Georgia to receive 40,000 PCR tests from China tomorrow

Georgia will receive an additional 40,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests from China tomorrow, Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze has announced.

Gamkrelidze said on TV Pirveli today that the country currently has a total of 21,000 PCR tests in stock. 

• Health officials: Georgia has valid statistics of COVID-19, otherwise our hospitals will be overcrowded

He said that as of now, Georgia has received PCR tests from Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korean and China. By the end of the next week, some more 20,000 PCR tests will arrive from Germany as well. 

Later in May, 50,000 PCR tests will also be delivered from South Korea to fill up stocks. Georgia received 200,000 PCR tests from South Korea earlier on April 18. 

• Coronavirus in Georgia: what you need to know about testing

PCR testing is one of the main ways that global healthcare systems use to diagnose COVID-19, including in Georgia. It is a gold-standard in epidemiology for detecting viral matter in blood samples.

Georgia has confirmed 511 coronavirus cases since February 26, including 168 recoveries and six deaths.