Croatian government announced a timetable for the easing of social distancing restrictions on Thursday, rolling out a three-stage plan in their regular meeting.

In the first stage, all stores will be allowed to re-open, starting on Monday, April 27, with the exception of shopping malls. Hospitality services like restaurants and bars will also be allowed to re-open, except where these “require close human contact.”

Public transport will also start working, as well as libraries and museums, and sports practice for professional sportspeople would be allowed to take place.

The second stage, starting on May 4, involves re-opening of the full range of medical services to the public, as well as personal services such as hairdressers, beauticians, shoemakers, and so on, provided that they continue implementing protective measures.

In the third stage, which should start on May 11, the ban on public gatherings should be raised from five to a maximum of ten people. Shopping malls are expected to re-open that day, as well as kindergartens and elementary schools for children in grades from one to four, i.e. aged 7 to 11.

Also on May 11, domestic air transport would start, as well as inter-county road transport. National parks, and “some” restaurants with open-air seating would also be allowed to re-open. Hotel restaurants and bars would also re-open, but only for hotel guests.

Croatia had recorded its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus on February 25. As the numbers of cases grew, authorities started imposing restrictions on travel and public life in March.

These culminated in a complete ban on all non-essential stores, restaurants, and bars on March 19, and a ban on all inter-city travel on March 23, putting the country effectively in a lockdown.

By Wednesday afternoon, Croatia reported a total of 1,950 cases of Covid-19, including 48 deaths and 869 recoveries, and the daily increase in new cases has remained under 3 percent eight days in a row, since April 14.