Patriarchate: patriarch’s decision on vaccination shouldn’t be determiner for others
The patriarchate did not say whether or not Patriarch Ilia II will receive the coronavirus vaccine. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Georgia Patriarchate says that the future decision of Patriarch Ilia II whether or not to receive the coronavirus vaccine, who is the most trusted figure in the country, ‘should not be a determiner for others.’
The patriarchate, which is the second most liked institution in Georgia after the army with about 80% of the country's population trusting it, says that clerics' positive or negative attitude to the vaccination process ‘should not be a trigger for others to make decisions.’
Vaccination is the part of the medical field and requires an individual approach which is beyond the church’s competences,” says the Patriarchate.
The recent IRI polls were published on August 3, 2021. Image: IRI.
However, the statement says that ‘vaccination must not be mandatory’ and that everyone should observe coronavirus guidelines.
The patriarchate states that they released the statement in response to ‘false media reports’ on Ilia II’s vaccination who will turn 89 in January.
Image: IRI.
Georgia continues to report record figures of daily coronavirus infections and deaths over the past several days.
Georgian health officials say that the situation ‘is alarming’ and encourage people to receive the vaccine and observe general guidelines.
The country is taking the first place worldwide for daily cases per 100,000 individuals, as the daily cases over the past two weeks hit an average 3,000-4000.
Georgian health officials have requested the Georgian church, ‘as the most trusted institution’ in the country, to encourage people to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
Georgia has reported 5,352 new cases of coronavirus, 2,635 recoveries and 48 deaths in the past 24 hours. 45,832 remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia.The Georgian Health Ministry has plans to send new recommendations to the government by the end of the week to curb the spread of the virus.50,430 tests were conducted around the country in the past 24 hours. 30,564 of the 50,430 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 19,866 were PCR tests.
Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze says that Georgia currently has a ‘worse epidemiological situation’ than the country’s health officials had expected.
Georgia has reported 5,697 new cases of coronavirus out of 44,536 tests and 54 deaths in the past 24 hours which is a record high figure since January 2021. 2,713 individuals have recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours. 40,279 individuals remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia currently. In total 6,128 individuals have died from the virus in the country since the spring of 2020.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has summed up his 5-month term as PM while presenting the candidate of mayor for Tsalka, in Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia today and highlighted his achievements in combating the Covid-19 pandemic, stabilising the Georgian national currency lari and stimulating the Georgian economy.
Georgia has reported 5,128 new cases of coronavirus, 3,310 recoveries and 49 deaths in the past 24 hours. 47,601 remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia. 49,189 tests were conducted around the country in the past 24 hours. 29,357 of the 49,189 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 19,832 were PCR tests. The country has had 466,326 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020.
A new portal has been launched for Covid-19 infected patients in Georgia in order to easily give them access to the service of a family doctor, announces the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. Citizens who test positive for Covid-19 have the opportunity to register on https://er.moh.gov.ge/.
The Georgian government has imposed coronavirus restrictions between August 14 and September 4 to curb the spread of coronavirus. The restrictions are as follows: Public transport will not work between August 14 and September 4. Intercity transport will work in a regular manner. The government promises they will ensure regular transportation of people (in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi) to main hospitals or clinics to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Didgori where the kingdom of Georgia won over the Great Seljuq Empire stated that today Georgia has a battle with the pandemic, noting that ‘the only key to victory has been and is in our unity.’
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II has ordered Orthodox churches to comply with regulations such as usage of disposable cups, distance, disinfection and wearing the facemasks as coronavirus spikes in the country at a record level.
Immunologist-allergist Bidzina Kulumbegov, who is taking part in UNICEF’s awareness raising campaign on coronavirus vaccination around the country, has called on the Georgian patriarchate to take actions to ‘stop anti-doctor campaigns’ by a group of anti-vaxxer clerics.
The Georgian Patriarchate has accused three opposition-minded TV channels Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli and Formula TV of ‘insulting its institution’ and using hate speech following a recent incident in which Monk Ioane verbally harassed a Formula TV journalist.
Senior Georgian priest Ilia (Irakli) Chigladze in the eparchy of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been dismissed from the priesthood following his criticism of the Georgian Patriarchate, the press service of the Patriarchate reported earlier today.