COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia

The COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia has resulted in 1,316,785^[1] confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 18,751^[1] deaths.

The first case in the Republic of Croatia was reported in Zagreb on 25 February 2020, when a patient who had come from Italy was tested positive. On the same day, the second case related to the first one was confirmed. In March 2020, a cluster of cases were reported in numerous Croatian cities. On 12 March, the first recovery was reported, and on 18 March, the first death from the virus was confirmed.

The pandemic in Croatia occurred during the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.^[2] On 22 March 2020, Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, was hit by the strongest earthquake in 140 years, causing problems in the enforcement of social distancing measures set out by the Croatian government, as the country engaged in a period of lockdown in the later part of the first half of 2020. On 5 July 2020, a parliamentary election was held in the country. On 16 May 2021, local elections were held in the country. In general, the country was mostly reopened during the 2020 summer tourist season.

As of 22 October 2022, 5,357,755 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Croatia.^[3]

Background and prevention[edit]

Concerns over the virus began as soon as it began its rapid rise in China^[4] and its effects on the international scale became clear. Concerns were raised about the increased probability of the virus entering Croatia because of the number of Chinese workers working on Pelješac Bridge. Some of the institutions in Croatia preemptively reacted to the potential threat.^[4]

The airports in Croatia were prepared and they started going through passive measures and being vigilant. The Ministry of Health warned those travelling to China to avoid sick people, animals, and markets, not to eat any raw or semi-cooked animals, and to wash their hands often and to notify their doctor of their plans to travel to China.^[4]

After relieving Milan Kujundžić from the position of Health Minister, on 31 January, Vili Beroš was confirmed as the new Health Minister by the Croatian Parliament.^[5] Prime Minister Andrej Plenković cited the coronavirus problem as one of the reasons for the change.^[6] Beroš held a meeting with the Ministry's Crisis Headquarters on his first day regarding the coronavirus epidemic.^[7] On the same day, the Ministry announced the formation of a National Crisis Headquarters for the COVID-19 pandemic.^[8]

The Croatian Public Health Institute introduced special health inspection measures on 2 February for persons arriving from China or had been in China recently.^[9] On 3 February, Beroš met with Stella Kyriakidou, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, to discuss the situation with the coronavirus.^[10] Following a meeting with the EU health ministers on 13 February, Beroš said that the closure of EU borders is a possible measure.^[11]

Beroš adopted a decision to establish a quarantine unit at the Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević" in Zagreb on 21 February, for suspected or confirmed infected persons with coronavirus.^[12] A Croatian citizen who spent time on the Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined in that unit on the following day. He had no symptoms, but was placed in a 14-day quarantine as a precautionary measure.^[13] Plenković said that the Crisis Headquarters will meet on a daily basis and that the Government will take any measure necessary to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.^[14]

Timeline[edit]