Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Tuesday that amendments to the law on the protection of the population from infectious diseases would not give the police new powers, adding that police would not enter anyone's home as the home was protected by the constitution.

Speaking to the press, he said the government was amending the law unwillingly.

He said the police were already authorised to intervene in certain situation, notably in cases of disorderly conduct. In most cases, citizens cooperate with the police and listen to their instructions, he added.

“It is no one’s intention to even think of introducing some kind of repression, but especially in wintertime, when people stay home, when there are too many of them, that has turned out to be the biggest infection hotspot.”

Bozinovic said the police would not enter people’s homes to count how many people were there, adding that in case of a tip, the police could contact the owner.

He underlined the importance of a joint educational approach towards citizens who, he said, were perhaps still not aware of the danger of Covid-19.

He said the amendments did not cover fines for violating self-isolation because they were already regulated.

Bozinovic said the effects of the restrictions which went into force on Saturday were expected to be visible by December 21.

Asked if vaccination against Covid should be mandatory, he said it was not decided yet but that 70% of the population should be vaccinated.