The government is considering introducing mandatory COVID certificates in social welfare institutions, but not in educational institutions, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Monday.

Addressing the press after a meeting of the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leadership on Monday evening, party leader and Prime Minister Plenkovic said that Health Minister Vili Beros had already sent an open letter to employees in the healthcare system, announcing that as of October 1 doctors, nurses, and non-medical staff will be able to come to work only if they have been vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19, or have a negative test.

“We are thinking of similar measures for social protection institutions. It is a logical and normal move wherever there is direct risk for our senior citizens and citizens with underlying health conditions whose health could be further deteriorated if they contract COVID-19,” Plenkovic said.

Considering schools, such measure is not on the table yet, he said.

He also slammed the anti-maskers protest outside a primary school in the northern Croatian village of Krapinske Toplice.

“People can pretend that there is no COVID-19. But it does exist,” Plenkovic said, underscoring that this infectious disease has so far taken millions of lives worldwide, including more than 8,000 lives in Croatia.

He said that one cannot ignore the intrusive behaviour of anti-maskers towards schools and announced the deployment of security staff in schools.