Photo taken on April 15, 2020 shows the Lazzarettos complex, a medieval quarantine facility built in the 16th century and currently a place of recreation, trade and entertainment, in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Croatia's Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Wednesday that Croatia will extend the COVID-19 lockdown that expires on Sunday. According to the latest numbers presented on Wednesday afternoon at the daily press briefing for the epidemic, there are currently 1,741 cases of COVID-19 in Croatia. So far, 33 people have died from the disease, while 473 people have recovered. (Grgo Jelavic/Pixsell via Xinhua)
ZAGREB, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Croatia's Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Wednesday that Croatia will extend the coronavirus lockdown that expires on Sunday.
He said during an interview with RTL news channel that the Civil Protection Headquarters is following the advice of epidemiologists who believe that the number of new COVID-19 cases should be in a downfall for five to seven days before the country is ready to ease preventive measures.
"Croatia has a really good result according to the average number of patients. Of course, we are sorry for every deceased person, but our health system is not burdened as in other countries and we hope that it will allow us to think about loosening soon. We have to be clear and say that loosening probably means an increase of risk of newly infected people," Bozinovic told RTL.
He explained that the extension of the lockdown might last shorter than 30 days, but he cannot say when it would end. "It all depends on an epidemiological situation because our priority is to safeguard people's life," the minister said.
Croatia has placed orders for medical supplies with Chinese manufacturers since late March. The most recent batch of about 60 tons of protective equipment, including 3.7 tons donated by China, arrived on Sunday boarding a direct cargo flight between Shanghai and Zagreb.
According to the latest numbers presented on Wednesday afternoon at the daily press briefing for the epidemic, there are currently 1,741 cases of COVID-19 in Croatia. So far, 33 people have died from the disease, while 473 people have recovered.
