Protesters outside the KBC Zagreb hospital on Monday morning booed Health Minister Vili Beros who came to the hospital to attend the launching of a new regime for health workers, under which as of 4 October they have to have certificates proving that they have got vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19.

As of Monday, employees in the healthcare and welfare systems have to present COVID-19 certificates or, if they do not have them, undergo testing for coronavirus. Those who refuse to be tested will lose their daily wage, said the hospital head, Ante Corusic, on Sunday.

The protesting healthcare workers outside the KBC Zagreb hospital would not let Beros speak, shouting ‘Betrayal’ and ‘Step down’, which prompted the minister to move his news conference to the hospital directorate.

“No beginning is easy. I can accept different opinions but the virus has been in our midst for a year and a half and to negate its existence is not justified. As we have been saying all along, the rules are temporary and we have really thought of everyone,” the minister said.

“I do not understand why someone does not want to get tested, what their motives are. I really cannot understand that,” he said.