Health Minister Vili Beros said at a government session on Wednesday that the share of new COVID-19 cases among persons tested in the last 24 hours was 40.59 percent, and that 250 people were hospitalised, including 174 (70 percent) who had not been vaccinated.

“The number of new infections of two weeks ago is now evident in the significantly strained health system. COVID-19 wards are being set up on a daily basis and they are being filled with unvaccinated patients. They occupy beds intended for non-COVID patients, and 80% of those who have died should not have died,” he said.

So far 63% of the adult population has been vaccinated but the vaccination rate is still not sufficient to avoid the situation of last year when the health system was overburdened and the continuity of other medical services was ensured only owing to extreme efforts by medical workers, said Beros.

The pressure on hospitals is huge, non-essential procedures are being cancelled, additional staff are being mobilised and assigned to hospitals where they are needed, Beros said, once again calling on everyone to get vaccinated and for those who received the second shot six months ago to register for a booster dose.

He said that the interest in vaccination had increased, with more than 84,000 people getting vaccinated over the past week.

In the health system more than 77 percent of employees have been vaccinated, including more than 90 percent of doctors, he said.

Since the introduction of mandatory testing for persons without COVID-19 certificates in the system of public and local government, 210,165 people have been tested, with 4,293 turning out to be positive.

Interior Minister: Police investigating organisers of Saturday protest

Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic reported that police were investigating who organised a protest on Saturday against the COVID-19 certificate mandate. He added that two people had been identified so far and the police investigation was continuing.

“During the protest, media workers were verbally and physically assaulted, we particularly strongly condemn that. Those incidents have been reported to police who are investigating them. We have been in touch with the Croatian Journalists Union and the Croatian Journalists Association,” Bozinovic said.

Everyone should have the right to protest, but protests should be organised in line with the law, and any unlawful conduct identified will be investigated and reports filed accordingly, he said.