Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that the new measures aimed at containing the coronavirus outbreak, which the government will present in the afternoon, would be in force from Saturday November 28 until Monday December 21.

“We have to take additional measures given that today’s numbers have for the first time passed 4,000 cases,” Plenkovic said in his introductory remarks at a regular cabinet meeting.

“It is important to bear in mind that the measures have a concrete epidemiological basis. In addition, we will conduct further testing to better ascertain the trends of the contagion, maintain the functioning of the public healthcare system and prepare for the distribution of the vaccine once it arrives in Croatia and gets all the necessary approvals,” he added.

The prime minister said that all the ministers of economy-related departments were working on economic countermeasures to preserve jobs in the sectors whose activity was limited by the restrictions.

“The measures that would enter into force on Saturday would remain in place until December 21. We are trying to ensure an effective fight against the coronavirus before Christmas,” Plenkovic said.