PM Gakharia: no state of emergency will be declared, economy won’t be stopped
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has repeated that only local restrictions may be imposed to delay the spread of coronavirus in Georgia. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has stated that the government has no plans to declare a state of emergency or implement any other systemic restrictions amid the serious growth of coronavirus cases in Georgia.
He said that the recent surge in the new infections was ‘absolutely expected’ and the government has taken ‘all measures’ to get prepared for a second wave of coronavirus.
Gakharia said that imposing systemic restrictions during the first wave of the virus in the spring was ‘very necessary,’ as Georgia, like most of the countries worldwide, ‘did not even have enough face masks.’
Now, our health system is ready to manage the virus. We have done everything that could be done over the past six months. Now the government is able to manage the increased number of cases to help our people retain their jobs and help the state economy,” Gakharia said.
He stated that the government members will meet with business people in the coming days to evaluate the economic risks of the second wave of coronavirus.
Georgian PM said that declaring a state of emergency in March was reasonable as the country's health system needed to get prepared for the virus. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
We will discuss various mechanisms on how the government may help businesses again and will speak about the responsibility of companies to their employees,” Gakharia said.
He stated that the 112 emergency service is receiving thousands of calls on a daily basis and the calls have been diversified in various call centres.
The shortcomings in terms of the 112 service will be completely eradicated in a week's time,” Gakharia said.
He urged infected individuals who suffer from a mild form of the virus to refrain from demanding hospitalisation, which will allow patients in more serious condition to receive treatment in hospitals.
Forty-two kindergartens have been closed in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi since October 12 after teachers and kindergarteners tested positive for the coronavirus.
Coronavirus patients who are being treated in hospitals or are in isolation will be able to vote in the parliamentary elections in Georgia on October 31, announces the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia.
The recent election polls commissioned by Rustavi 2 TV channel which was conducted by British company Survation say that the ruling Georgian Dream party is expected to receive almost 56 per cent of votes, while polls commissioned by the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi says the party will receive 26,2 per cent of votes in the October 31 parliamentary elections.
A National Democratic Institute survey predicts 88 per cent of eligible voters will vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 31, noting 59 per cent have not decided yet who they will vote for.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that Georgian opposition parties, ‘who have zero chance of winning the October 31 parliamentary elections, are trying to make people panic about the coronavirus situation in the country.
Georgian epidemiologists say that daily coronavirus cases in Georgia may peak in the middle of November.
Georgia has reported 1,194 new cases of coronavirus and 15 deaths in the past 24 hours. Capital Tbilisi and Imereti region in the country’s west are on top of the list with 425 and 372 new cases respectively.
Georgia has reported 1,194 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 60 of them are medical workers, says Head of the National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze.
Twelve local NGOs have urged the Georgian government to inform people about the decisions it may make to ensure the safe conduct of the October 31 parliamentary elections amid a serious increase in coronavirus cases.