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.