“We will talk. We will see under what conditions,” said Bozinovic for RTL when asked if catering facilities can be expected to open on February 15.
He argued that the Civil Protection Headquarters is “first” to open anything if the numbers of newly infected and hospitalized are good and that no time will be wasted around the decision “if such is the assessment.”
Commenting on the criticism of the inconsistency of anti-epidemic measures, that at the same time, while cafes are not allowed to do so, coffee-to-go can be bought in bakeries, shops, and gas stations, Bozinovic reiterated that these facilities are not closed because they sell essential products and have previously sold coffee, so now they have not been banned from such a sale.
“The point here is not about selling coffee-to-go but about gathering. When you get to the gas station, you refuel, possibly take that coffee-to-go, put it in the car, and drive. And when you come to a cafe, you sit, hang out, and that is an epidemiological risk,” said Bozinovic.
Bozinovic also said that there were no double standards in implementing anti-epidemic measures, claiming that the police arrested the owner of the gym who opened on Monday, despite the work ban, and that at Wednesday’s protest, they were primarily concerned with public order and peace.
“At such gatherings, the police always take care, first and foremost, of public order and peace, and that is their basic task. Of course, when you have a few thousand people, it’s not the same as some individual situation. In both cases, the police acted following the law,” says Bozinovic.
Bozinovic stated that Croatia did not make a mistake when it relied on the joint procurement of vaccines with the European Union. Otherwise, we would be in a much more unfavorable situation. He also said that Europe is currently discussing procuring Russian and Chinese vaccines, which is, above all, a message to AstraZeneca.
“If Europe allows the Russians, and perhaps tomorrow the Chinese, to enter the European market, I think that is first and foremost a message to AstraZeneca,” he said.
Bozinovic also commented on the election of Martina Dalic as the President of the Management Board of Podravka, emphasizing that she will be a great gain for the company and that her resignation as Deputy Prime Minister is now history.
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