Health official: UK coronavirus variant is now dominant strain in Georgia
Georgia has reported 1,226 new cases of coronavirus, 688 recoveries and 10 deaths in the past 24 hours. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The UK variant of the coronavirus now accounts for 80% of Covid-19 cases in Georgia, says Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze.
He said that people who have already had Covid-19 may not have immunity against the British strain of the virus.
All over the world and with us the probability of re-infection cases may increase, and not only with the 'British strain', but also with the dual strains of India, South America and Brazil as well. So far, fortunately, except for the British, these strains are not circulating here", Gamkrelidze said.
Georgia has reported 1,226 new cases of coronavirus, 688 recoveries and 10 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze says that if more than four per cent of tested individuals test positive for coronavirus in two consecutive weeks, the government of Georgia is likely to impose coronavirus restrictions, including lockdown.
Georgian health officials have decided to continue vaccination with AstraZeneca only for individuals over 55 years of age following statements from the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organisation that say that unusual blood clots should be listed as a very rare side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19.
Georgia has reported 1,226 new cases of coronavirus, 688 recoveries and 10 deaths in the past 24 hours. 27,995 tests have been conducted around the country in the past 24 hours. 13,456 of the 27,995 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 15,539 were PCR tests. The country has had 300,264 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. 3.55 per cent of tested individuals had Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
Georgian Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia says that 3,600 of 4,400 beds in hospitals for Covid-19 patients are already in use because of the recent increase of new infections.
Georgia has reported 1,271 new cases of coronavirus, 729 recoveries and 11 deaths in the past 24 hours. 28,751 tests have been conducted around the country in the past 24 hours. 14,187 of the 28,751 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 14,564 were PCR tests. The country has had 301,535 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. 3.75 per cent of tested individuals had Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
Georgia has reported five cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) announces. It further says that the five travellers, who have tested positive for the Indian variant, have been identified and sent to isolation.
Georgia has reported its first confirmed case of the South African coronavirus variant. Head of the National Center for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze said that the South African strain has been confirmed to a Georgian citizen with a travel history in Dubai.