On the same day, the Croatian Civil Protection Headquarters made seven new decisions valid from December 16 to 31 this year, when they will be considered again. The Headquarters extended the Decision on introducing a special security measure in the social welfare sector, reports Koronavirus.hr.
The decision implies “mandatory testing of all employees for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in social welfare, i.e., in social welfare institutions, associations, religious communities, other legal entities, craftspeople and natural persons who perform social care as a professional activity and the Center for Special Custody, who come to work at least twice in seven days. Exceptionally, testing is not mandatory for employees who “qualify for vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 unless they have signs of respiratory infection, other symptoms, or signs of COVID-19.”
Recall, from mid-November this year, Covid certificates are mandatory for all employees of public and state services and users of their services.
The same decision applies to all parties who come there, all service providers who provide services in those premises, or other persons who come there on any grounds. Those who refuse to present a certificate cannot enter the premises.
The EU digital Covid certificate system has been developed at the European Union level, with 42 countries participating.
Issuing certificates
The easiest way to get you Covid confirmation is through the e-Citizens platform. However, some citizens who do not use e-Citizens can physically obtain a certificate. Certificates can also be obtained from pharmacies.
All test sites can issue a certificate, HZZO counters do the same, and family medicine practices, pediatric and dental practices.
Each test and vaccination is immediately recorded in the system. Any change in the status of the vaccinated person requires the person to obtain a new Covid certificate.
The third vaccine dose does not mean that the Covid certificate is automatically extended. These people need a new certificate because an extra dose does not mean an automatic extension. The new permit will be valid for one year from the date of vaccination.
Covid certificate control
Controlling certificates is done with the help of the covidGo mobile application, and it is available to everyone for free. Furthermore, the application does not require internet and works offline.
The public key list is updated once a week. The control itself does not require costs; it can be easily done with free tools.
When certificates in public institutions do not apply
Certificates do not apply to students, pupils, persons under the age of 16, persons who bring a child or pupil to school in kindergarten, persons who accompany a person who cannot take care of themselves, persons who come to the HZZO area to pick up their Covid certificate, to users of postal services who have to pick up shipments whose non-acceptance would have legal consequences and to persons who have a contraindication to the vaccine.
A doctor’s certificate can also be used to come to work, which is issued based on a rapid antigen test to confirm that the person has recovered from the virus for the past 12 months. Also, those who had the infection within 12 months and proved it by PCR test must show medical documentation.
The testing obligation does not apply to public transport. The headquarters extended the decisions related to the operation of shops, public transportation, the decision on masks, and on crossing the border.
People who go to trial do not have to have a Covid certificate, but they must adhere to all other epidemiological measures.
Members of the Croatian Civil Protection Headquarters invited other private employers (who do not participate in social welfare) to introduce the mandatory Covid certificate measure because it is not compulsory for them but in the form of a recommendation.
Assembly decision modified
On Wednesday (December 15, 2021), the Headquarters amended the Decision on Restricting Assemblies, i.e., introduced the permission that more than 100 people can attend a public event or assembly, if approved by the County Public Health Institute in whose area the assembly is held.
Due to the new strain of the virus, the Headquarters extended the temporary ban on entry into Croatia of persons coming from South Africa, Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and the Republic of Mozambique, or who have stayed in those countries for the past 14 days. The amended decision allowed persons from Hong Kong to re-enter.
Exceptionally, citizens of the Republic of Croatia (RH) and members of their families who are long-term residents, who have the right to reside under other EU directives or national law in the Republic of Croatia or who have long-term national visas for the Republic of Croatia are exempted from the decision. However, they are subject to a mandatory quarantine of 14 days upon entry and compulsory testing on the last day of quarantine.
Until the end of the year, the current measures concerning border crossings, public transport, the mandatory use of face masks, and organizing the work of shops will be extended.
For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn’t English.
