Chief epidemiologist Krunoslav Capak said on Friday Croatia had a high COVID-19 incidence with significant regional differences, the highest being in Varazdin County and the lowest in Istria County.
At national level, the 14-day incidence is 781.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, which places Croatia 20th in the EU rankings, the head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health said at a press conference of the national COVID response team.
Incidence highest in northern counties
Broken down by region, incidence is highest in Varazdin County (1,623.5) and Medjimurje County (a little over 1,400), according to Capak.
The average age of patients remains 43 and the younger persons who died of COVID-19 this week did not have serious underlying conditions, he added.
500 beds available in Zagreb’s KB Dubrava hospital
Speaking of the burden on hospitals, Health Minister Vili Beros said the Rijeka University Hospital was at 56% of capacity, the Split University Hospital at 83.7%, with 22% of patients on ventilators, the Osijek University Hospital at 80.11% of capacity, and Zagreb’s KB Dubrava at 35.8%.
“We have 303 patients at Dubrava, seven more than yesterday. The capacity is 845 beds. At this moment we have about 500 beds available. About 55% of patients are on ventilators. Of 78 ventilators, half are in use,” said Beros.
Speaking of next week’s annual remembrance procession in Vukovar, Capak reiterated that all participants must adhere to the epidemiological framework. He said a maximum 500 people were allowed in the procession, keeping a 1.5-metre distance and walking in groups of 25 at a distance of 50 metres. Everything will be overseen by 350 COVID security and civil protection staff.
Fewer people in government’s delegation
Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said the government still had not decided who would be in its delegation in Vukovar, but that it would be smaller than usual.
He reiterated that the COVID response team’s decision on the procession was responsible and that recommendations for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays would “inform citizens of the risk of the epidemic spreading in indoor spaces.”
