Croatia imposes nationwide indoor mask mandate

Following a recent spike in the number of new coronavirus cases, Croatian authorities have imposed a nationwide indoor mask mandate and announced new requirements for some public gatherings. Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, who also heads the national coronavirus response team, announced Monday that mask wearing will be mandatory in all enclosed spaces, including churches and restaurants.

All public gatherings of over 50 people - including sporting and cultural events, but also weddings and funerals - will have to be individually approved by the authorities five days in advance. On Monday, the total number of confirmed infections in Croatia — a country of some 4 million -- stood at over 20,600, including 327 deaths. The spread of infection in Croatia has been accelerating recently, with a seven-day total of new cases nearly quadrupling from three weeks ago to reach 763 this Sunday.