All non-essential businesses and shops will be shut down across Croatia effective midnight, leaving only grocery stores and pharmacies open, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic announced on Wednesday afternoon as eight more people tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total in Croatia up to 89.
All restaurants, bars, museums, gyms, shopping malls, and other places will be closed down for a 30-day period and all public events will be cancelled.
Bozinovic added that public transport in the country will continue operating.
The new bans are expected to deal a crushing blow to the country’s hospitality and tourism industry, which accounts for about 20 percent of Croatia’s GDP.
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Also, Health Minister Vili Beros confirmed that six new people had tested positive for the coronavirus. Two additional cases were confirmed later in the evening in the Adriatic city of Split, making it 89 in total, up from 81 this morning.
So far, Croatia has tested more than 1,200 samples, and over 10,000 people have been ordered to stay at home and avoid contact with others.
Earlier on Wednesday, the government had launched a dedicated coronavirus hotline, available by dialling 113, a day after an accompanying official website koronavirus.hr had been launched, featuring latest updates and advice.
Beros told reporters earlier on Wednesday that the health care system is “well and sufficiently organised” and that it is capable of quickly re-distributing health care staff should the need arise.
