Several thousand Croats gathered in Zagreb on Saturday to protest against the measures imposed by the authorities against the coronavirus, which protesters say violate their freedom and human rights.
Read also: Coronavirus: outcry in Australia after the arrest of a mother opposed to the restrictions
"
The Covid is a lie, we are not all Covidiots
", or even "
Take off the mask, turn off the TV, live your life to the fullest
", said some signs held up by protesters from all over the country.
The rally was baptized "
Festival of freedom
" by the organizers, members of civil society for whom government measures "
restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens
" without "
valid medical or legal basis
", while imposing "
psychic distancing and deprivation of psychic contact
”.
On Facebook, Minister of Health Vili Beros reacted by saying that he could not approve "
an unscientific approach to Covid-19
".
“
All temporary restrictions had only one goal: to protect the health and lives of Croatian citizens.
We have succeeded in this,
”he added.
The country of 4.2 million inhabitants had gone through the first months of the pandemic by recording less than 100 contaminations per day, and almost more new cases from mid-May.
But the number of contaminations has jumped since Croatia reopened its borders to summer visitors, surpassing 200 per day in August and reaching a record 369 new cases on Thursday.
Since mid-July, the wearing of a mask has been compulsory in public transport, shops and all services in contact with customers.
The number of people allowed to assemble varies by region.
Croatia, which is part of the EU, has so far recorded nearly 12,000 cases of coronavirus and 197 deaths linked to the disease.