As of today, March 16, Georgia confirmed 33 cases of the novel coronavirus. Currently, 637 people are kept in a 14-day mandatory quarantine, while 54 patients remain under hospital supervision.

New decisions of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council

Inter-Agency Coordination Council of the Government of Georgia held its subsequent meeting and made following new decisions within the scope of preventing novel Coronavirus influx in the country:

1. Citizens of foreign countries will be denied of entry into the country at the sovereign border of Georgia for two weeks from March 18, 2020;

2. Ski resorts of Georgia are closing down for a temporary period of time throughout the country;

3. Cafes, restaurants and bars are recommended to restrict direct service rendering to their customers on a temporary basis and to only accept the take-away orders;

4. A mechanism is being established at the Government Administration to monitor the execution of decisions made by the Inter-Agency Coordination Council of the Government of Georgia;

5. Individuals aged over 70 are recommended to strictly keep away from places of public gathering and to stay in isolation to the extent possible to avoid a potential threat to their personal health.

Head of Government of Georgia noted that 4 dimensions of critical significance exist, which need to be managed effectively to ultimately affect our ability to combat the challenge. These are: healthcare, economy, logistics and stock management, public order.

Respective line ministers bear responsibility over each direction.

Giorgi Gakharia was briefed at the Council Meeting about the current health condition of the Coronavirus-infected patients and preparedness of healthcare facilities if and when their engagement becomes required. It was also noted at the meeting that 33 individuals are infected as of today and health condition in the majority of cases is satisfactory. Condition of each patient is stable and they are undergoing the applicable medical treatment.

Coordination Council was briefed that 637 individuals are quarantined at present and 54 remain under monitoring and surveillance at healthcare facilities of the country.

The Prime Minister once again urged the citizens of the country to adhere to the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health of Georgia and World Health Organization, frequently wash hands, avoid places of public gathering, keep away from foreign travel and if occurring in the risk zone - strictly practice the rules of self-isolation.

The first coronavirus patient recovered in Georgia – Marina Ezugbaia

The first patient infected with the novel coronavirus recovered in Georgia. Such a statement made today the medical director of the infectious hospital.

“Yesterday afternoon it was announced that the first patient had recovered. Repeated test showed a negative answer. The second person, who tested negative for the coronavirus will be tested again today, and perhaps by the end of the day, Tengiz Tservadze, the Head of the infectious hospital, will tell you the answer. We hope that the answer will probably be negative and we will have the second recovered patient”, - said Marina Ezugbaia.

Salome Zourabichvili - WHO Director General praised Georgia"s response to the threat of the coronavirus outbreak

A telephone conversation was held between President of Georgia and the Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“The Director General of the WHO confirmed that the organization will continue to provide technical and expert assistance to Georgia in the process of defeating the new coronavirus. He praised Georgia’s response to the threat of the spread of coronavirus.

Salome Zourabichvili noted that Georgia is following the recommendations of the WHO and that the situation in the country is under control.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the organization will continue to work in close coordination with the Georgian authorities. He thanked the President for the measures taken by the Georgian Government to prevent the novel coronavirus.


Movement of citizens to be temporarily suspended between Georgia and Russian due to coronavirus

Movement of citizens between Georgia and the Russian Federation will be temporarily suspended from March 16.
“Given the widespread threat of coronavirus, temporary suspension of movement of citizens between Georgia and the Russia from March 16 has been considered. It was noted that this decision would not apply to the citizens of the Russian Federation and Georgia, who wish to return to their home country. The restrictions will not apply to goods traffic”, - reads the statement.

13 persons transferred to quarantine zones for violating self-isolation rules

In order to fulfill recommendations and decisions of the Interagency Coordinating Council of the Government of Georgia, The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues to operate in round-the-clock regime along with the National Center for Disease Control to prevent the possible spread of the new Coronaviruses and closely monitors citizens in self-isolation.

Within the last 24 hours, law enforcers exposed 13 additional facts of violating terms of self-isolation.

Citizens from Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Guria, Adjara and Mtskheta-Mtianeti regions have been transferred to the quarantine zones for violating self-isolation rules. At this moment 55 persons are placed at the quarantine zone in total for violating rules for self-isolation.

Nino Burjanadze - We all must show our solidarity towards the Government

“We must show our solidarity towards the authorities who are trying to carry out measures to protect the country. Due to the recent situation, we are shifting from the regime of an acute opposing to a totally different one. We will have opinions and objections but they will be interest-based and favorable ones. We continue working and in case of need, we are ready to assist the state. I also want to express my gratitude to the medical staff, hospitals and the media”, - said Nino Burjanadze.

Health Minister - We depend on the high civic responsibility of the citizens

“The Government is making a joint decision to prevent all kinds of things. We depend, of course, on the high civic responsibility of our citizens. If all these measures are implemented in a qualitative manner, then there will be no need to declare a state of emergency in Georgia”, - said Ekaterine Tikaradze.

Zalkaliani - Georgian travel ban will not apply to diplomats and representatives of international organizations

“The ban will not apply to diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia and to members of the International Organization and their families as well as to those families, where one of the spouses or a minor child is a citizen of Georgia. At the same time, the representatives of the humanitarian missions, if the need for such a mission emerges - doctors, volunteers, as well as those with a status-neutral document and the people with refugee status in Georgia. Of course, the issue of official delegations will be resolved individually”, - concluded Davit Zalkaliani.

Distance education is planned to start in public schools

Distance education is planned to start in public schools in order to prevent coronavirus. The Ministry of Education plans to implement another model of teaching in the near future. The agency has already addressed the schools with recommendations on existing approaches.

“Today every school administration will receive recommendations of the Ministry of Education. The healthy communication between the school administration, the teacher, the parent and the student is important. We plan certain activities during the holidays, and in parallel, the Ministry of Education is working to provide distance learning in certain educational areas”, - said the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Ekaterine Dgebuadze.