Croatia's confirmed number of cases rose to 481 by Thursday morning, an increase of 63 cases, or 15 percent, from 418 reported 24 hours earlier.

“If we compare this increase with the situation on Wednesday morning, we can see that we are still keeping the situation under control. The number of those infected is not growing at an exponential rate, which is very important,” Health Minister, Vili Beros, said at a regular morning briefing.

Since the outbreak started, Croatian crisis authorities hold two briefings every day with the latest updates, at 9 am and 4 pm. The figures for Croatia and neighbouring countries are also tracked at a special dedicated website koronavirus.hr launched last week.

On Wednesday morning, 24 hours earlier, the caseload was at 418, and by Wednesday afternoon it rose to 442. Authorities reported that 3,958 lab tests have been made, including 566 tests on Wednesday alone.

There are currently 14 people using ventilator machines to breathe – 8 in Zagreb, 3 in Osijek, and 1 each in Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik. Only one death has been reported since the beginning of the outbreak.

The head of the Fran Mihaljevic Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Alemka Markotic, said that the average age of patients on ventilators is 61. Most of them have underlying conditions, and one of them is in critical condition.

The average age of patients in Croatia is 49 and more than 18,000 people are in self-isolation. In the healthcare system 19 medical specialists have so far tested positive for the coronavirus, said Krunoslav Capak, the head of the national public health service HZJZ.

National police chief, Nikola Milina, said that two police officers had tested positive for the coronavirus, the first such case in law enforcement services. Milina did not specify where the officers concerned worked, but added that 90 employees of the Interior Ministry have been placed in self-isolation.

Interior Minister, Davor Bozinovic, thanked Croatians for largely complying with instructions and unprecedented restrictions brought on by the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

“The message to citizens is – stay home, let that be your task – and we are here to do our best to keep everything under control,” Bozinovic said.

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