Gov’t: no systemic lockdown for now, consultations needed

The government of Georgia has announced that it will not place a systemic lockdown into effect today as Georgian media outlets had earlier reported. 

• Coronavirus: Georgia reports 3,128 new cases, 3,045 recoveries, 39 deaths

Vice-PM Maia Tskitishvili says that the media reports were ‘wrong and misleading.’ 

No such decision has been made so far. To make the decision active consultations are needed and we are doing so with the business community and other actors,” Tskitishvili said. 

She said that new restrictions may concern malls and more hours may be added to the curfew. 

Tskitishvili said that malls may be closed for several working days. 

Government says that the opposition rallies sparked the increase of coronavirus cases in Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge. 

She stated that the government will exercise a ‘more effective control’ on wearing facemasks, as ‘it is one of the most effective measures to prevent the further spread of coronavirus.’ 

• Facemasks mandatory in open public areas in Georgia 

Tskitishvili said that the opposition’s election-related rallies sparked a surge in new infections. 

The government would not have imposed restrictions during the rallies as it is part of democracy and is the constitutional right of people,” Tskitishvili said. 

Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze stated that ‘indeed, rallies sparked the increase of coronavirus cases in Georgia.’ 

She stated that there is no need for now to open field hospitals as ordinary hospitals and hotels are able to admit the Covid-19 patients who need this. 

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

Tikaradze said that more hospitals will admit the coronavirus patients in the coming days, adding that the country will have 12,000 beds for Covid-19 patients.