The Croatian Minister of Health, Vili Beroš, said on Friday after visiting the General Hospital in Pula that the number of people infected with the coronavirus per million inhabitants in Croatia is still lower than the average of the European Union, but due to the increase in the number of new cases of infection, there is no room for relaxation.

Minister Beroš confirmed that Croatia is recording a two-week rate of increase in the number of new infections, by 33 percent, but he believes that the numbers are not yet alarming.

"There is a growth trend, but it should be said that Croatia has 338 cases per million inhabitants, which is less than the EU average of 630 infected. The figures in some countries are even higher. For example, Germany has 1,200 and Slovenia 700 infected," said Beroš.

Variants Ba4 and Ba5 represent over 60 percent of infected people in Croatia in the past few weeks, added Beroš, who urged citizens, especially older chronically ill people, to get vaccinated.

"The existing vaccines also protect against new variants and the development of more severe forms of the disease. I urge elderly fellow citizens to get vaccinated now, and in the fall, in September, Croatia will receive vaccines for new variants," said the minister.