Georgia to receive special PCR tests to detect new Omicron variant of coronavirus
The new variant of coronavirus was detected in South Africa last month. Photo: Getty Images.
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Georgia is expecting to receive special PCR tests from international partners to diagnose the new Omicron variant of coronavirus which was detected in South Africa last month and was classified as a ‘variant of concern’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), Head of Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze stated earlier today.
The WHO says that Omicron has an ‘unprecedented number of spike mutations’, which is concerning due to the potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic.
Gamkrelidze says that the special PCR tests detect the new variant. However, Omicron is fully identified by an expensive method of sequencing the organism’s genetic material ‘which Georgia is able to do at Lugar Lab in Tbilisi.’
He said that NCDC has already drafted a guideline for labs, where people are tested for coronavirus, on how to detect the new variant.
Gamkrelidze also said that Georgian citizens may be allowed to get a booster shot of coronavirus after three months from the second shot of any vaccine available in Georgia instead of six months.
Covid-19 ‘green’ passes have come into force in Georgia starting today, obliging the public to present proof of vaccination, testing or recovery from Covid-19 when entering certain establishments. Restaurants, cafes and bars will operate in Georgia without hourly restrictions starting today due to the introduction of the passes.
Georgia has reported 5,050 new cases of coronavirus, 4,214 recoveries and 80 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate in the country stands at 8.96% as of November 30 in the last 14 days. Overall 45,362 remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia.
Georgia may issue two types of COVID passes for internal and foreign use due to the government’s decision to give the passes to the individuals who have recovered from the virus, no matter when the recovery took place, head of Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze stated earlier today.
Georgia has reported 4,459 new cases of coronavirus, 3,957 recoveries and 65 deaths in the past 24 hours. Overall 45,799 remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia.
Georgia has reported 3,731 new cases of coronavirus, 4,295 recoveries and 72 deaths in the past 24 hours.
COVID-19 ‘green’ passes went into effect in Georgia on December 1, obliging the public to present proof of vaccination, testing or recovery from the virus when entering certain establishments. There are two COVID apps - Georgia e-health and CovidPass Georgia - offered by the country to check the status of individuals regarding coronavirus.
Georgia has reported 4,226 new cases of coronavirus, 4,091 recoveries and 53 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate in the country stands at 8.31% as of December 8 over the last 14 days. Overall 45,298 remain infected with COVID-19 in Georgia.
Georgian health officials have said that it is 'necessary' to administer Covid-19 vaccine booster shots in order to prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant in the country.
Georgia has reported 3,123 new cases of coronavirus, 4,215 recoveries and 39 deaths in the last 24 hours. The weekly positivity rate for tested individuals stands at 6.86%.
Head of the National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) of Georgia Amiran Gamkrelidze says that circulation of the Omicron coronavirus variant is increasing in the country following the confirmation of 144 Omicron variant cases.
The national vaccination plan will need to aim to vaccinate 70 percent of the population by the end of July if health authorities in Georgia are to stop the pandemic in the country, Head of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze said on Thursday.