Croatia to shut restaurants amid COVID-19 spike - Global Times

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday announced strict new measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, as a record high of 4,009 new cases and 51 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours.

The new measures which will be effective on Saturday and last at least until Dec. 21 include the closure of cafes, bars, and restaurants. Schools will remain open until further notice.

Plenkovic explained that the government had to introduce new restrictions because earlier measures had not stopped the surge in coronavirus cases.

"The key is our behavior. Even if a small number of people do not adhere to the measures, the infection will continue to spread, so even these measures will not be enough," Plenkovic told a press conference after a cabinet meeting, urging people to act responsibly and avoid any unnecessary physical contact.

"Complete lockdown is not realistic, neither economically nor politically," Plenkovic noted.