Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic said on Tuesday that a public open air New Year's Eve celebration in Zagreb's main square would "most probably" be held, but warned that the national Covid-19 task force "might make some last-minute decisions, as the epidemiological situation is unpredictable."

Speaking to reporters after opening a dedicated post-Covid center at the city’s hospital for lung diseases, Tomasevic said that he had talked to the head of the national coronavirus task force, Minister of the Interior, Davor Bozinovic, about New Year Eve’s celebration in Zagreb.

Most cities in Croatia traditionally organize public open-air celebrations to usher in the New Year. This year however, the coronavirus restrictions and the arrival of the more contagious Omicron variant have meant that most local authorities have decided to put off making the decision on whether to hold a down-scaled event or nothing at all.

“For the time being most towns in Croatia, including Zagreb, are planning outdoor celebrations, so they will most probably be held – but considering the unpredictable epidemiological developments, notably the Omicron variant, some last-minute recommendations are possible,” said Tomasevic, adding that should the New Year’s Eve outdoor party in downtown Zagreb happen, it would still take place inside a fenced-off section of the main square, open only to revelers with Covid passes.