Health Minister: Georgian healthcare system ready to cope with coronavirus
The Health Minister of Georgia Ekaterine Tikaridze said that there are enough doctors and about 150 artificial respirators to be mobilised in the country that will be used "when needed". Photo: Ministry of Health.
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The Minister of Health of Georgia Ekaterine Tikaridze says the country has enough resources to cope with the coronavirus, including medical staff and equipment.
Tikaridze said that there are enough doctors and about 150 artificial respirators to be mobilised in the country that will be used "when needed".
There has been no need [in Georgia] to use the equipment for artificial respiration, however we have mobilised this equipment as well. I would like to assure the population and tell them that we do not have such a serious patient who needs an artificial respirator", said Tikaridze.
Besides, four new hospitals [four other hospitals were emptied earlier] will be fully emptied from patients to receive those infected with Covid-19 if necessary.
Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 34 confirmed cases of the China-born respiratory infection, with one recovered and discharged yesterday.
As of now there are 33 in the country who have the virus, with 1,008 people under quarantine and 64 others at hospitals.
Several new restrictions have been placed on public transport in Tbilisi to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Starting tomorrow, entrance onto buses will be available from the back door only, as the passenger cabin and driver’s area will be separated to keep drivers safe from coronavirus.
Starting tomorrow mini-buses, so-called ‘marshrutkas’, will not serve passengers in Tbilisi and sport and spa venues will be closed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as the country has had 34 confirmed cases of the respiratory infection since the end of February. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated earlier today that public transport - busses and metro - will continue to work in a regular mode and will be disinfected on a daily basis.
One individual who had contact with three people who were recently infected has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, director of Tbilisi Hospital of Infectious Diseases Marina Ezugbaia stated earlier today. The condition of the new patient is not severe, Ezugbaia said. Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 34 confirmed cases of the China-born respiratory infection, with one recovered and discharged yesterday.
The Georgian government has announced a temporary, two-week closure of its borders for all foreign citizens, with exceptions, to avoid the further spread of the Covid-19 virus. The ban will come into effect starting March 18, at 00:00. The government says that Georgian citizens [and their family members] who want to come back to the country will be able to use the flights of Georgian Airways or Turkish Airlines.
The police have placed 28 individuals under quarantine throughout the country for violating self-isolation rules to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, reports the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
Georgian Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili says that there is no risk of food shortages in Georgia due to the coronavirus. Davitashvili met the heads of the large supermarkets earlier today to discuss food stocks and the issue of price regulation.
A total of 265 hospitals with 17,500 beds were in operation in Georgia in 2019, while the number of beds reached 16,000 in 2018, says the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).