Istria County and its towns called on the Slovenian government on Tuesday to consider the possibility of introducing Covid measures for Croatia at regional or county level given the exceptional epidemiological situation in Istria and in the name of good neighbourly relations.

The northern Adriatic county, which borders Slovenia, and its towns made the appeal given that the coronavirus situation in Istria has remained exceptional after suddenly deteriorating in other Croatian counties.

Their representatives said in a letter that the continually good and stable epidemiological situation in Istria was no accident but a result of the efforts of the county’s civil protection authority and the discipline of its people, tourists and businesses that “consistently adhere to the measures.”

After Slovenia put Croatia on the Covid red list, Istria saw many Slovenians, who have been vacationing in Istria for years or have holiday homes there, unhappy to have to leave, the letter said.

Representatives of the county and its towns said they believed the reopening of Istria for Slovenians would be welcomed not only by the county and Croatia but also the “friends in Slovenia” who, the letter said, were not only welcome but completely safe in Istria.