New restrictions on public gatherings will come into force on Monday due to a rise in the number of infections caused by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Interior Minister and head of the national COVID-19 crisis management team, Davor Bozinovic, said on Friday.

According to the new decision, the number of people allowed to attend public gatherings and events taking place outdoors is reduced from 100 to 50, while up to 200 people will be allowed to gather at events with COVID certificates and with a permission from the local COVID-19 crisis management team, Bozinovic said at a press conference.

Checks on restaurants and coffee bars to be stepped up

The number of people allowed to attend indoor public gatherings has been reduced from 50 to 25, with up to 100 people allowed at events with COVID certificates.

The limit for private gatherings has been reduced from 30 to 20 persons. If all participants have a COVID certificate, the number is capped at 50.

According to Bozinovic, there will currently be no changes affecting restaurants and coffee bars, but checks will be stepped up to monitor compliance with the restriction on the number of patrons, as well as with the requirements to maintain physical distance of 1.5 metres, to use masks when not at the table,  and to air and clean the establishment.

On Monday, a limit on the number of spectators at sports events will also be imposed, so they will be allowed to fill up a maximum of 20% of an individual grandstand for an indoor event, that is 40% for an outdoor event.

It is mandatory to wear masks at religious and art events, film screenings and exhibitions, as well as sessions of representative bodies.

Employers are obliged to organise remote work whenever possible.

Life and the economy must go on. We want to achieve the desired goal through the least repressive measures, in accordance with the principle of proportionality which is also assessed by the Constitutional Court for each case, Bozinovic said.