Over the past 24 hours, 66 more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Croatia, bringing the total to 1,600, the national civil protection authority said on Sunday at its daily press conference.

Two patients died since Saturday at Zagreb’s Fran Mihaljevic Infectious Diseases Hospital, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 23, Health Minister Vili Beros said.

To date 373 persons have recovered from the disease across the country, he added.

On Saturday, two persons were put on ventilators, both in Koprivnica, bringing the total of patients on ventilators to 34.

Over the past 24 hours, 620 persons were tested for the novel coronavirus, bringing the total to 16,381 since the start of the epidemic, and 9.77% have been positive.

Beros thanked everyone who supported the measures to combat the disease and wished a happy Easter to the citizens who celebrate it.

He said he was pleased with today’s arrival of 60 tonnes of medical gear from China.

This was the first of six or seven flights that will bring the most valuable goods at this moment thanks to the mediation of the Croatian and Chinese authorities, he added.