Georgia starts fining individuals for not wearing face masks

Individuals will be fined 20 GEL (about $6.6/€5.8) for not wearing face masks in closed public areas, public transport and taxis starting today.

For the violation, legal entities will be fined 500 GEL (about $164/€145). 

However, some exceptions will be made for minors under the age of six, people with disabilities and people who have health problems that prevent them from wearing a mask.

Wearing face masks are necessary:

• at the front doors of public and private institutions
• at meetings held in public and private institutions when two meters social distancing cannot be observed
• in public lifts
• in shopping malls
• in beauty and aesthetic medicine centres
• in educational institutions
• in public transport including taxis, buses and metro

Georgia has also banned gatherings of more than 10 individuals for birthdays, weddings, funerals and other social events. 

All individuals at social events with more than 10 people will be fined 2,000 GEL (about $658/€582) and a legal entity will be fined 10,000 GEL (about $3,289/€2,908). 

The measure is temporary and will be in place until at least July 15.

Georgia has reported 15 new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 879. 

704 of the 879 patients have recovered, while 14 others have died. 

As of today 161 people remain infected with COVID-19 in Georgia.