24 open air produce markets reopen in Georgia
The inspection of open air produce markets is carried out by the National Food Agency and local municipalities. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Twenty-four open air produce markets have already opened in Georgia as of today as a result of Georgia’s first stage of a plan to gradually lift coronavirus-related restrictions, including allowing open air food markets to resume operations after they had been closed to prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus in the country.
In order for markets to open, they had to fulfill a series of requirements including thermal screening of traders and sanitising work. Wearing face masks and gloves at markets is also necessary.
Three open air markets have been opened in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, one in the city of Zugdidi and two in the port city of Poti.
Meanwhile, one open air market has been opened in Samtskhe – Javakheti region in the town of Akhalkalaki.
In addition, three open air markets have been opened in Batumi, Adjara region.
It has been one month since I have not worked. It is very good to open the markets. They told us that every day they will monitor us by thermal screening, also face-masks and gloves are necessary. These rules are needed for us and for customers also. We are two at the counter, but we do not stand less than two meters apart,” a Batumi market trader told the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
A wholesale produce market has also been opened today in Marneuli municipality, eastern Georgia.
All the regulations are being observed at the market. Thermal screening is being carried out. The recommendations are being observed in the process of the trading, including distancing”, said Mayor of Marneuli Municipality Zaur Dargali.
There are already three open air produce markets opened in Tbilisi, while seven have opened in the Imereti region (two in Kutaisi and one in Zestafoni, Khoni, Samtredia, Sachkhere, Chiatura). One open air produce market has opened in Gori, Shida Kartli region, while four have opened in Kakheti region (one in Telavi, Tsnori and two in Lagodekhi) and one in Lanchkhuti municipality, Guria region.
The inspection of open air produce markets is carried out by the National Food Agency and local municipalities.
On April 27, Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili noted that open air produce markets will be opened gradually in different municipalities of Georgia as well as in Tbilisi.
About 600 companies have already been inspected to see whether they are observing the recommendations of the Health Ministry, of which 80% have been deemed to be abiding by labour and hygiene requirements.
Out of the 80 open air produce markets registered in Georgia, most of them are not observing hygiene requirements, so we should not think that all markets will start working today, said Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili.
The Georgian government has presented a plan to gradually open the economy step-by-step over the next three months. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that restrictions on economic activity will begin being lifted starting April 27 and if the coronavirus situation does not worsen in the country in three months Georgian the economy will be fully reopened.
All produce markets have been temporarily closed in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi starting today in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Six infected individuals have recovered from COVID-19 in Georgia increasing the total number of recoveries to 184. Meanwhile, Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze announced earlier today that at least 1,000 individuals will be tested for COVID-19 in Georgia per day.
Georgia continues to lift coronavirus-related restrictions. Starting tomorrow construction and auto repair businesses will be able to resume operations, announced Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia today.
A COVID-19 patient in Georgia, who was one of the five individuals to test positive for the virus in Georgia, has recovered after being treated in hospital for two months. Director of Tbilisi Hospital of Infectious Diseases Marina Ezugbaia said that the patient, who was placed in hospital on March 5, felt good after several weeks of treatment. However, the individual continued to test positive for the virus.
The National Food Agency of Georgia is responding to the discovery of traces of the new coronavirus in cargoes of frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil to China, saying that at this stage Georgia has not received any notification from international organisations regarding restrictions on chicken imports.
Georgian police have been introduced to produce markets in the country to ensure individuals abide by coronavirus guidelines and regulations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.