Scientists Nenad Ban, Branko Kolaric, Andreja Ambriovic Ristov, Igor Rudan and Petra Klepac on Friday confirmed they were prepared to continue cooperating with the government in the Scientific Advisory Council, the government said on Friday.

“After individual members of the Advisory Council spoke with the prime minister’s chief of staff, Zvonimir Frka-Petesic, which had been announced at a press conference on Tuesday, Professor Ban, Professor Kolaric, Professor Ambriovic Ristov, Professor Rudan and Dr Klepac confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation with the government to contribute to controlling and curbing the epidemic,” the government said in a press release.

The government recalled that the Advisory Council’s task is to help the government in decision making based on a multidisciplinary exchange of opinions regarding the development of the epidemic, with their know-how and experience by providing scientifically-based advice, sharing their thoughts and recommending necessary measures to effectively curb the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease.

The scientists included in the Advisory Council are Croatian experts here and abroad who are not receiving any allowance for their voluntary work in the Council.

As has been the case so far, the government will consider the opinions of the Advisory Council when making its decisions, as well as all other parameters in this multi-dimensional crisis. While appreciating everyone’s contribution, the government makes its decisions completely independently and with full responsibility, and members of the Advisory Council are not responsible for them, the press release said.

The governments’ priority in the fight against coronavirus continues to be the protection of the health and lives of Croatian citizens by implementing optimum measures and minimising the negative effects on society and the economy in general.