Ministry calls for formation of national crisis management team over coronavirus

"Safety measures have been stepped up in all EU countries. Croatia will intensify border controls and we will follow all professional guidelines and rules. Equipment for protection is being secured," said Maja Grba Bujevic, head of the ministry's crisis management team, adding that citizens should be cautious but that there was no need for panic.

"There are no cases of infection with the novel coronavirus in Croatia and that gives us the opportunity to prepare," she said.

According to the latest data, coronavirus is not present in Croatia, but was 14 cases were identified across the EU, in Germany, France, Finland, and Italy.

So far, laboratory tests have confirmed the infection in 9,834 people around the world, and 213 people have died so far.

The head of the Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ), Krunoslav Capak, said that Croatia was prepared for any scenario as its epidemiological service was well-organised.

"It has become evident now that other bodies should become involved as well, and the key role in that should be played by the State Inspectorate, the border police, the Civil Aviation Agency, etc." said Capak.

Alert level raised, omissions still possible

Capak added that safety measures had been stepped up on the border but that omissions were still possible, citing a case when three residents of Split arrived from China by plane without anyone having contacted or examined them.

If upon arriving in Croatia a person is found to be ill or going through a period of incubation, the border sanitary inspection will be informed and it will contact an epidemiologist who will check if the person has symptoms and needs to be referred to Zagreb's "Fran Mihaljevic" hospital for infectious diseases, said Capak.

Anyone not showing any symptoms will be placed under an active monitoring regime, meaning that they will have to stay at home and will be contacted by epidemiologists on a daily basis.

The HZJZ will update information on the novel coronavirus on a daily basis.