Health officials say Georgia between containment and spread of coronavirus
Georgia has had 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the end of February 2020. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian health officials say that Georgia is between the containment and the spread of China-born COVID-19 virus, a respiratory infection which has infected 34 in Georgia since February 26, 2020.
Head of Georgia’s Hospital of Infectious Diseases Tenzig Tsertsvadze says as of now the ‘trace has not been lost’ and all the infected know how they contracted the virus.
We have managed to contain the virus so far. However, now we are on the verge of the virus spreading,” Tsertsvadze said.
One of the 34 infected individuals, who was the first who tested positive for the virus in February, has already been discharged.
The condition of all other infected patients, including minors, is stable.
1,008 in the country are under quarantine and 64 others are at hospitals.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated that the Georgian health system is ready to cope with the challenges posed by the virus.
Georgian PM says that the country is ready to cope with the challanges caused by COVID-19. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Sgenda.ge.
What are the measures being taken by the government to contain the virus?
- Georgia closed its borders for all foreigners, with exceptions, for two weeks.
- Flights between Turkey and Georgia will be suspended starting March 21.
- Only public transport will serve passengers in Tbilisi starting tomorrow which will be disinfected on a daily basis.
- Elderly individuals will be provided with food from soup kitchens throughout Tbilisi.
- Eight hospitals in the country will be ready to receive those infected with COVID-19 if necessary.
- The Interior Ministry has been involved in the monitoring of people under self-isolation, with more than 71 placed under quarantine for the violation of self-isolation rules.
- Georgian textile companies will start producing face masks.
Elderly beneficiaries of care homes in Tbilisi will receive food for free starting from today, as soup kitchens have temporarily closed in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus-Covid-19, reports the press office of Tbilisi City Hall.
Within the last 24 hours, Georgian law enforcers have placed 22 individuals under quarantine throughout the country for violating self-isolation rules to prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus – Covid-19, reports the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
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.
Georgia confirmed four new cases of coronavirus earlier today, with the total number of infected individuals in the country standing at 37. Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 38 confirmed cases of COVID-19. However, one patient has recovered and was discharged. Director of Tbilisi Hospital of Infections Diseases Marina Ezugbaia said that the new patients had contact with one of the individuals who tested positive for the respiratory infection earlier and is now in hospital.
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.