The number of people infected with coronavirus COVID-19 in Croatia has risen overnight to 481 with 14 patients on respirators.

On Thursday, the National Headquarters announced that there are 39 new coronavirus patients, meaning in total 481 are infected in Croatia, this is a jump of 63 patients from yesterday morning.

"There is no exponential growth in new cases, it is extremely important, 3,958 suspected patients have been tested. There are 14 patients on respirators," commented the Croatian Minister of Health, Vili Beros.

The Minister of the Interior, Davor Bozinovic, thanked all citizens who are respecting the measures introduced by the government.

"The measures being taken are expected to continue to deliver results. It is important that everyone who is not in the emergency services has to slow down the pace to conserve resources and energy for health professionals, police, shops supplying people, security guards. The message to citizens is to be home, we are doing everything possible to keep this situation under control," said Bozinovic.

Whilst the Chief of Police, Nikola Milina, added that “Yesterday we received confirmation from epidemiological services that we have the first two cases of police officers infected with coronavirus. But I have to point out that our officers, together with health professionals, are at the most exposed so we carry out regular tests.”

And the director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Krunoslav Capak, said that "We have 18 healthcare workers who have tested positive, six are specialized doctors, seven are nurses and two are dentists. The age average of patients throughout Croatia is 49 years, there are 18,601 people in self-isolation, including 546 health professionals who are in self-isolation."

However, the Health Minister emphasized that “Despite the spread of contamination in healthcare facilities, we have enough healthy doctors in the healthcare system."

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