Božinović rejects speculation that vaccination could be made mandatory

1 291 new positive coronavirus test results have been registered over the past 24 hours, with a test positivity rate of just under 12.6%. 260 of the new positive test results are school aged children.

The National Civil Protection Directorate has announced that the validity of COVID certificates will definitely be extended to one year, but once again rejected speculation that vaccination will be mandatory. The head of the directorate, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Davor Božinović: "From the very outset we have been saying that vaccination will not be mandatory, precisely because it is important that everyone make their own decision on the matter. In a way that we raise the level of trust in science, including through these kinds of discussions, of which there are more and more. Without science it is questionable what manner of life would populate our planet today."

As of October 1st all health sector workers will be required to have a COVID certificate indicating that they have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus. Those who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus, will have to be tested twice a week. Initially, testing will be free, but later workers will have to cover the cost themselves. This has drawn criticism and even a protest from those who oppose the measure. However, the head of the Chamber of Nurses and Healthcare Technicians, Mario Gazić, does not feel that the measure is repressive: "I would agree that no one is being forced into this, and that health sector workers have a choice between vaccination or a COVID certificate, meaning a valid negative test. We can also note that as opposed to some other western countries such as France and Italy, which have introduced mandatory vaccination, we still have the mildest measures, both in terms of health sector workers and those who are not. I think we need to sit down at the table, have an open dialogue, and agree what is in the best interests for the Croatian health sector."

Health Minister Vili Beroš called on all health sector workers to get vaccinated: "Those who do not want to get testes, a procedure that is not invasive, which does not put any chemicals into our bodies, and which is relatively quick, they will not be able to come into work and will create a problem for the entire health care system."

Meanwhile, epidemiologists say that since mid-September children aged ten to 19 represent the biggest portion of new positive test results, displacing the 30 to 39 age group. 260 or 20 percent of today's infections are students. The Director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health Krunoslav Capak: "The most important thing is that depending on the epidemiological situation, only students who were seated within a two meter radius of the infected student will be put into self-isolation. This will also apply to students who commuted in close proximity to, and for a period of longer than fifteen minutes, with the student who has in the meantime tested positive."

Source: HRT