Procedures for inspecting travelers entering Croatia have been established to ensure the highest levels of protection for public health and travelers with minimal disturbance to international traffic. Since 24 February 2020, preventive measures have been in effect which include medical supervision of persons who have spent time in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Iran, Singapore, South Korea, and the Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont regions of Italy.
For persons who have spent time in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Iran, Singapore or South Korea in the last fourteen days, and those who have arrived into Croatia from the Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont regions of Italy after 23 February, the following measures are being implemented for a duration of fourteen days after leaving affected areas:
• Active medical supervision, which means regularly informing the territorially assigned (based on a person’s place of residence) Supervisory Epidemiologist of the person’s medical condition
• Self-isolation in line with the Border Health Inspector’s official decision on subjecting the persons to medical supervision for purposes of monitoring the possible development of respiratory disease symptoms.
Furthermore, those that have arrived before 24 February from the affected countries and Italian regions within the last fourteen days, and have developed respiratory symptoms, must under no circumstances enter the collective (attending classes and other events) and are instructed to contact their doctor immediately.
The officially identified affected areas are CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, IRAN, SINGAPORE, SOUTH KOREA, AND THE LOMBARDY, VENETO, EMILIA-ROMAGNA, AND PIEDMONT REGIONS OF ITALY.
- Active medical supervision of healthy students coming from the affected areas who have declared in their medical history that they have not had close contact with sick persons: ALWAYS IN SELF-ISOLATION at home or in a hall of residence (officially organized accommodation), during which these healthy students may live with other persons (e.g. these healthy students may share their student dormitories with other students).
- Active medical supervision of healthy students (no apparent symptoms) who have recently arrived from affected areas and have been in close contact with sick persons: ALWAYS IN SELF-ISOLATION at home or in a hall of residence (officially organized accommodation), during which time the student in question must be living alone and segregated from others. Therefore, whenever possible, the hall of residence will ensure that such the student in question remains in his or her student dormitory alone, segregated and not share the dormitory with other students. The hall of residence must also organize for the student to eat in their room, as opposed to a communal mess hall, and not to use shared areas, such as sanitary facilities. If the student in question does not live alone or if it is not possible to organize a segregated student dormitory for the student in question, they must stay in an ORGANISED QUARANTINE.
- Students coming from affected areas and exhibiting some of the respiratory symptoms (sudden onset of any symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath) are automatically treated as infected persons until the infection is ruled out through microbiological analysis, which requires hospitalization.
Students under active medical supervision in self-isolation (items 1 and 2) do not attend class during this protective measure.
Given that the epidemiological situation can quickly change, and these recommendations may be updated to respond to such changes, all persons are advised to stay informed by following the CIPH and Ministry of Health websites, where up-to-date information about the coronavirus and preventive measures are published daily.
In addition to the above mentioned, for officially organized student accommodation, such as campuses, halls of residence, including lecture halls, sanitary facilities, and mess halls, the following conditions must be ensured:
• Supplies for handwashing with soap and running water, drying hands with single-use towels, or the use of alcohol-based disinfectants.
• Absence from classes for academic staff and students who show symptoms of respiratory tract infections, suffering from fever, sore throat, shortness of breath and cough.
• Airing all rooms regularly, at least twice a day.
• Encouraging spending time outdoors whenever the weather allows it.
Students and the general public must be reminded to strictly adhere to the following general protective measures:
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based disinfectant.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover the mouth and nose with a paper tissue, then discard the paper tissue into a bin and immediately wash hands.
• Avoid close contact with persons showing symptoms of respiratory tract infections, those suffering from fever, sore throat, shortness of breath and cough.
Croatian Institute of Public Health
Zagreb, 27 February 2020, 3 p.m.
Revised version according to the current epidemiological situation.