Health minister: at least 1,000 people will be tested for COVID-19 daily

At least 1,000 individuals will be tested for COVID-19 in Georgia on a daily basis, Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said earlier today. 

She stated that transit truck drivers and the people living in shelters will be included on the targeted list, which will include people who are at higher risk of contracting the virus, such as medical personnel, food shop employees, pharmacists, bank employees and others. 

Head of National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze says that the country has plans to test 1,500 - 1,700 people daily until May 15. 

He said that the figure will likely then increase to 2,000 - 2,500 people after May 15 as various, coronavirus-related restrictions will be lifted at that time, and more testing will be warranted. 

Georgia will use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in the process. 

Georgia reported its first case of COVID-19 on February 26, 2020, while the country reported its first cases of community transmission of the virus by the end of March 2020. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

As of April 29, 13, 673 people have been tested for coronavirus in Georgia. 

Georgian health officials say that there has not been a need to test many people for COVID-19 as Georgia enacted coronavirus restrictions in a timely fashion and the country reported community transmission of the virus only by the end of March. 

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

Many foreign states and organisations have praised Georgia’s efforts in what has been an effective fight against the spread of the coronavirus.

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

The country reported 22 new cases of coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 539. 

178 patients of the 539 have recovered, while six others have died. 

As of today 353 remain infected with COVID-19 in Georgia.