Health official: circulation of Omicron coronavirus variant increasing in Georgia

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. 

Gamkrelidze told local news agency Interpressnews that cases of new Omicron coronavirus variant are three times more than the official statistics show, noting that ‘only PCR results are examined’ for this variant and not results from rapid tests. 

• Georgia to receive special PCR tests to detect new Omicron variant of coronavirus

He also stated that of 144 individuals infected with the Omicron variant, four are undergoing treatment at hospitals. 

All [144] cases are mild, 12 of which are children and adolescents under 18 years of age…The average age is about 37-38 years,” said Gamkrelidze, adding that 70% are fully vaccinated. 

• Georgian health official: Omicron strain of coronavirus to increase burden on hospitals

Georgia has registered 943 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, with overall active cases at 21,667, of which 147 cases have been laboratory-confirmed as of January 2.

Gamkrelidze also states that ‘everything should be done’ to vaccinate 80%-90% of people over 60 years of age in 2022 in order to reduce the mortality rate caused by coronavirus in the country. 

• Georgia confirms the first two cases of Omicron coronavirus variant

Overall, 1,123,129 people have been fully vaccinated in Georgia so far. 

The Georgian government planned to vaccinate 60% of the country’s population by the end of 2021; however, about 40% of the country’s adult population is fully vaccinated as of today.

NCDC calls on the country’s population to reduce movement and social activities during the holidays.