Coronavirus: Georgia suspends direct flights with Italy

Georgia has suspended direct flights with Italy in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country, announces the government of Georgia.

The government of Georgia has issued certain restrictions for both Georgian and foreign citizens entering the country.

When returning from WHO-recognised high risk countries to Georgia, Georgian and foreign citizens are obliged to undergo an intensive check-up at the border crossing points and to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine procedure; or they should provide a PCR certificate of coronavirus (COVID-19) issued by the relevant laboratory of the country of departure and, in the case of transit, by the relevant laboratory of the country of transit”, read the statement released by the government of Georgia.

Coronavirus in Georgia has mostly been detected in passengers who have travelled in Italy recently.

Yesterday five people tested positive for the new coronavirus COVID-19 in Georgia increasing the total number of people infected in the country to nine.

Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze said all of the five people travelled together to Italy and returned to Georgia on Sunday.

As of today 162 individuals remain in quarantine. 

The government of Georgia calls on citizens of Georgia to avoid travelling to WHO-recognised high risk countries, such as China, South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Georgia has already suspended flights with China and Iran, while airline companies Ryanair and Wizz Air have also reduced the number of flights from Georgia to several destinations in Italy.