Health authorities highlight Covid booster dose effect in Georgia with Omicron variant cases on the rise
The Coordination Council has again called on citizens to be actively involved in the vaccination process, wear face masks and maintain social distancing. Photo: Georgian Health Ministry press office.
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Georgia’s health minister and the head of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) have highlighted the effects of the booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, as the number of the Omicron variant of the virus is on the rise in the country.
The government’s Coordination Council, designated to address challenges of and responses to the virus in Georgia, has urged the public to receive their vaccine doses as the Omicron strain is observed to be reaching the number of about 1,200 cases.
Deputy Minister of Health Tamar Gabunia said the data of the latest confirmed Omicron cases supported the importance of citizens receiving their jabs in order to avoid the variant, hospitalisation and severe cases.
I would like to highlight the necessity of the booster dose, which almost doubles the vaccination effect and protection against the virus,” she said.
Despite the increase in the number of confirmed new cases, the burden on the healthcare system has not increased, with health professionals citing milder symptoms of the new virus strand - with a reduced need of hospitalisation - as the reason.
NCDC head Amiran Gamkrelidze said healthcare workers had the capability to identify the Omicron variant cases in the western cities of Kutaisi and Batumi, in addition to the Lugar Lab in capital Tbilisi in the east of the country. As of January 17, a total of 1,254 Omicron cases have been confirmed in Georgia.
Out of these 1,254 cases, only 14 were sent for stationary treatment. One of the main recommendations [against the virus strand] is ‘boosterisation’,” Gamkrelidze said in his latest update on virus data.
A total of 40 online clinics are set to be added to the existing 62 to provide services to Covid patients, health minister Gabunia also revealed, with the move aimed at easing the process of communication between health professionals and their patients.
Changes to the isolation and quarantine periods also come into effect in the country starting this week, with quarantine period terms for asymptomatic and mild patients reduced to 8 days, while moderate and severe cases will require a timeframe of 10 days. In both cases, the requirement of wearing a face mask for the 5 days after the isolation is discontinued.
A total of 1,006,864 cases of coronavirus have been registered in Georgia since February 26, 2020, with 934,667 out of 1,006,864 patients recovering, and 14,512 deaths from various strands of the virus recorded to date.
The Coordination Council has again called on citizens to be actively involved in the vaccination process, wear face masks and maintain social distancing. The government’s vaccination promotion campaign will also continue through the end of January, with the age limit for qualifying for the initiative lowered. Citizens over 50 will receive a one-time bonus of 200 GEL (about $64/€56) if they receive their Covid-19 vaccine jabs.
The Ministry of Health has decided to shorten the Covid-19 isolation and quarantine period for fully vaccinated individuals who test positive for the virus starting Monday.
The Georgian Health Ministry has created a new portal, https://er.moh.gov.ge/, which allows Georgian citizens to register their COVID-19 status online.
Head of Georgia's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze stated earlier today that the new Omicron variant of coronavirus accounts for 60% of total Covid-19 cases confirmed today in Tbilisi, while in the regions of Georgia the rate stands at 30%.
Georgia has reported 7,521 new Covid-19 cases, 3,160 recoveries, and 31 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate for the past 14 days has increased to 10%. Overall 57,659 remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia.
Georgia has reported 8,728 new Covid-19 cases, 8,545 recoveries, and 43 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate for the past 14 days has increased to 10.44%. Overall 57,728 remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia.
Georgia has reported 6,351 new Covid-19 cases, 3,043 recoveries, and 27 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate for the past 14 days stands at 10.9%. Overall 61,080 remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia.
Georgia has reported 8,767 new Covid-19 cases, 5,173 recoveries, and 49 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate for the past 14 days increased to 11.39%. Overall 64,625 remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia.
Georgia has reported 11,039 new cases of coronavirus, 5,199 recoveries and 42 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate stands at 17.28%.
Georgia has reported 9,696 new cases of coronavirus, 5,408 recoveries and 28 deaths in the last 24 hours. The weekly positivity rate stands at 15.66%.
Georgia has reported 7,947 new Covid-19 cases, 5,550 recoveries, and 31 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate for the past 14 days increased to 13.08%. Overall 77,049 remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said the government aims to extend the vaccination incentive programme, which allows people over the age of 50 to get a 200 GEL reward after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, adding “all vaccines available today should be used."
Georgia has reported 15,762 new Covid-19 cases, which is a record high figure since the beginning of the pandemic. Meanwhile, 5,160 people have recovered from coronavirus and 42 have died in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate for the past 14 days increased to 14.15%.
Georgian citizens over 50 years of age will receive 100 GEL (about $32) if they receive their third - 'booster' - shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, Chief of the Operational Staff of the Interagency Coordination Council Giorgi Gibradze said on Tuesday.
A total of 201 schools throughout Georgia have switched to remote learning due to Covid-19 surge in the country, the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science reported. The ministry noted that safety measures were taken in order to prevent the internal transmission of the virus.
Georgia has reported 17,265 new cases of coronavirus, 5,947 recoveries and 34 deaths in the last 24 hours. The weekly positivity rate stands at 23.24%. A total of 145,265 individuals remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia.
Georgia has reported 13,150 new Covid-19 cases, 8,503 recoveries, and 35 deaths in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate for the past seven days stands at 23.80%. Overall 151,139 remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia.
Individuals entering establishments in Georgia that had required green pass for access will be able to enter the venues without having to present it, Chief of Operations at the Interagency Coordination Council Giorgi Ghibradze announced earlier today.