Reintegration Minister says gov’t ‘sparing no efforts’ to assist occupied regions deal with COVID-19 crisis

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said that as of now, a total of 188 people have been brought from the occupied regions to Tbilisi-controlled territory. Photo: Reintegration Ministry press office

Agenda.ge, 14 May 2020 - 22:52, Tbilisi,Georgia

The number of individuals infected with coronavirus is increasing in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said earlier today. 

Reportedly, occupied Abkhazia has confirmed a total of 17 cases of coronavirus, including two recoveries and one death. Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in occupied Tskhinvali region stands at 30. 

Minister Tsikhelashvili said that taking into consideration the increasing rate of the infection in both occupied regions ‘all the measures should be taken’ to avoid community transmission of the virus. 

Tsikhelashvili said the central government spares no efforts - in the limited capacity caused by the Russian occupation and the closure of crossing-points between the occupied regions and the rest of Georgia - to help the local residents deal with the coronavirus crisis on the ground.

She also added that the newly opened hospital in the village of Rukhi located about a kilometre from Enguri Bridge, which connects Abkhazia with the rest of Georgia, ‘is fully prepared’ to serve patients from the occupied region. 

As of now, 188 people have been brought from the occupied regions to Tbilisi-controlled territory amid the coronavirus pandemic. 80 of them are taking medical services at various hospitals free of charge, while others are either in self-isolation or the quarantine zones.