Health Ministry launches preventive measures against coronavirus throughout Georgia

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has launched preventive measures against the China-born coronavirus in places populated by Chinese all over the country.

Citizens of China work on the East-West highway, a new section of road being built on the Rikoti Pass and on several Hydro Power Plants all over the country.  Starting from today medics from NCDC will visit the workplaces to provide employees with relevant information about the symptoms of the virus”, said Amiran Gamkrelidze, the head of NCDC.

Gamkrelidze said that an individual with high temperature, cough or shortness of breath should urgently get medical assistance and treatment at infectious disease hospitalს, where the virus will be determined and decision will be taken by specialists for further action.

Amiran Gamkrelidze said that there is no special medicine against coronavirus, and the treatment method is similar to other viruses.

In this case, we should follow all the epidemiological standards, including isolation of patients and using proper equipment”, said Gamkrelidze.

The Georgian Health Ministry has dismissed reports by Georgian media outlet Alia that medical personnel have refused to check air passengers at Tbilisi International Airport for a new strain of China-born coronavirus “due to a lack of proper equipment and safety guarantees”.

The outlet cited a doctor whose name was not given as saying that the country is “absolutely unprepared” if the virus reaches Georgia.

The Health Ministry states that “none of the medics” have refused to check air passengers.