Health official says coronavirus outbreak in Iran 'serious concern' for Georgia
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Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze reported yesterday that the worsening of epidemiological situation in Iran amid the coronavirus outbreak is “a serious concern” for Georgia, as the number of infections is increasing there.
Amiran Gamkrelidze said, the special council in Georgia, that has been meeting for a couple of days no, will make a decision whether to temporarily suspend direct flights with Iran or not.
Meanwhile, the Georgian Foreign Ministry has addressed the citizens to refrain from visiting Iran in near future, while those who are currently there, can contact the Georgian Embassy in Tehran.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has reported that a total of 18 cases were confirmed in Iran, including four deaths in the holy Shi’ite city of Qom, where most of those diagnosed are also located. It said, two elderly patients died in the city earlier this week after testing positive for the virus.
Photo: Georgian Health Ministry/Facebook
Meanwhile, four Iranian citizens, who recently arrived to Georgia, were taken to the Tbilisi infectious disease hospital as all of them had high temperature when they were medically examined upon arrival at the airport.
However, three other Iranian citizens, who were tested negative for coronavirus at the Tbilisi infectious disease hospital were sent home.
Georgia has temporarily suspended direct flights with China to prevent the spread of coronavirus until March 29. The country has been following the World Health Organisation's preventive measures throughout the country as well.
Georgia has evacuated 34 of its citizens from China amid the coronavirus outbreak. Although none of them have the symptoms of the China-born virus, they will still be placed in two-week quarantine.
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.
Passengers travelling from China to Georgia are being examined for a new strain of the coronavirus that originates in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Georgian doctors are examining passengers as well as providing them with information on the symptoms of the virus upon arrival.
The Government of Georgia has made a decision to suspend direct flights with Iran amid the recent coronavirus outbreak. The Foreign Ministry announced today that this aims to prevent the spread of the virus to Georgia and to protect its citizens.
Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze announced today that a Georgian citizen who recently travelled to Iran for business has tested positive for the coronavirus. Tikaradze said that the individual who returned to Georgia via Azerbaijan yesterday was immediately delivered to the Tbilisi infectious disease hospital and did not have any communication with other citizens, except for border guards.
Georgia has imposed a travel ban on Iran, after a Georgian citizen who recently travelled there has tested positive for the coronavirus. The intergovernmental coordination group ld by Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia gathered on Wednesday after the first case of the infection has been confirmed in the country earlier that day.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Georgia earlier today. Georgian Deputy FM Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili welcomed Javad Zarif at Tbilisi International Airport.
Iranian Zagros Airlines and Qeshm Airlines are resuming Tehran-Tbilisi-Tehran flights, connecting the capital cities of Georgia and Iran starting this month, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency announced.