Georgian Clinics Association urges gov’t to open field hospitals in big clinics, tighten regulations, avoid lockdown​​​​​​​

The Georgian Clinics Association has urged the government to open 100 to 500-bed field hospitals near big clinics which will be equipped with essential medical equipment to fight the coronavirus, as well as heating and air conditioning systems.

However, the statement says that in fighting the coronavirus, military doctors, military nurses and paramedics must be involved in addition to local and international experts. 

In order to improve the fight against coronavirus, it is necessary to tighten regulations, but not ‘lockdown.’ Georgia's economy and social sector will not be able to withstand the full restrictions. Maintaining jobs is vital,” says the announcement.

The Georgian Clinics Association says that the ‘Stay at home’ principle must be active especially for coronavirus vulnerable groups including old people and people with chronic diseases.

Other recommendations the association urges to be observed are:

• Limiting the number of passengers in public transport (travel must be allowed only in sitting position, social distance must be observed).
• Allowing only four people together in a 10 sq.m. area in shopping malls 
• Keeping four meters between tables in restaurants and cafes in open spaces
• Maintaining distance between chairs in beauty salons, as well as using disposable aprons and sanitising tools after serving each client
• Conducting rapid coronavirus tests on patients (the result of these tests are known in 10-15 minutes) in dental clinics before dental procedures

Georgia has reported 3,958 new cases of coronavirus today, of which 2,157 were registered in the capital city of Tbilisi, 417 in the Black Sea Adjara region and 537 in the Imereti region.

As for recoveries, 3,531 people recovered in the past 24 hours while the total number of recoveries has reached 89,170.

In total, 36 people died from coronavirus in Georgia in the past 24 hours. Since February 26, the day when the coronavirus case was first registered in Georgia, the country has reported 1,012 death cases.

Georgia has had 108,690 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020.