(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 27 NOV - ZAGREB, NOVEMBER 27 - From tomorrow, Croatia will enforce a partial lockdown with the closure of bars and restaurants to reduce the coronavirus spread. The new restrictive measures will be in effect until December 21. Besides bars and restaurants, gyms and various recreational activities will also have to close, but not theaters, cinemas, shopping centers, hairdressers, beauticians, and small artisans.

All social and cultural activities can occur but with the participation of a maximum of 25 people, even indoors, and in strict compliance with hygiene measures. Weddings are not allowed, and more than 25 people cannot even attend funerals. In public transportation, the government reduced the passenger capacity to 40% of the maximum capacity under normal conditions.

The government asked schools and universities to switch to distance learning. This lockdown is, however, much less restrictive than the one introduced in the spring.

Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic explained that "it would probably be better to close everything, but this is not economically and politically realistic." "Croatia is not a very rich country and must also think about maintaining economic and social activities,"' he said. Even today Croatia with 4,080 new infections, hits the daily record of Covid cases. Another 48 people died, bringing the death toll to 1,600. The number of patients in the hospital is also very high, to date 2,240, out of which 266 are in intensive care. (ANSA).