Cleric, patriarchate guard test positive for coronavirus in Georgia
The Georgian Patriarchate has confirmed that a cleric has contracted the coronavirus. Photo: patriarchate.ge.
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One cleric and a guard of the Georgian patriarchate have tested positive for the coronavirus in Georgia, the patriarchate has confirmed.
The cleric and his family members, who were hospitalised yesterday, are undergoing treatment in Bochorishvili clinic in Tbilisi.
The cleric took part in a service several days ago, the patriarchate confirmed.
The Georgian Patriarchate stated in mid-March that there are individuals and media outlets in the country who ‘wrongly accuse the church of spreading the coronavirus’, as churches remain open and parishioners continue to take communion despite the state of emergency.
The Georgian Patriarchate said that they stick to the recommendations of the government and maintain distance between parishioners, however they say it would be wrong to close the doors of churches.
Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze and health officials have urged the public to stay home and pray there to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Georgian Patriarchate has responded to claims of inappropriate action in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, stating there are individuals and media outlets in the country that accuse the church of spreading the coronavirus, as churches remain open and parishioners continue to take communion.
Georgia has reported a total of 296 cases of the new coronavirus as of today. 68 of the 296 patients have recovered and three have died.There are also three Georgian citizens in the country who tested positive for the virus abroad and are undergoing treatment in Georgia. 223 patients remain infected with the virus in Georgia. A resident of Kaspi municipality in eastern Georgia has tested positive for the virus.
An 80-year-old woman who was previously in critical condition has recovered from the coronavirus and will be discharged from the first University Clinic of Tbilisi tomorrow, director of the clinic Levan Ratiani stated earlier today.
Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze has urged people, parishioners, to stay home and pray to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “As clerics frequently say and I also believe in this, God is omnipresent. We have the opportunity to stay home and pray and clerics will pray for us from churches”, Tikaradze said earlier today. Deputy Head of the National Disease Control Centre Paata Imnadze also urged parishioners to stay home and through doing so “protect the church and the whole country.”
A total of 92 Georgian citizens have been infected with coronavirus abroad and nine have died, Deputy Georgian Foreign Ministry Mikheil Ninua reported earlier today. He said, the majority of infected individuals have mild or less severe forms of the virus.
Starting tomorrow at 9 p.m. people will not be able to enter or leave the four main cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Rustavi for 10 days at least and the state of emergency will be prolonged until May 10 to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated earlier today at a special briefing. He said that people inside the four main cities will be able to use their vehicles per the state of emergency restrictions.
Coronavirus cases stand at 306 in Georgia as of today. 69 of the 306 people have recovered, while three other patients, elderly people with several underlying illnesses, have died. As of today Georgia has 232 active cases of the virus. The four main cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi - will be put under lockdown starting 9 p.m. today, for at least ten days, per a statement made by Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia yesterday to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.
Sheikh Mirtag Asadov, the chairman of the Supreme Religious Administration of Georgia's All Muslims and three other founders of the religious organisation have been summoned to the State Security Service of Georgia, reports the Human Rights and Monitoring Center (EMC).