CEPA: Georgia and the pandemic - preparing for the worst, hoping for the best
In his analytical piece, Makharoblishvili mentions the major role of Georgia’s Lugar Laboratory in the fight against the pandemic. Photo: CEPA.
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The Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) has published an article in its analytical series Common Crisis written by Georgia’s First Deputy Minister Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, in which he details how Georgia is preparing for the worst but hoping for the best during the COVID-19 crisis.
In his analytical piece, Makharoblishvili mentions the major role of Georgia’s Lugar Laboratory in the fight against the pandemic.
Georgia’s Lugar Laboratory, part of the US Centre for Disease Control’s global network, has proved itself as a major strategic asset in the fight against COVID-19. Fully operational since 2013, the US-affiliated institution is my country’s highest-level medical laboratory. Reflecting its importance in the US-Georgia relationship, the Lugar Lab has also been the target of unfounded allegations and disinformation over the years”, writes Makharoblishvili.
As soon as the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Georgia, early interventions included closing schools, establishing quarantine zones, closing ski resorts, evacuating Georgian citizens from coronavirus-hit countries and closing borders, which have resulted in a slower spread of the disease.
Makharolblishvili also mentions the role of healthcare authorities, who adopted protocols, mobilized equipment and staff and prepared the Lugar Laboratory for the novel coronavirus.
In parallel with these measures, the government has been cushioning the economy with tax deferrals, allocation of funds, and mobilizing international financial aid, among other measures”, writes Makharoblishvili.
Effective crisis communication is one of the main tools with the help of which Georgia has managed to counter the “infodemic” from the Russian side, says Makharoblishvili.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially accused the Lugar Lab of developing diseases, as part of supposed US bio-warfare efforts. These activities are meant to grow social divisions, to foster despair and hopelessness”, reads the article.
Read the full story here.
UNDP Head in Georgia Louisa Vinton says Georgia’s response to the pandemic has undoubtedly saved lives and it will be studied in the future as a best practice. "But here, as everywhere in the world, COVID-19 has also exposed social vulnerabilities and economic imbalances. The UNDP therefore welcomes the resolve of Georgia’s leaders to go beyond ‘business as usual’ to design a recovery plan that builds on the positives and neutralizes the negatives to map out a path to a green, fair and inclusive future”, said Vinton.
Georgia is the safest country among 12 states of East Europe and Central Asia for Covid-19, reports Deep Knowledge Group. Deep Knowledge Group (DKG) has assessed countries based on 76 parameters to determine their treatment efficiency, healthcare readiness, quarantine efficiency, and government efficiency of risk management.