Georgia confirmed 23 cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. According to the Director of Tbilisi Infectious Diseases and AIDS Center, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, some of the new patients, who have tested positive, came into contact with one of the patients of the larger infected group that had returned after a trip to Italy and so far represents the largest cluster of infected individuals in Georgia.

Georgian Patriarchate is ready to meet recommendations regarding COVID-19

“There is an importing company that supplies disinfectants. Under the Patriarchate’s instructions, this company expressed its readiness to allocate the required amount of disinfectant in order to clean the floors, chairs, door handles in the churches. As for the icons and other sanctuaries, they are cleaned daily with rose water that has alcohol in it. We are ready to take into consideration recommendations regarding the novel virus”, - reads the statement of the Georgian Patriarchate.

Thailand suspends visas for Georgian citizens

Due to the threat of the spread of coronavirus, authorities in Thailand temporarily suspended issuing visas for citizens of Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, China, Bhutan, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, and Vanuatu. There are 19 countries on the list.

Gepha director, infected with coronavirus, releases a letter and apologizes to public

A letter released on behalf of one of the people infected with coronavirus, the director of Gepha pharmacy company Mikheil Abramidze, in which he apologizes for his rude behavior. The infected person hopes that his case will serve as an example for others to show more precaution.

“I didn’t take any medication before being checked at the airport. I arrived in Italy on February 23 together with my family and stayed there for one week. We were in the southern part of Tyrol, near the border with Austria, where no case of coronavirus had been confirmed at that period. Since I was sure that we could avoid the epidemic zone and did not have any symptom, we arrived at our house, where two younger children and my mother were waiting for us. The next morning I went to office with the same assurance and I had contacts with several colleagues who have been fully identified and are now in self-isolation.

I want to apologize to everyone around me for this situation. I cannot describe enough my pain due to the problems created by my lack of precaution”, - wrote Abramidze.

Georgia reported the first case of a child infected with coronavirus

Georgia reported the first case of a child infected with the novel coronavirus. According to Tengiz Tsertsvadze, the director of Tbilisi Infectious Hospital, 12-year-old child diagnosed with COVID-19. Four members of the child’s family were also infected and were taken to the infectious hospital late at night. Previously, they had been in isolation since February 28.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia tests positive for coronavirus

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia Yuri Nozadze tests positive for coronavirus. According to the Ministry, Nozadze’s family member tested positive for the virus last week and since that time he has been in isolation. 

“Given the high public interest, the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture declares that Deputy Minister Yuri Nozadze tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10. He was in self-isolation due to the fact that his family member had been earlier infected with coronavirus. However, a repeat test yesterday confirmed the virus. As he has not been at the ministry since last week, there are no threats of the virus having spread among his employees and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continues to work in the usual regime”, - reads the statement of the Ministry.

97 Georgian citizens from Italy placed in one of the hotels in Tskaltubo

97 Georgian citizens from Italy placed in one of the hotels in Tskaltubo. As Gocha Giorgidze, the Head of the Imereti Division of the Center for Disease Control and Public Health, said they have no symptoms of the virus and isolation is just a safety measure. The citizens are periodically tested and informed. The medical staff will monitor the situation.

Georgian Football Federation suspends all the championships due to coronavirus

Due to prevention of the spread of coronavirus, the Georgian Football Federation has suspended football matches. The Georgian Football Federation has released a special statement in this regard.

GFF suspends all the championships held under the auspices of the GFF, including the Crystallbet National League, Crystallbet National League 2, League 3 and age championships until April 1.

Vacations in educational institutions will continue until April 1

Inter-Agency Coordination Council on COVID-19 led by Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia held its subsequent meeting today. According to the decision of the Council, vacations in the educational institutions of Georgia were extended until April 1. 

“The decisions are the following: vacations announced in educational institutions across Georgia have been extended until April 1 this year. Day care centers will be closed for people with special needs until April 1. Spring recruitment for compulsory military service has been postponed until April 13”, - reads the statement, released by the Inter-Agency Coordination Council on coronavirus.

Besides, the Prime Minister was briefed at the meeting about the current health condition of infected individuals in Georgia and global data and trends on the epidemics.

It was noted at the meeting that number of infected individuals remains unchanged as of today and is still 23. Majority of them have a satisfactory health condition, while 2 have mildly complicated symptoms. Though every patient is in a stable condition and under the respective medical treatment.

Coordination Council has been briefed that 126 individuals remain in the quarantine at present, while 46 are under surveillance at an in-patient care. It was once again noted at the meeting today that authorities of the country are fully managing the process.

The experimental drug against COVID-19 shows positive outcome

The first clinical trial of the antiviral medicine remdesivir in coronavirus patients shows positive results. According to the Guardian, the first US patient, a 35-year-old man in Washington, recovered, but the full trials are needed to assess drug’s full effectivity. Final findings on remdesivir will be published in the upcoming months.