ABSTRACT
Introduction: One of the main concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic was the overload of health care sector capacities. The objective of this paper was to show peak numbers of selected indicators during the three COVID-19 waves in Croatia and ensure information that will enable revision of preparedness plan and potential hospitals` (re)organization. Method(s): Retrospective analysis of COVID-19 testing, infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, mechanical ventilation support and deceased data collected via capacity surveillance in the Republic of Croatia during the first three waves. Result(s): Peak hospital bed occupancy rates observed in the 2nd and 3rd waves were 70.19% and 54.60%, compared to maximum capacity during the COVID-19 wave, and 168.90% and 131.38%, compared to maximum capacity between waves, while ICU beds occupancy rates were 75.51% and 70.73%, and 170.51% and 160.37%, respectively. Peak daily numbers were as follows (first/ second/third wave);positive persons: 53/4827/3198;tested persons: 1984/13325/11622;total hospitalized persons: 372/2976/2315;total mechanical ventilation needed: 31/306/278;total ICU hospitalized: unknown/370/348;deceased: 8/92/52. Conclusion(s): During pandemic waves, the requirements for hospital and ICU beds significantly exceeded standard available health sector capacities. The system has acutely adjusted by increasing the number of beds available for COVID-19 patients. However, given the peaks observed so far, a permanent additional increase or reorganization of hospital capacity is needed to ensure that during the upcoming waves non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients won't be endangered or part of the staff overloaded. Copyright © 2021, University Hospital of Infectious Diseases. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
This research examines the best practices and challenges of teaching during COVID-19 pandemic crises in Croatia. The corona crisis significantly affected the way of teaching in higher education as well as the way of conducting exams. This chapter investigates how digital technology influence the teaching practices in higher education during this crisis as well as the challenges that comes with application of new technologies. Moreover, this chapter provides overview of the influence of COVID-19 on teaching practices in higher education. Finally, the best practices and challenges of teaching during COVID-19 pandemic crises in Croatia were analyzed. The special attention was given to overview of historical facts and innovation processes of study programs at Faculty of Economics & Business - Zagreb as well as to e-learning practices before and during COVID-19 pandemic crises. © 2022 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
ABSTRACT
The City of Zagreb in Croatia and its surroundings have experienced two strong earthquakes within nine months of 2020. Putting this in the context of the increased workload of healthcare facilities due to Covid-19, the distribution system operator (DSO) is encouraged to look for unconventional solutions such as integrating the battery energy storage system (BESS) to supply healthcare facilities during network fault conditions or other extreme network events. The BESS size and location are determined by optimization model, while the control system of the BESS converter, based on the virtual synchronous machine (VSM) concept, is define to test BESS ability to supply critical consumers in the off-grid mode. The models are tested and verified on several real world situations in Zagreb MV distribution network. Future developments and scenarios are also simulated to verify the robustness of the proposed investment. © 2022 IEEE.