Online shopping services may continue if safety standards met

Online shopping for all items except food and medical supplies has been suspended in Georgia until April 21 - the date until when the state of emergency is in force - in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

If other companies can show that their operations meet safety standards they will also be able to continue providing online shopping services.

• 18 economic activities allowed in Georgia during state of emergency

Any company caught violating this rule will be fined 15,000 GEL (about $4,566/€4,181).

The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia said on Imedi TV’s Imedis Kvira that the provision of "elementary safety conditions" is critically important in the field of service as there are "too many people" involved in this sphere who are in contact with clients, "with our citizens". 

I personally guarantee that all companies that comply with these [safety] conditions will be granted permission to continue such activities in the coming days. Generally, we are talking about strict quarantine for a limited period. We all understand very well that our financial reserves are not large. Unfortunately we are not neither Britain nor Germany to be able to finance our citizens sitting at home for months. All of us together, no matter how challenging this situation is, will have to start work and this period will come very soon", Gakharia said.

Gakharia added that the basic principle of the government is minimal damage to the economy.

Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said that "very soon we will establish specific rules and considerations" to determine what businesses can engage in e-commerce.