The so-called Delta plus strain of coronavirus is 10 percent more infectious than the Delta variant, and that it has been detected at three locations in Croatia, Health Minister, Vili Beros, said on Thursday, as record high numbers of Covid deaths are being reported, urging citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Delta Plus appeared last week in Croatia, and so far it has been reported in the cities of Cakovec, Split, and Zagreb, Beros said at a government session.

“It is of critical importance for citizens to get the booster dose as soon as possible so they can get maximum protection against the existing and new variants of the novel virus,” he said, adding that the third dose was particularly important in areas with a large number of new infections.

Large number of new cases, vaccination records

Beros went on to say that Croatia was registering needlessly high numbers of new infections, hospitalisations and fatalities, as well as vaccination records. On Wednesday alone, more than 27,000 vaccine doses were administered, including 16,000 that were administered as first shots. In the past 24 hours, the number of new cases among those tested was 42.48%.

So far, 58.67% of the adult population has been vaccinated, Beroš said, adding that 61,356 people had received the booster dose.

Mobile teams have vaccinated 49% of elderly persons whom they had contacted, an increase of 25% from the week before, he said.

Covid certificates not individual rights but protection of life, health

“Covid certificates, testing, compliance with epidemiological measures and vaccination are not about individual rights and freedoms but about a common response to the need to protect the lives and health of citizens in the new circumstances,” the minister said, noting that between 1 June and 4 November  2,635,968 COVID-19 certificates had been issued.

Even though hospitals have been restricting non-essential procedures, Beros said that so far “the provision of healthcare to all emergency and priority patients has been unobstructed at all stages of the epidemic.”

The ministry has therefore asked the Health Insurance Institute to analyze the capacity and need for diagnostic procedures and treatment for cancer patients as well as the possibility and need for additional procedures to be carried out by private providers of medical services.

“This is a precautionary measure aimed at securing the highest possible availability of medical care for all non-Covid patients with serious illnesses,” he said.

Team to make decision on mandatory Covid-19 certificates on Friday

The head of the national coronavirus crisis management team, Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic, said that the team would tomorrow make new decisions on the obligation to get tested for coronavirus as a precondition for work and provision of services, the exemption being persons with EU digital certificates.

He recalled that due to the worsened epidemiological situation in the country on 5 November restrictions on gatherings and stricter anti-epidemic rules were introduced, to stay in force until 30 November.