavirus), we respond and make decisions at the national level, and local crisis-management teams in counties and cities can also impose tougher restrictions, if necessary, he said.

The chief epidemiologist said that the duration of self-isolation for persons who have not developed symptoms of the COVID-19 disease would remain 10 days.

He added that persons who have contracted the virus and have exhibited symptoms of the disease are supposed to do a PCR test.