Georgian gov't decides not to open nightclubs due to rising Omicron coronavirus cases
Gibradze noted today that the threat of the virus spreading in the country is ‘obviously high,’ thus the council has decided to keep nightclubs closed, adding that if events in nightclubs are still held, the Labour Inspection will respond to it. Photo: Khidi club/Facebook.
Tweet 
Share
The Interagency Coordination Council has decided not to open nightclubs across the country due to rising cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Chief of Operational Staff of the council, Giorgi Gibradze, reported earlier today.
The Labour Inspection Service of Georgia, in response to the information announced earlier that nightclubs in Georgia open on December 17, stated several days ago that holding events in the facilities is not allowed, as the Coordination Council had not made a decision.
Gibradze noted today that the threat of the virus spreading in the country is ‘obviously high,’ thus the council has decided to keep nightclubs closed, adding that if events in nightclubs are still held, the Labour Inspection will respond to it.
There is a law in Georgia before which we are all equal. The law says that it is forbidden to hold these events, I do not understand the logic of them holding the events anyway," Gibradze said.
Co-founder of underground club Bassiani in Tbilisi, Naja Orashvili, announced the opening of clubs on December 17 in a Facebook post published on December 7.
She stated that the Georgian government supported the idea of ‘safe events’ initiated by the Electronic Music and Club Culture Recovery Fund and the Cultural and Creative Industries Union of Georgia (Act4culture) and noted that ‘at this stage, technical issues are being clarified in order for electronic music spaces to gain green status.’
The platform Act4culture was created in April of 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. It aims to ' influence state and legislative decisions through advocacy and to help the sector overcome the existing challenges.’
Tbilisi City Hall allocated two million GEL for about 500 artists in the electronic and club music industry in March of this year in order to overcome the effects of the pandemic.
Nightclubs in Georgia have been closed for almost two years.
About 500 artists in the electronic and club music industry will receive financial assistance from Tbilisi City Hall, which has allocated 2 million GEL in order to help industry players overcome the Covid-19 crisis.
The Georgian government has declared January 1-10 a public holiday in Georgia for ‘reducing mobility’ in the country following confirmation of 24 cases of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, Chief of the Operational Staff of the Interagency Coordination Council, Giorgi Gibradze, announced earlier today.
Georgia has reported 2,739 new cases of coronavirus, 3,072 recoveries and 52 deaths over the last 24 hours. The weekly positivity rate for tested individuals stands at 6.19%.
The Interagency Coordination Council has not yet decided to open night clubs thus events in the facilities are not allowed, the Labour Inspection Service of Georgia reports in response to the information announced earlier that night clubs in Georgia open on December 17.
Co-founder of underground club Bassiani in Tbilisi Naja Orashvili has reported earlier today that night clubs in Georgia will open December 17 ‘after a pause of almost two years.'
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has stated that Tbilisi City Hall is ready to support and assist nightclub businesses following the announcement of the Georgian government’s decision on December 22 that nightclubs will remain closed due to rising cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the country.
The Coordination Council has decided to let nightclubs in Georgia hold events on December 31 and January 1, the Georgian government administration reports. A limited number of guests will be allowed at the events, the administration says.
The Georgian government has allowed nightclubs in the country to open for events between January 7 - the date for the Orthodox Christmas celebration - and January 9, in the latest change for festive season regulations.
Nightclubs in Tbilisi say they will continue working on January 14-15, and demand a ‘new, fair and non-discriminatory plan’ be developed to allow them to continue functioning during the pandemic.
Nightclubs in Georgia will reopen on March 5 and offer events to visitors at 60 percent of the venues' capacity, the Georgian government announced today.
The Interagency Coordination Council, the body overseeing pandemic-related regulations and limitations, decided to allow the entertainment venues to hold events due to trends in the Covid-19 situation in the country.