5 with flu symptoms to be tested for coronavirus in Tbilisi-based Lugar Lab
The virus, which emerged in China at the end of 2019, has spread to 33 countries. Photo: The Scientist Magazine.
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Five patients with flu symptoms will be tested in the Lugar Laboratory in Tbilisi in order to diagnose whether they are negative for the new coronavirus.
Three among them are the Georgian citizens and the other two are the residents of Iran.
The medical director at Tbilisi Infectious Disease Hospital, Marina Ezugbaia, said that the patients do not have inflammation of the lungs, which is one of the major symptoms of the coronavirus, though samples have been sent to the Lugar Laboratory in order to diagnose whether they are negative for the new coronavirus or not.
One patient, 20, who returned from Italy, has been hospitalized in Kutaisi Infectious Disease hospital. Nestan Cheishvili, the doctor at the hospital said that she was hospitalized with symptoms of acute viral infection, though preliminary analysis confirmed no coronavirus. Her samples have been also sent to Lugar Laboratory today.
Due to the increased cases of new coronavirus - Covid-19 in Italy, passengers arriving from Italy to Georgia are also checked at Georgian airports. The passengers of Bergamo flight have been checked at Tbilisi International Airport today. Epidemiologists said that none of them have suspicious symptoms of new coronavirus.
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 virus, which emerged in China at the end of 2019, has spread to 33 countries. It has killed more than 2,500 people in mainland China, with more than 77,000 infected.