Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday that the number of new coronavirus cases was stagnating in Croatia after COVID restrictions had been introduced, and announced that Croatia would have vaccine supplies for the novel virus at the same time as other EU member states.

“Since 14 days ago when we had a cabinet meeting and when I said that we had indications that the measures we adopted could slow down new case numbers or that they could stagnate, that has in fact happened,” Plenkovic told reporters after a meeting of the national council for the introduction of the euro currency.

Scientific advisory council members’ opinions aren’t binding on government

Asked about claims by some members of the scientific advisory council that the number of new cases is not stagnating as it does not account for probable cases, Plenkovic said that the stagnation is obvious and that that is not a matter of perception.

He underscored that at the moment the most important thing are hospitalisation numbers and that everyone who needs medical care can get it.

“Anyone who has a temperature, who feels unwell, who needs medical attention, they are all catered for. We are not in a situation that can lead to that 5,000 people are at home although they could need intensive care. That is not happening,” he said and added that now the important thing is how many people are hospitalised and on ventilators.

Plenkovic underlined that the opinions that any member of the government’s scientific advisory council presents to the public, is not binding on the government, the national COVID-19 crisis management team, the Health Minister or him personally in any way.

“Their role (as members of the council) is of an advisory nature based on expertise, knowledge and experience and to help the government in adopting timely health measures,” he said.

Plenkovic announced that a vaccine against coronavirus will come to Croatia when it is procured at the EU level, that means at the same time as other EU member states.

“We are playing on several cards. The vaccine that is first proclaimed to be reliable and safe, naturally the EU will endeavour to obtain that vaccine and Croatia too will then get that vaccine,” he said.

Convening a meeting of National Security Council

Asked when a National Security Council meeting could be expected, Plenkovic said that the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Zvonimir Frka-Petesic, had communicated about that with the head of the office of President Zoran Milanovic, Orsat Miljenic.

Plenkovic claimed that this is not “that type of communication that requires personal correspondence between the prime minister and president,” and is something that is handled by their offices.

He added that Frka-Petesic had telephoned Miljenic on two occasion regarding a date for the meeting and that the president’s office has not replied yet whether the proposed appointments suited them.