The Croatian Football League has not seen a season so intense for a long time. However, while Dinamo, Osijek, Hajduk, and Rijeka are leading a relentless race for first place in the standings, the stadium capacity has been reduced due to epidemiological measures. Namely, 40 percent of the seats in the stands can be filled, but that could change soon, reports Index.hr.
Namely, the figures show that the coronavirus pandemic is entering a calmer phase and that mitigating epidemiological measures could therefore be considered. One of these measures is to restrict entry to stadiums. The question of whether to increase the capacity of football stadiums was asked to the director of the Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ), Krunoslav Capak.
“Epidemiological measures will be mitigated when epidemiological preconditions are created. As for sporting events, they are also considered. When preconditions are created, measures will be mitigated, but the decision is up to the Headquarters. HZJZ only proposes recommendations,” Capak said.
However, it is unlikely that total stadium capacity will be allowed immediately. It is much more likely that, depending on the epidemiological conditions in the country, the number of fans allowed in stadiums will gradually increase. This will likely not happen this weekend when the Hajduk – Rijeka, and Osijek – Dinamo matches are played in the HNL.
The date when a decision could be made on a possible increase in stadium capacity is March 1. The number of newly infected people in Croatia today is 4334, but the situation in hospitals has stabilized. As the directors of KBC Rijeka and Split, Alen Ružić and Julija Meštrović, said yesterday, there are half as many Covid patients in hospitals as three weeks ago and half as many patients on a respirator.
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