Georgian gov’t introduces further coronavirus restrictions until Jan. 31

Georgian health officials have welcomed the new coronavirus regulations introduced by the Georgian government today, while the opposition parties have called them ‘irresponsible and unreasonable.’

The government of Georgia has imposed further restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country today, however to ease the burdens for businesses and the public the government has also announced supportive measures. 

Georgia has reported 3,801 new cases of coronavirus, 3,200 recoveries and 39 deaths in the past 24 hours. 18,759 individuals remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia as of today. Georgia has had 118,690 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. Since then 98,781 individuals have recovered, while 1,124 others have died. 6,165 patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals as of today. 986 of the 6,165 patients are in critical condition. 452 of the 986 critical patients are on artificial ventilation. 

Georgia has reported 3,071 new cases of coronavirus, 3,366 recoveries and 34 deaths in the past 24 hours. 18,197 individuals remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia as of today. Georgia has had 114,889 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. Since then 95,581 individuals have recovered, while 1,085 others have died. 6,145 patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals as of today. 886 of the 6,145 patients are in critical condition. 324 of the 886 critical patients are on artificial ventilation. 

The government of Georgia has announced that it will not place a systemic lockdown into effect today as Georgian media outlets had earlier reported. Vice-PM Maia Tskitishvili says that the media reports were ‘wrong and misleading.’ 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.’ Tskitishvili said that the opposition’s election-related rallies sparked a surge in new infections. 

Planned operations will be postponed until March 1, 2021 announced Georgian Health Minister Ekaterina Tikaradze. "We have had a number of cases where an individual who was not infected with Covid-19 went to the clinic for a specific operation and after the operation he/she was confirmed positive with the infection. Therefore, we decided to limit planned surgeries and postpone the delay until March 1," Tikaradze told local Imedi TV.

Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Matchavariani said that the new restrictions imposed by the government today give ground to revise the economic growth rate of 2021.

Georgia has reported 4,780 new cases of coronavirus, 3,489 recoveries and 37 deaths in the past 24 hours. Georgia has had 123,470 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. Since then 102,270 individuals have recovered, while 1,161 others have died. 6,251 patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals as of today. 976 of the 6,251 patients are in critical condition. 375 of the 976 critical patients are on artificial ventilation. 

About 70 employees of the cardiology clinic ‘Heart’ located in Tbilisi have tested positive for coronavirus.

Fitness club Reformer Fitness in Batumi has been closed by police and fined 10,000 GEL after it was rented out by libertarian Girchi party leader Zurab Japaridze, who offered the public to use the facility – what Japaridze called his ‘home’ – despite the coronavirus regulations forbidding the functioning of gyms.

Police have recorded 1,244 coronavirus-related violations in the past 24 hours throughout the country.

Out of the 1,244 individuals, 67 were fined for violating self-isolation and quarantine, while 1,177 were fined for violating face mask regulations.

State-owned enterprises have lost about 130 million GEL in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic reads the Fiscal Risk Analysis Document which accompanies the final version of the 2021 draft budget.

Over the last 24 hours the Georgian Interior Ministry has registered 1,028 cases of the coronavirus regulations which were introduced on November 26 to curb the spread of Covid-19 across the country. 

Georgian restaurant owners have offered a five-point plan to PM Giorgi Gakharia to save the hospitality sector, noting that the recent measures damage their businesses and it is hard for them to work only on takeaway and still fulfill their other financial obligations.

Shopping malls and branded retailers have released a joint statement today, demanding the Georgian government allow them to operate between December 15 to January 3.

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia has temporarily closed museums and natural reserves to visitors due to the pandemic in the country.

The government of Georgia says that several coronavirus restrictions which were scheduled to be lifted between December 24 and January 2 will not take place to preserve a ‘positive dynamic’ in curbing the spread of the virus.The government says that the restrictions imposed since November 28 have made the situation stable.“However, the rate of daily infections is still high and lifting the restrictions as was previously scheduled may have a negative influence on the general situation,” said the government. 

Shopping centres will open their doors between December 24 and January 2 from 7 am to 7 pm. 

Shopping centres that opened in Georgia for the Christmas and New Year's holidays have closed again due to coronavirus restrictions. January 3-15 has been declared a winter holiday in Georgia which means that no public or private institutions will work, except for banks and other strategic facilities. 

Georgia has reported 2,316 new cases of coronavirus, 382 recoveries and 18 deaths in the past 24 hours. 6,620 individuals remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia as of today, while the figure stood at 20,393 on November 28, 2020 when the government imposed further restrictions to curb the spread of the virus until January 31, 2021. 14,511 tests have been conducted in the past 24 hours around the country. 9,300 of the 14,511 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 5,211 were PCR tests. 

Georgian Patriarch Ilia II and other members of the patriarchate have tested negative for coronavirus, Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze has stated. The tests have been conducted at the patriarchate after the secretary of Ilia II, Shorena Tetruashvili, contracted the virus earlier this week. 

Georgia has decided to maintain the coronavirus restrictions until February 1, which means that municipal transport in big cities will continue to be suspended; shopping malls will not open until the end of the month.

To open the shopping malls safely starting February 1, mall employees may be regularly tested for coronavirus, said Deputy Economy Minister Irakli Nadareishvili earlier today.

Hotels in mountainous tourist areas of Georgia will have to be allowed to receive visitors starting February 1 in order to revive the tourist sector "from dead", founder of the Georgian Hotel, Restaurant and Café Federation (HOREKA) Shalva Alaverdashvili said in a press briefing on Friday.

The government of Georgia has decided to reduce the cost of a first year permit fee to operate a casino in the capital city of Tbilisi from 5 million GEL to 2.5 million GEL. The decision will apply to permits that will be issued from July 5, 2021 to January 1, 2022.