December 14, 2020 – The National Civil Protection Headquarters held a new press conference at 11 am on Monday. Interior Minister and Head of the Headquarters, Davor Bozinovic, announced a framework for new measures in Croatia this week.
Index.hr reports that on Saturday, the highest number of deaths was recorded so far – 78, and the same number of deaths was recorded on Sunday.
Today, all high schools have started online classes, and in some counties, students from 5th to 8th grade are also online.
On Saturday, new stricter measures for shops and shopping centers came into force, which further limits the number of people in them, depending on the store’s size.
Current epidemiological measures are in force until December 21, except for new measures for shops and shopping centers until January 10. There will be no easing of measures on December 21, and if the situation does not improve significantly by then, it is possible to introduce new, even stricter measures on December 21.
In the last 24 hours, Croatia recorded 1,472 new cases and the current number of active cases 22,769. The total number of positive cases is 177,358. 5,798 people were tested. The average age of those tested was 43.76 years. 258 people were admitted for treatment in 24 hours. There are 284 people on ventilators, 29 new in 24 hours. 65 people died. The average age is 77.7 years.
“We had a 5.7 percent increase this week,” Capak said. “Our incidence is high; it is 1196. Currently, the highest incidence is in Međimurje and the lowest in Dubrovnik-Neretva.”
Capak confirmed that we are the worst in the EU in terms of incidence.
“We are currently ranked 27th out of 27 countries in terms of incidence, 1 incidence higher than in Luxembourg. Our mortality rate is 628.5 per million inhabitants.”
KBC Osijek has 197 covid patients, Varaždin 268 patients, Zarazna 116 patients, Dubrava 472 patients, Čakovec 163.
“The numbers are incomparable to the spring,” Beros said.
Will the measures be tightened on December 21 and will passes be introduced?
“Intensive talks have been held since the last press conference, and everything is being considered. This week we will have more specific information to start lowering the numbers. We know that people are interested in the predictability of the measures, so we are in constant talks. We are careful with announcements, and this week we will clarify some things so that a few days before the decision expires on the 21st, we can announce what the framework will be. Today, we can still repeat that we ask all fellow citizens to keep from gatherings and traveling for the holidays. We will provide a framework aware that no decision can replace the decision of individuals not to visit each other, omit celebrations, and refrain from gathering people outside of your households,” he said.
“40 percent of new infections today are from contacts, which shows that the contact tracking system has not broken down,” Capak said.
The headquarters was asked about the impression that decisions are not made on time.
“We have been completely focused for 10 months thinking about how to reduce numbers; we are doing the best we know how. The measures are similar in the world but differ in various socio-economic factors. We look, we compare indicators in our country and the immediate environment. This is not an epidemic that lasts 7 to 14 days. I am sure that everyone, including the Headquarters and the government, will analyze everything,” Bozinovic said.
“It’s not a problem for me to pay the price for all this. I’m interested in what scientific facts you base us on not making decisions on time. It’s possible, I don’t deny it, but it’s also possible that it’s not. I’m doing the best I can at this point; at some point, citizens will judge. It is not a problem for me to bear the consequences,” Beros said.
“You asked me on what scientific data we are based; is it not enough for you to know that we are the worst in Europe in terms of incidence,” the journalist said.
“I hope I’m in a good place, that this is a press conference without a courtroom,” Markotic said. “We are doing the best we know,” Markotic said, adding that there will be an analysis after all. “It is easiest to adopt a measure; it should be adapted to the environment in which you live. When the analyzes are done, we will see who did well and who did not. We will draw the line at the end of the epidemic,” Markotic said.
Capak says the entire epidemic in Croatia should be analyzed from the beginning. He said it would be assessed whether a measure was adopted on time or not.
“I hope that, given that we have a light at the end of the tunnel – vaccination, we will have time to evaluate everything, and that others will evaluate us,” said Capak.
Bozinovic was again asked about the introduction of passes to travel between counties.
“Intensive talks are being held on the measures; I won’t comment on any of them. We will provide more precise information this week,” he said.
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