Will cemeteries close on Easter due to the coronavirus outbreak?
The cemeteries in Kutaisi and Zestafoni will be closed on Easter for three days. Photo: Agenda.ge.
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Every year on the day after Orthodox Easter, Georgians visit the graves of their loved ones, bringing with them Easter eggs painted red, traditional pastries and wine to commemorate those who have passed.
But this year, given the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the tradition poses a risk to public health.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said yesterday that cemeteries of Tbilisi and other large cities may thus be closed, and that the decision would be made in one or two days.
The cemeteries in Kutaisi and Zestafoni will be closed on Easter for three days,” said State Representative in Imereti Zviad Shalamberidze earlier today. He added that it is not decided yet on which days cemeteries will be closed on April 19-21 or on April 18-20.
Starting 9 p.m. today the four main cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi - will be placed under lockdown, preventing people from leaving or entering the cities for ten days at least.
The number of 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.
Starting 9 p.m. today the four main cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi - will be placed under lockdown, preventing people from leaving or entering the cities for ten days at least. 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.
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.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia are celebrating one of the most significant dates in the religious calendar, Easter. The Easter Eve liturgy marked the end of 48 days of fasting, which started on March 11.
In a tiny mountainous village of Partskhnali in Western Georgia, long-term resident Elguja Kharadze could not sleep a wink last night.
The Georgian government and the patriarchate have reached a long-awaited deal that the traditional Easter service on Saturday night will be held with police supervision despite the curfew.However, the Georgian government calls on worshippers to stay home and follow the state of emergency regulations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Georgia has reported 30 new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 336. 74 of the 336 patients have recovered, while three others have died. As of today Georgia has 257 active cases of the virus. 5,000 people are under quarantine in Georgia and 494 others are in hospitals. The four main cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi - have been put under lockdown for at least ten days starting April 15.
If people don’t stay home, the collapse of the healthcare system will be inevitable in Georgia, the Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze said in an interview with Rustavi 2 earlier today.
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).
Georgia has reported 34 new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 370. Of the 370 patients 77 have recovered, while three others have died. As of today Georgia has 293 active cases of the virus. A total of 5,035 people are under quarantine in Georgia and 540 others are in hospitals.
With countrywide restrictions on private vehicle use imposed by the Georgian government on Friday to ramp up its efforts against the coronavirus outbreak, the capital city's streets were uncharacteristically quiet over the weekend, and citizens were out enjoying springtime.