November 22, 2020 – At midnight, new COVID-19 measures in Croatia came into force. A list of what’s changed starting today.
The National Civil Protection Headquarters adopted new measures against the coronavirus on Friday after the previous measures did not reduce the number of infected. All measures are applied from the beginning of November 22 (midnight) to December 15, announced the head of the National Headquarters and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic a few days ago.
Restrictive measures for weddings and private gatherings
The measures relate to limiting public events and gatherings to 25 people instead of 50, as has been the case so far, limiting wedding ceremonies to 15 instead of 30 people, while a maximum of 25 people instead of 30 can be present at funerals, and condolences must not be expressed in close contact.
Private festivities are limited to 10 people instead of 15, and sports competitions are to be held without spectators and with adherence to measures as before.
Catering facilities can be open until 10 pm
Nightclubs, casinos, and slot machine clubs cannot work, and other catering facilities can be open until 10 pm, with a prominent notice regarding the largest number of guests that can be in the facility following the recommendations of the CNIPH.
The notice must be displayed by stores and shops, and it is mandatory that all stores and shopping centers take additional measures when more customers are expected, such as during discounts and pre-holiday shopping.
Additional restrictions have been introduced for gatherings that are not limited to 25 people, such as professional art programs, cinema screenings, religious ceremonies, and sessions of representative bodies. The number of persons present is limited to the size of the space, and four square meters of space must be provided for each person in compliance with the measures.
Ban on selling alcohol after 10 pm
A ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages from 10 pm to 6 am is also being introduced. The implementation of the measures will be controlled by members of the Civil Protection Directorate, police officers, and the State Inspectorate.
Thus, the necessary epidemiological measures imposed on the whole of Croatia are:
– ban on holding all public events and gatherings attended by more than 25 people in one place;
– a maximum of 15 people may be present at wedding ceremonies;
– a maximum of 25 people may be present at funerals, final farewells, and placing urns, and condolences must not be expressed through close contact;
– a maximum of 10 people may be present at other private ceremonies;
– it is mandatory that all stores and shops clearly display at the entrance the highest capacity of customers that can be in the store at the same time following the recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health and strictly adhere to the permitted number of customers;
– it is mandatory for all stores, shops, and shopping centers to take additional measures during the expected arrival of more customers (discounts, rebates, pre-holiday purchases, etc.) so that more customers do not stay on their premises at the same time; they must ensure compliance with epidemiological measures;
– suspension of catering facilities such as night clubs, night bars, and disco clubs;
– suspension of casinos and slot machine clubs;
– it is mandatory for all catering facilities that have not been suspended to clearly display at the entrance a notice of the largest number of guests who can be inside the catering facility at the same time following the recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health; they must strictly adhere to the limit;
– sports competitions can be held only without spectators and with strict adherence to all prescribed epidemiological measures and special recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, and the organizers are obliged to ensure that all competitors and necessary technical staff adhere to prescribed epidemiological measures;
– public events and gatherings and ceremonies of all kinds can last until 22:00;
– ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages between 22:00 and 6:00;
– mandatory use of face masks or medical masks outdoors when it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 meters.
Anti-epidemic measures do not apply to:
– professional artistic performances and programs;
– cinema screenings;
– religious rites;
– exhibitions in museum, gallery and other exhibition spaces;
– sessions of representative bodies.
In places that include gatherings that are not subject to a strict number of measures, some other restrictions apply.
At such gatherings and ceremonies, the number of persons present is limited due to the size of the space, so that at least 4 square meters of distance must be provided for each person, in strict compliance with all prescribed epidemiological measures and special recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health. It is mandatory to have a clear notice at the entrance to the facility where the gathering or ceremony is held regarding the largest possible number of people that can be present in the facility at the same time.
Organizers are obliged to ensure that the premises where the gatherings are held are regularly ventilated, that no more than the allowed number are present at the gathering or ceremony, and that all present adhere to all prescribed epidemiological measures and special recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
The decision on shortening working hours for catering facilities
A special decision was made for the operation of catering facilities, which can now operate until 10 pm, except for nightclubs and bars, which are banned, and catering facilities in Varaždin County, which are also not allowed to work.
Catering facilities that have not been suspended by a decision of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia may operate from 6:00 to 22:00.
The stated working hours also apply to providers of catering services in the household and family farms, except for accommodation services.
The stated working hours do not refer to catering facilities from the groups “Hotels”, “Camps” and “Other catering facilities for accommodation”, except for catering facilities of other groups that work in their composition.
At the proposal of the County Headquarters, the working hours of catering facilities and other providers of catering services may be additionally limited for the area of an individual unit of local and regional self-government.
The control of the implementation of this Decision will be carried out by inspectors of the Directorate of Civil Protection, inspectors of the State Inspectorate, police officers, and members of civil protection.
Source: Index.hr
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