Shopping centres open for New Year in Georgia
Shopping centres will be open between December 24 and January 2, then they will close again until January 31, 2021. Photo: RFE/RL.
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Shopping centres have opened around the country at 07:00 in the morning for the New Year holiday.
They will remain open until January 3, 2021.
There were queues of cars to big shopping malls of Tbilisi early in the morning.
The government of Georgia said earlier this week that several coronavirus restrictions which were scheduled to be lifted between December 24 and January 2 would remain in force to prevent the further spread in new infections.
Coronavirus restrictions are expected to be in force until January 31, 2021. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
The government allowed shopping centres to receive consumers, however additional restrictions have been imposed for shop administrations.
- shops will work between 07:00:19:00
- only one customer per every 20 square meters of space in a store will be allowed in
- store administration must manage queues both outside and inside the shops
- sales must be announced in the morning or for items available via online shopping only
- the return or exchange of items will be available for one month
- Food facilities will not be able to work in shopping malls, not even for takeaway service.
Curfew will be temporarily lifted on December 31 and January 6 (for New Year and Christmas). Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Per the government decision restaurants in hotels will work until 21:00 (between December 24 and January 2). After 21:00 only room service will be available (to prevent the conduct of New Year events, concerts).
Restaurants and food facilities will continue only takeaway services.
An effective curfew will be in force between the hours of 21:00 and 05:00. The restriction will be temporarily lifted on December 31 and January 6 (for New Year and Christmas).
Travel by car and taxi will not be restricted around the country, taking curfew into account.
Georgia has reported 1,972 new cases, 2,737 recoveries and 43 deaths in the past 24 hours.13,699 tests have been conducted in the past 24 hours around the country. 7,146 of the 13,699 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 6,553 were PCR tests. Georgia has had 216,843 cases of coronavirus since February. 194,705 of the 216,843 individuals have recovered, while 2,776 others have died. 19,836 individuals remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia as of today.
Shopping centres will open their doors between December 24 and January 2 from 7 am to 7 pm.
Tbilisi’s main New Year tree was lit up in front of the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue today. This year’s celebrations will differ from the previous years due to coronavirus-related restrictions throughout the country. However, with its shimmer and twinkle New Year illuminations Tbilisi will turn into a festive city despite the pandemic.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has stated earlier today that for the first time in the past several months the country reported less than 3,000 daily infections from more than 17,000 daily tests. Georgia has reported 2,981 new cases, 2,001 recoveries and 31 deaths in the past 24 hours. 17,029 tests have been conducted in the past 24 hours around the country (8,859 of the 17,029 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 8,170 were PCR tests).
Georgia has reported 1,881 new cases, 1,515 recoveries and 37 deaths in the past 24 hours. 13,655 tests have been conducted in the past 24 hours around the country. 6,747 of the 13,655 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 6,908 were PCR tests. Georgia has had 218,724 cases of coronavirus since February. 196,220 of the 218,724 individuals have recovered, while 2,313 others have died.
Tbilisi City Hall will spend 400,000 GEL on musicians for New Year events, said Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava earlier today.