Georgian schools, universities and kindergartens to remain closed until April 1 due to coronavirus
The decision was taken by the Interagency Coordination Council’s meeting earlier today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian schools, universities and kindergartens will remain closed in Georgia until April 1 as a measure to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
The decision was taken by the Interagency Coordination Council’s meeting earlier today.
Spring compulsory recruiting for compulsory military service has been postponed until April 13.
At the meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council the importance of high social responsibility of the citizens and of fulfilling the recommendations of the Georgian Health Ministry were discussed.
Several measures have already been taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country, including:
- Georgia suspended direct flights with China
- Georgia suspended direct flights with Iran
- Georgia has imposed restrictions on the movement from Iran to Georgia by land as well
- Georgia has suspended direct flights with Italy
- Thermal cameras have been installed at Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi international airports to scan passengers arriving at the airports contactless and detect whether they have high temperature
- 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; the recommendations also apply to study trips
- Georgian patrol police monitors people in self-isolation and under quarantine in Georgia to further prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus
- Individuals placed in quarantine or self-isolation for two weeks amid the coronavirus outbreak are compensated by their employers
In addition to Tbilisi, Georgia has the regional branches of the Lugar Laboratories located in Georgia’s black sea town of Batumi and Western city of Kutaisi are able to diagnose the new China-born coronavirus – Covid-19.
As of now in Georgia the total number of infected individuals with the new coronavirus amounts to 23.
As of now 126 are under quarantine in Georgia, while 46 others remain in hospital as they travelled in countries which have numerous cases of the virus or had contact with people who travelled to such countries.
Seven Georgian citizens who were evacuated from Italy on March 10 via a charter flight by Georgian Airways will be transferred to the Tbilisi Infectious Disease Hospital, as they had fever as a result of thermal screening at the Tbilisi International Airport yesterday, reports the Ministry of Health.
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.
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.
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.
Two of Georgia's major universities have switched to remote classes and services for their students as a measure for countering a coronavirus threat, with Ilia State University and University of Georgia announcing their decisions.
De facto officials of the Russian occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia have announced that the Enguri Bridge crossing point, which connects the occupied region with the rest of the country, will close at 8 p.m. on March 14.
All foreign nationals who enter Georgia from Germany, France, Austria, Spain, China, Iran, South Korea and Italy will have to present a document confirming that they have been checked for the presence of the Covid-19 virus, otherwise they will be placed under 14-day quarantine in Georgia, PM Giorgi Gakharia stated today, after declaring the government’s emergency mode to prevent the spread of the virus.
Georgian Government has urged citizens to avoid visits at public service halls, territorial offices and notary bureaus except in cases of extreme necessity for the next two weeks after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of China-born Covid-19 virus a pandemic. The restriction may apply to gatherings of 100 people or more.
The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will broadcast live lessons for school children starting March 30 amid the coronavirus outbreak in Georgia.
More than 39,300 students have registered for the country’s university entrance test, the Unified National Exams, says the National Assessment and Examinations Center (NAEC). In addition, more than 12,600 candidates have registered for the Unified Master’s Exams.
National exams for university entrants will start on July six in Georgia and will end on July 25. Exams for master’s degree studies will begin on August 1 and will end on August 4, the Georgian Education Ministry stated earlier today.
As Georgia begins to ease lockdown, reopening of schools needs to be prioritised, says UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund) Georgia in an official statement. The statement reads that the longer children stay out of school, the more exposed they are to various risks.
University applicants living in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions will be enrolled in universities without passing the Unified National Exams, reports the Georgian Ministry of Education.
University applicants who are Georgian citizens and live in Azerbaijan and cannot travel to Georgia to take the national exams due to the Covid-19 restrictions will have their tuition waived by the government of Georgia, announces the Ministry of Education of Georgia.
Out of 1,500 schools inspected by the Labor Inspection Department, 81 don’t meet COVID-19 safety standards developed by the Georgian Health Ministry, said Beka Peradze, the head of the department.
Kindergartens will be opened on October 12 throughout Georgia, excluding the Adjara region, as most of the newly infected cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the region in the recent weeks.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday pledged further efforts by his Government to ensure a higher quality domestic education system and a “safe environment” for the country’s youth in his message to more than 45,000 university entrants on the launch of exams earlier during the day.