Coronavirus: number of confirmed cases in Georgia increases to 24
Head of the National Disease Control Centre of Georgia Amiran Gamkrelidze reported today that this new case is also connected with Italy. Photo: Shutterstock/Velimir Zeland
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Yet another individual has tested positive for the new China-born coronavirus in Georgia, increasing the total number of infected individuals to 24.
Head of the National Disease Control Centre (NCDC) of Georgia Amiran Gamkrelidze reported today that this new case is also connected with Italy.
Earlier today the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
Its Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that WHO is "deeply concerned" by "the alarming levels of spread and severity” as well as of “inaction" over the virus.
We have therefore made assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic”, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated.
Amid the new coronavirus outbreak Georgia has suspended direct flights with China, Iran and Italy, which are currently the largest centres of the outbreak.
Moreover, Georgian schools, universities and kindergartens will remain closed in the country until April 1 as a measure to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Although some sporting events have been cancelled in the country including the national football leagues and the Judo Grand Prix, the Rugby Europe Championship finale will be held in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi with the Georgian Lelos facing Russia.
Seven Georgian citizens who were evacuated from Italy on March 10 via a charter flight by Georgian Airways will be transferred to the Tbilisi Infectious Disease Hospital, as they had fever as a result of thermal screening at the Tbilisi International Airport yesterday, reports the Ministry of Health.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Iuri Nozadze has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, the ministry confirmed earlier today. Nozadze is among the eight individuals who tested positive for the virus yesterday. The ministry says that Nozadze’s family member tested positive for the virus last week and since that time he has been in isolation.
Head of the National Disease Control Centre (NCDC) of Georgia Amiran Gamkrelidze says that no internal transmission of Covid-19 virus has even reported inside the country and all 23 Georgian citizens who have tested positive for the virus were either in Italy, Iran, or had contact with individuals who traveled in Italy. He said that 11 of the 23 infected individuals belong to two families whose members traveled to Italy in February 2020.
Georgia has evacuated 156 citizens from Italy today via a charter flight by Georgian Airways as the Italian government has placed the entire country under lockdown. After thermal screening, the passengers will be placed in quarantine for 14 days.
De facto officials of the Russian occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia have announced that the Enguri Bridge crossing point, which connects the occupied region with the rest of the country, will close at 8 p.m. on March 14.
The Georgian government has announced that it is working in an emergency, round-the-clock regime after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of China-born Covid-19 virus a pandemic.Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated earlier today that the emergency mode will help the state, which has 24 confirmed cases of the respiratory infection, to cope with the virus-related challenge more effectively.
All foreign nationals who enter Georgia from Germany, France, Austria, Spain, China, Iran, South Korea and Italy will have to present a document confirming that they have been checked for the presence of the Covid-19 virus, otherwise they will be placed under 14-day quarantine in Georgia, PM Giorgi Gakharia stated today, after declaring the government’s emergency mode to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia recommends state agencies and private organisations to work remotely to avoid the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Georgian Government has urged citizens to avoid visits at public service halls, territorial offices and notary bureaus except in cases of extreme necessity for the next two weeks after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of China-born Covid-19 virus a pandemic. The restriction may apply to gatherings of 100 people or more.