Gov’t to help Georgians who have to violate legal terms of stay in EU due to coronavirus
Due to the restrictions imposed against COVID-19, many Georgian citizens are unable to return to their homeland. Photo: EP.
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Georgian citizens who are now in the EU Schengen Zone and will have to violate the legal, 90-day-term of stay due to restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 virus, will receive ‘personal support’ from the Georgian government.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that his body is in active communication with the European Commission and the EU member states to support Georgian citizens who are unable to leave the Schengen Zone.
The European Commission has recommended member states to take measures and somehow postpone the terms of legal stay for people who are unable to leave their countries due to the coronavirus restrictions. Our embassies and consulates are ready to provide support in communication between our citizens and the EU member states [where they are now] individually,” Zalkaliani said.
Zalkaliani also stated today that there are Georgian citizens in Greece, Italy, Spain and Germany who are infected with COVID-19.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that his body is in active communication with Georgian citizens abroad. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
A special group will be created in Tbilisi which will respond to questions regarding coronavirus asked by our citizens who are now abroad,” Zalkaliani said.
Head of the Georgian National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze says that 20 Georgian citizens are under the observation of doctors abroad as of now.
We have made a decision today to ensure close communication between our epidemiologists, clinicians and responsible agencies of foreign ministry for us to have close communication with our citizens [and their doctors] abroad who are undergoing treatment against the virus or are under observation,” Gamkrelidze said.
Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19 inside the country, with one already recovered and discharged.
As of now 1,592 are under quarantine in Georgia and 262 others are in hospital.
There are 219,385 individuals infected with COVID-19 worldwide, with 8,970 deaths and 85,749 recoveries.
A 74-year-old Georgian woman with underlying chronic disease has died in Spain after being infected with COVID-19, the Georgian government has confirmed.
The Georgian government will gift around half a million face masks made in the country to people who have active contact with people due to their profession, the Georgian Ministry of Economy reports.
Georgia has reported two new cases of COVID-19 earlier today, with the total number of infected people with the respiratory infection standing at 39. Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with one already recovered and discharged. Health officials say that the condition of three patients [of 39] is separately severe as one is over 80, having chronic illness, while two others also suffer from other health issues.
The Georgian Red Cross Society (GRCS) has started to train volunteers who will be able to provide food, medication and hygiene products to elderly individuals, those with special needs living alone, as well as to the disadvantaged and individuals with chronic illnesses in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus – COVID-19, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated today.
In order to help Georgian citizens who are currently abroad and cannot return to their home country due to suspended or cancelled flights, the government of Georgia is offering to co-finance flights that will be carried out by the national flag carrier Georgian Airways.
Over 500 beds are available at designated health venues in Georgia for combating the new coronavirus, the Minister of Health said on Thursday.
Georgia is negotiating with large US biopharmaceutical company Gilead to receive Remdesivir – an experimental medicine that has been used since 2015 against Ebola, which has also been used by Chinese doctors against COVID-19 in some cases.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has announced today that all malls will temporarily close in the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Only groceries, pharmacies, gas stations, post offices and banks will remain open.
Georgia continues to evacuate its citizens from WHO-recognised high risk countries, as Foreign Minister of Georgia David Zalkaliani has presented earlier today a flight schedule for the next two weeks according to which Georgian citizens from various European cities will be able to return home.
The Georgian government has brought back 4,500 Georgian citizens from different coronavirus-hit areas since the COVID-19 outbreak began worldwide.
Georgia has helped 2,425 of its citizens in more than 40 foreign countries amid the coronavirus outbreak, said Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani earlier today. The aid included accommodation, food, transport, medicines and online medical consultations and emergency service.
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has announced earlier today that the governments of Georgia and the United States have made a joint decision to return 79 Georgian school students who are currently in the US to Georgia tomorrow amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Georgian government continues to bring back citizens from coronavirus-hit countries. As of now, 5,540 Georgian citizens have been brought home, while Georgian embassies and consulates have provided assistance to 4,051 Georgian citizens abroad.
Georgia is extending the shutdown on regular air traffic until May 10 following the extension of the state of emergency, announces the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency.
Several airlines will carry out charter flights to bring home Georgian citizens who are abroad and cannot return home due to travel bans, announces Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.