Croatia logged 188 new COVID cases since yesterday, Health Minister Vili Beros said during a government meeting on Thursday, stressing that the increase in the number of new cases is a call for caution.

The share of the newly infected in the number of tested population over the past 24 hours is 3.21 percent, Beros said, adding that 143 patients are currently hospitalised with COVID, of whom 11 are on ventilators.

The minister once again urged Croatians to get vaccinated.

He said that Croatia had so far used three million doses of vaccine, vaccinated 48.2 percent of the adult population, 43 percent with both doses.

The minister said 63.41 percent of employees in the health sector had been vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 57.8 percent had received both doses. According to Beros, among those who had been vaccinated, doctors were the most numerous, with 81.4 percent having received one dose and 76.07 percent both.

“If the rest of the population followed the example of our doctors, Croatia would achieve herd immunity and prevent the further spread of the virus,” Beros said.

As of today, Croatians can pick up their EU COVID certificates in pharmacies by showing their ID or health insurance cards.

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said that the rise in the number of new COVID cases was not a surprise, given a large number of tourists staying in Croatia. He reminded that new measures have recently been introduced in coastal counties, aimed at limiting large gatherings.