Georgia evacuates 156 citizens from Italy as latter goes into coronavirus lockdown
Two planes of the Georgian Airways have landed at Tbilisi International Airport bringing the Georgian citizens back home from Rome. Photo: 1TV.ge
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Georgia has evacuated 156 citizens from Italy today via a charter flight by Georgian Airways as the Italian government has placed the entire country under lockdown.
Two planes of the Georgian Airways have landed at Tbilisi International Airport bringing the Georgian citizens back home from Rome.
After thermal screening, the passengers will be placed in quarantine for 14 days. However, reportedly none of them has the symptoms of COVID-19.
The Georgian Airways posted a photo of its crew wearing special protective equipment during the flight:
As of today, Georgia has 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 13 individuals infected either in Italy or from a person infected in Italy; two others were infected directly in Iran.
Amid the new coronavirus outbreak Georgia has suspended direct flights with China, Iran and Italy, which are currently the largest centres of the outbreak.
Due to the worldwide spread of #COVID19, President @Zourabichvili_S, in coordination with other branches of government, canceled her planned visits to Bulgaria, Ukraine and Belgium.
— Orbeliani Presidential Palace (@OrbelianiPalace) March 10, 2020
Prior to the announcement, the President's decision was communicated to our partners.
Meanwhile, President Salome Zurabishvili's administration has reported today that the Georgian President has also cancelled her foreign visits to Bulgaria, Ukraine and Belgium.
Georgian patrol police will monitor people in self-isolation and under quarantine in Georgia to further prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus, head of the National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze said earlier today. He stated that as of now 178 people are under quarantine in Georgia and 1,108 others in self-isolation as they have visited countries with numerous cases of the respiratory infection.
Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported earlier today that in addition to Tbilisi, the regional branches of the Lugar Laboratories located in Georgia’s black sea town of Batumi and Western city of Kutaisi will be able to diagnose the new China-born coronavirus – Covid-19.
All three international airports of Georgia are taking preventive safety measures against the spread of the coronavirus.
The government of Georgia has recommended public institutions avoid overseas business trips except in cases of extreme necessity in order to prevent the further spread of covid-19.
Head of the National Disease Control Centre (NCDC) of Georgia Amiran Gamkrelidze says that no internal transmission of Covid-19 virus has even reported inside the country and all 23 Georgian citizens who have tested positive for the virus were either in Italy, Iran, or had contact with individuals who traveled in Italy. He said that 11 of the 23 infected individuals belong to two families whose members traveled to Italy in February 2020.
The government of Georgia, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) and commercial banks are teaming up to mitigate the negative impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the tourism sector of the country. PM Gakharia and the chief executive officers of commercial banks signed an agreement earlier today, which will come up with an action plan to support the tourism sector in the coming days.
Georgia has eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 increasing the total number of infected individuals to 23. Reportedly, all of the eight infected individuals had contact with those who have tested positive for coronavirus earlier. Head of Tbilisi Infectious Disease Hospital Tengiz Tsertsvadze that the new cases are again connected with Italy.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Iuri Nozadze has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, the ministry confirmed earlier today. Nozadze is among the eight individuals who tested positive for the virus yesterday. The ministry says that Nozadze’s family member tested positive for the virus last week and since that time he has been in isolation.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalklaiani has met with the Ambassador of Sweden to Georgia Ulrik Tidestrom and the Ambassador of Germany to Georgia Hubert Knirsch to discuss issues for deeper cooperation between the countries.
Yet another individual has tested positive for the new China-born coronavirus in Georgia, increasing the total number of infected individuals to 24. Head of the National Disease Control Centre (NCDC) of Georgia Amiran Gamkrelidze reported today that this new case is also connected with Italy.
Five charter flights will be carried out by Georgian Airways to evacuate Georgian citizens from abroad amid the coronavirus outbreak. The flights will be carried out from Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece and Cyprus by April 10, 2020.
Dozens of Georgian citizens have been provided with temporary accommodation and basic needs in France and Spain by the Georgian Embassies to these countries, says the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Georgia has helped 2,425 of its citizens in more than 40 foreign countries amid the coronavirus outbreak, said Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani earlier today. The aid included accommodation, food, transport, medicines and online medical consultations and emergency service.