Georgia demands coronavirus PCR test from travellers from Switzerland, Norway, Denmark
Georgia had already introduced the same rules for travellers from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Germany, France, Spain and Austria. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
Travellers from Switzerland, Norway and Denmark will have to present a PCR test for the coronavirus while arriving in Georgia, otherwise they will be placed under mandatory 14-day quarantine.
- Gov’t presents coronavirus anti-crisis plan for Georgian business: What support can business expect?
Earlier Georgia introduced the same rules for travellers from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Germany, France, Spain and Austria.
The decision was made by the Inter-Agency Coordination Council led by Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. Photo: Government of Georgia/Facebook
Starting today Georgia will close borders with neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan for ten days to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well.
Movement will also be temporarily restricted at the Sarpi customs checkpoint that is located in the south-west of Georgia on the border with Turkey. However, Vale and Kartsakhi customs checkpoints will operate as usual.
No restrictions will apply to cargo transportation.
Earlier today Georgia confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 increasing the total number of infected individuals to 30.
Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze (R) and his deputy Paata Imnadze also attended the meeting of the Council. Photo: Government of Georgia/Facebook
Amiran Gamkrelidze reported at a news briefing today that the new cases of COVID-19 are still connected with Italy. He said although this can be considered as internal transmission, there is still no need to announce national emergency in Georgia.
United States President Donald Trump officially declared national emergency yesterday, allowing the US health officials "to waive applicable rules and regulations to give doctors, hospitals and healthcare providers maximum flexibility to respond to the virus and care for patients".
President @realDonaldTrump is officially declaring a National Emergency and ordering every state to set up emergency operations centers, effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/dkdaJVsOVk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 13, 2020
Meanwhile in Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili discussed the epidemiological situation in the country with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in telephone conversation yesterday.
Just had a phone conversation with @DrTedros. Georgia will continue to receive technical and expert support from the @WHO as we cooperate in the fight against #COVID19. Georgia stands together with the WHO until we defeat this threat. pic.twitter.com/aJjBGjTTgQ
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) March 13, 2020
The WHO labelled the China-born coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on March 11.
Georgia has confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 increasing the total number of infected individuals to 30. Meanwhile, the first individual who tested positive for COVID-19 back on February 26 after returning from Iran, has now tested negative, which means that s/he is getting well.
Starting today Georgia will close borders with neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan for ten days to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia discussed the temporary suspension of movement with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan PM Ali Asadov in telephone conversations yesterday.
The amount of people under quarantine and self-isolation is increasing day by day due to the widespread new coronavirus, Covid-19, in the country, while the private sector is responding with various types of supportive activities, expressing public responsibility in defeating the virus.
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 Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said at a meeting with the heads of local grocery chains that the population should not face any shortage of household products amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Georgia and Russia will temporarily ban travel from March 16 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. No restrictions will apply to cargo transportation. Movement will also be temporarily suspended with neighbouring Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Georgian National Disease Control Centre (NDCD) says that one Czech and one Slovak who traveled in Georgia between March 4 and 9 in a six-member tourist group have recently tested positive for Covid-19 in their countries, and have informed the Georgian NCDC of their status, which ‘shows their high sense of responsibility.’ The NCDC says that while in Georgia the tourists had no symptoms and did not call doctors.
The government of Georgia recommends cafes, restaurants and bars to temporarily restrict “direct service to citizens” and to offer takeout and delivery services instead in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Direct flights between Georgia and Turkey will be suspended starting March 21 as Turkey has imposed restrictions on international flights. Turkey intended to ban flights from Georgia starting March 14, but the countries agreed to postpone the decision until March 21.
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air will temporarily suspend flights to Austria, France, Germany and Spain from the Kutaisi International Airport in the western Georgian town of Kutaisi, to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19. In particular, flights will be suspended from March 16 to April 3, Kutaisi International Airport announced earlier today.
Over 50 inhabitants will undergo mandatory PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing for the coronavirus in Georgia’s eastern Mushevani village, which has been on strict lockdown due to an outbreak of the virus since April 25. The results of the tests will become known on June 25, which will play a crucial role in removing the quarantine-zone status for the village of Mushevani.