PM Gakharia: reopening of economy will be possible if community transmission rate drops below 4%
PM Gakharia said that since imposing targeted coronavirus restrictions in Georgia the number of test-positive cases has been declining. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said at today's inter-agency coordination council meeting that if the community transmission rate continues to remain at over 4% any talk about normal economic performance is 'nothing more than gossip'.
If the community transmission rate drops under 4% in the coming weeks, we will be able to talk about the resumption of municipal transport in the capital city and reopening of those economic sectors that will be permitted by the epidemic situation”, Gakharia said.
He said that since imposing targeted coronavirus restrictions in Georgia the number of test-positive cases has been declining.
We launched these targeted Covid-19 restrictions on November 28 and over 5000 test-positive cases were detected at that time. When a country has 5,000-6,000 cases a day, we cannot talk about a normal functioning of the economy", he said.
Gakharia said that 'everything should be done' to resume tourism in summer.
We do not intend to continue the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), thus being able to resume international air flights. At the same time, we should all together do our best to resume the tourism in summer", said Gakharia.
He said that what is happening at ski resorts now is 'saddening' and businesses in Gudauri, Bakuriani, Mestia and Goderdzi face economic challenges now but ‘our intention is to avoid short-term impulsive decisions' that will lead to a quick recovery for summer.
Gakharia also said that the next most important step is to reopen schools and especially the primary segment of education.
Georgia has reported 1,006 new cases of coronavirus, 1,050 recoveries and 25 deaths in the past 24 hours. 7,254 individuals remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia as of today.
Several coronavirus-related restrictions will be lifted in Georgia in February and in March, following a plan approved at today's Interagency Coordination Council meeting. Georgian Infrastructure Minister and the first Deputy Prime Minister Maia Tskitishvili said that since there are signs of an easing of the epidemiological situation in some regions of Georgia, there is also the possibility of lifting several restrictions.
A total of 228,410 cases of Covid-19 were reported in Georgia between February 26, 2019 and December 31, 2020, reads the fifth review of the Covid-19 in Georgia, published by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health.
School teachers who start teaching in person on February 1 will be tested for coronavirus by PCR before studies resume.
Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Maia Tskitishvili says that 'our international guests' can still visit the Georgian region of Adjara via flights that connect Georgia to other countries.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has tested positive for coronavirus. FM Zalkaliani has wrote on Facebook earlier today that on January 23 he went into self-isolation after contact with an infected individual. He tested positive following a PCR test.
In order to support the fitness industry of Georgia the government is going to subsidise the interest rate of loans of fitness centres, announces Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava.
Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze says that it is important for Adjara region of Georgia to be fully reopened and keep the community transmission rate at 3%. After the meeting with the local business community Tikaradze said that business is ready to cooperate with the government.
The government may ease restrictions in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Rustavi if the epidemiological situation is maintained at the current level of infection week, said Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia earlier today.
The Georgian Ministry of Education will allow the parents of school students to choose between in-person and online studies starting February 1.
Representatives of various businesses are holding a protest rally in front of the administrative building of the government of Georgia demanding the coronavirus-related restrictions be lifted. Claiming that restaurants, hotels and winter resorts will fail to recover unless they reopen as soon as possible. The protesters say that therefore their businesses wil die out eventually.
As the number of coronavirus-infected individuals in Georgia has decreased over the past few weeks, the Georgian government has lifted several Covid-19 restrictions across the country today.