Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that the health system was able to withstand pressures, adding that the government and the Health Ministry would continue working on ensuring that the fight against the epidemic remains strong and effective.

At the beginning of a government session, PM Plenkovic commented on the current state of the coronavirus epidemic, the increase in the number of infections and deaths, and he expressed his condolences to families that lost their loved ones due to coronavirus.

“It is important that we realise that the number of infections is also rising across Europe, which is one of the hotspots. The figures in Croatia are high and keep growing, but the growth is slower,” Plenkovic said.

“I am sure that the Health Ministry and all heads of health institutions, health workers, doctors and nurses will continue making great efforts to help patients. We as the government, especially the relevant ministry, will ensure that all preconditions related to organisation are met so that the fight against the epidemic remains strong and effective for the benefit of patients and citizens,” the prime minister said.

He said that the guidelines for state administration bodies issued by the Justice Ministry were made in agreement with the Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ).

The prime minister also commented on subsidies for the culture sector, in which many events had to be cancelled, including the Interliber book fair. Plenkovic expressed regret over that, saying that in these circumstances the measures will benefit all culture workers.