Three Georgians evacuated from China arrive to Tbilisi amid coronavirus threat
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Three Georgian citizens, who have been evacuated from China amid the recent China-born coronavirus, have arrived in Tbilisi via Dubai.
Luka Bukhrashvili, Nino Vashalomidze and Ani Tatishvili have gone through the required medical observation at the airport.
Tamar Archuadze, new head of the Civil Aviation Agency said all of the three are healthy, they have none of the symptoms of the virus and will return to their homes.
Georgia has temporarily suspended direct flights with China to prevent the spread of coronavirus until March 29.
Earlier in February, Turkey evacuated three Georgian citizens among other passengers and France evacuated two.
Georgian doctors are examining passengers as well as providing them with information on the symptoms of the virus upon arrival at the Georgian airports. Photo: Georgian Heath Ministry/Facebook
Earlier this week, the United States Embassy to Georgia reported that US organisations are sending lifesaving medical supplies to the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China, part of wide-ranging US efforts to stop the deadly disease.
U.S. organizations are sending lifesaving medical supplies to the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China, part of wide-ranging U.S. efforts to stop the deadly disease. https://t.co/PAGkwzrS1g
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) February 6, 2020
The new virus, officially called 2019-nCoV but more commonly referred to as coronavirus, originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province but has spread around the world.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on January 30. US pharmaceutical companies are busy at work on vaccines.
Head of the Georgian National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze stated earlier today that the reagents arrived in Georgia at Kutaisi International Airport at 1 a.m. this morning.“We are very grateful to the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, with whom we have been cooperating closely over past several years, to make it possible for us to diagnose the new coronavirus in Tbilisi,” Gamkrelidze said.
The Lugar Laboratory in Tbilisi will have a new test to diagnose the new China-born coronavirus 2019-nCOV starting February 4, said the head of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health Amiran Gamkrelidze.
Georgian citizens are being evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province, where the new coronavirus originated. Turkey has evacuated three Georgian citizens among other passengers, while France has evacuated two. Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has thanked both countries for arranging flights.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani announced today that Georgia stands with China amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus. FM Zalkaliani also thanked Turkey for arranging a flight to evacuate Georgian citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province, where the new coronavirus originated.
Georgia has warned its citizens in Italy, especially those in Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and the Lazio regions, to avoid public areas and observe hygienic practices as Italy faces the worst outbreak of coronavirus - Covid-19 in Europe, with at least three people dead and more than 150 infected. The ministry urges Georgian citizens in Italy to stick to the recommendations of the Italian government and to remain informed.