Health official: ‘a third wave of Covid-19 has started in Georgia'

Gamkrelidze said there are about 17 cluster epidemic outbreaks in the country and all are related to big feasts and celebrations. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Agenda.ge, 12 Apr 2021 - 16:26, Tbilisi,Georgia

Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze says that as in many countries of the world a third wave of Covid-19 has started in Georgia as well.

The epidemiological situation in the world as well as in our country is gradually becoming more complicated. A third wave has started in many countries and we can say that it has started in Georgia as well. The number of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per day has increased... Today we have about 17 cluster epidemic outbreaks in the country which is manageable, but this is the first sign that if we do not follow the recommendations, if radical measures are not taken, it may start to spread universally", Gamkrelidze said.

He added that all 17 clusters are related to big feasts and celebrations. He called on everyone to refrain from holding large events.

Gamkrelidze gave five main recommendations to the public in order to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus:

  1. Wearing a face-mask
  2. Keeping distance
  3. Follow hygiene, sanitary recommendations
  4. Avoid gatherings
  5. Receive vaccination if possible

He said that if people follow these recommendations and about 3,000-4,000 individuals are vaccinated per day it will be possible to establish public immunity in the country by April-May.

As of today 20,622 people have been vaccinated. About 1,200 people are vaccinated per day in Georgia but this is not many. We need about 3,000-4,000 people to be vaccinated [per day]. Everything must be done in the country to have these numbers in three months", Gamkrelidze said.

Georgia started vaccination on March 15 after 43,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Tbilisi with the help of UNICEF. Later the country received additional 29,250 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. 

Georgia received 100,000 doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in early April and the country has plans to purchase the Chinese Sinovac vaccine later this month.