Balkan Cafe Life Resumes as COVID Restrictions are Eased

Croatia on Monday started another phase of lifting preventative measures that were imposed in mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Cafes, restaurants, shopping malls and parts of schools reopened on Monday but with the observance of special epidemiological measures. Intercity travel, rail services and domestic air transport also reopened.

Many peple are also once again able to enjoy their favourite form of socializing - in cafes. Owners must ensure a distance of 1.5 metres between tables, and patrons are required to keep the same distance. Waiters must wear protective masks and gloves and provide guests with disinfectant. The changes come after the number of new infections in Croatia fell to single digits.

In neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, restrictive measures introduced to prevent the spread of the pandemic gradually eased from Monday. In the mainly Serbian Republika Srpska entity, restaurants and coffee bars, hairdressers, gyms, kindergartens all reopened. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other entity, some measures eased last week.

Davor Pehar, director of the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said on Monday that conditions had been met to ease restrictive measures, primarily in kindergartens, public transport, cafes and dentists.

Customers sit in a cafe in Zagreb, Croatia. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT.

A woman wearing a face mask reads a newspaper in a cafe in Zagreb. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT.

Man stirs his coffee in a cafe in Zagreb. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT.

A waiter brings cushions for chairs in a cafe in Zagreb. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT.

A customer enjoys a coffee and a smoke in a cafe on the Island of Mali...