THE CROATIAN Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic refuses to self-isolate despite his close physical contact with tennis player Novak Djokovic, who was tested positive for coronavirus.

The government stated that Plenkovic was tested negative, but it doesn't mean he's not infected. The virus doesn't need to be detected immediately in the infected person's sample, and especially if the test sample was taken immediately after the contact with an infected person. 

Plenkovic also refuses having been in close contact with Djokovic, which could result in the transmission of the virus, although the Croatian Public Health Institute's criteria are quite clear.  

Beros says one thing, Plenkovic something else

Health Minister Vili Beros explained that "according to the rules of health organization," close contact means "a face-to-face contact longer than 15 minutes with a distance less than 2 meters in open public spaces, and more than 15 minutes without contact or with direct contact - shaking hands, touching, in enclosed public spaces."

Undoubtedly, there was contact between Plenkovic and Djokovic, proven with photographs of their encounter in Zadar, but now the Croatian Public Health Institute and Plenkovic are putting their back into proving that we are all blind and that the prime minister doesn't have to self-isolate, which also means that different rules apply to him than to other Croatian citizens. 

Why is Plenkovic still not in self-isolation. He literally touched Djokovic

Merkel was in self-isolation from March 22 until April 3

Plenkovic wouldn't be the first European leader to be self-isolated because of having contact with someone infected with the coronavirus. The German leader, Angela Merkel, has spent two weeks in self-isolation while carrying out Chancellor's duties.

Merkel was self-isolated from March 22 until April 2, a decision she made in five minutes after she found out she was in contact with an infected person. It turned out that the doctor who had administered the vaccine to Merkel was diagnosed with coronavirus.

How to lead by example

On the one hand, it was a much closer contact than the contact between Plenkovic and Djokovic. Still, on the other hand, there was a longer period from the risk contact, but the German Chancellor didn't want to risk nor to enjoy any privileges, but she led by example.

Of course, Merkel was tested for coronavirus several times during her self-isolation and was tested negative. Still, she worked from home, like many other people in the pandemic. 

However, perhaps it's too much to expect from Andrej Plenkovic to reach the same level as Angela Merkel in humanity, politics, and leadership.