The improved epidemiological situation in Croatia has led to the relaxation of some of the anti-epidemic measures coffee shops can cater for guests outdoors until midnight, the national Covid-19 crisis management team said on Friday.

The team’s head, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, told a news conference in Zagreb that school gyms could also reopen their doors, and conferences could be organized provided that other restrictions in place were respected.

Bozinovic, however, called for caution and urged Croatians to refrain from large gatherings in town squares during the European Football Championship in June.

Arrivals from EU further facilitated

Arrivals from European Union member-states are now possible without any restrictions if a person is fully vaccinated and they can enter Croatia immediately after they receive the second shot, Bozinovic explained.

The head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), Krunoslav Capak, informed the news conference that this week Croatia had 22.9 percent fewer new coronavirus cases compared to the week before. The incidence rate is the lowest in Istria and highest in Medjimurje, he added. Croatia’s incidence rate is now lower that the average incidence rate in the EU, and in the last seven days, the share of positive tests was 3.4 percent.

Markotic calls for vaccination of younger citizens, too

Alemka Markotic, the head of the Zagreb-based clinic for infectious diseases, said that the new coronavirus numbers were declining in most European countries, however, a gradual rise in the occurrence of the Indian /Delta variant gave rise to concern.

The epidemiologist called for inoculation of citizens in younger age cohorts. “A considerable number of countries are making plans to start inoculating children aged 12-16. Procedures are under way to approve the Moderna vaccine for that age group, and the Pfizer vaccine has been already approved for children,” Markotic said.