PM Gakharia reports to parliament on gov’t activities amid pandemic: ‘we can make the pandemic an opportunity’

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has delivered a report in parliament today on how the government acted during the state of emergency, saying that Georgia has already received much praise for its fight against the coronavirus and through its timely reopening of the state economy, new opportunities are likely to open up for the country. 

Tomorrow, there will be absolutely new competitions and rules in the new world, where Georgia will have the opportunity to become more successful,” Gakharia said. 

"The nature of our response to this crisis is the responsibility of each and every one of us and this is a time when quarrelling, trading accusations, and engaging in vague jostling will be pointless. When, once time has passed, people will assess what Georgia has done to fight COVID-19 – the global pandemic – they will assess Georgia, rather than the ruling party, or the opposition as a separate entity, or doctors, epidemiologists, police officers, or ministers," underlined Prime Minister Gakharia.

"They will assess the country and today, we can do our best to ensure that this assessment is extremely positive. I call on each and every one of you – every member of government, our citizens, the opposition, which is also a part of the authorities – to do everything in our power to, at some point, have the opportunity to be proud of each other, as well as of the country, because we managed to be the most effective, compared to others, under equal conditions and considering our resources, and we utilised this effectiveness primarily for the benefit of our citizens," Gakharia said.

He stated that the government’s rapid and well-guided decisions amid the pandemic and people’s sticking to recommendations allowed the government to reopen the economy.

Abiding by the recommendations has allowed us to be proactive in reopening the economy and in the end, it is the only measure for us to use the pandemic as an opportunity,” Gakharia said. 

Both the ruling party and the opposition MPs attended the occasion. Photo: government of Georgia press office.

What did the government do before and after the coronavirus appeared in the country? 

Gakharia told legislators that: 

• The State Coordinating Council, which made decisions on the stage of containment of the virus, was created before the country reported its first case of the coronavirus on February 26, 2020. 
• A special group was created, headed by the director of Tbilisi Hospital of Infectious Diseases Tengiz Tsertsvadze, on how to treat COVID-19 patients, before the appearance of the first case of the coronavirus.
• The virus was contained until the end of February. 
• One of the first virtual spaces worldwide in the fight against the coronavirus – stopcov.ge – was created. 
• Studies were suspended, borders and penitentiary institutions closed to prevent community transmission of the virus. 
• None of the agricultural companies, crucial infrastructure projects, industrial companies have been temporarily closed during the pandemic. More than 65,000 companies continued work and thousands of people retained jobs. 
• Farmers were able to carry out their activities without any problems. 
• All infected patients have undergone treatment in  hospitals. 
• The Ministry of Education provided televised lessons and other methods to avoid having to cancel the academic year.
• 12,720 people have been returned to their homeland through the government’s efforts. 
• More than 22,000 people have been placed under quarantine. 
• 94 million GEL was spent on state procurements and 90 per cent of the money was used in the fight against the coronavirus. 
• Financial aid will be provided for people who lost their jobs or companies which had to close due to the coronavirus.

No one one will say that the government used any of the coronavirus-related restrictions improperly. Human life and health is on the first place and then comes economic development,” Gakharia said. 

Find the full information on Georgia's anti crisis economy plan. 

The United National Movement opposition said that Gakharia came to parliament with empty hands and pocket, 'with no plan on how to defeat the crisis.' Photo: IPN.

Gakharia thanked the Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for their ‘special role and efforts’ in the fight against the coronavirus. 

Gakharia said that the government took the right step when it closed borders, created quarantine zones, provided a renewed 112 service, and opened special centres for people with temperatures. 

Someone may think that aggressive testing or rapid testing is essential in the situation. However, the rapid tests, on the initial stage, misled many countries,” Gakharia stated. 

He said that the Georgian health system is much more ready to combat the virus than at the early stage of the virus.

Read PM Gakharia's closing remarks here.

Gakharia says that all the services the government provides its citizens should be available for people living on both sides of the occupation line. 

He stated that the government will use the 100 million GEL donated by the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili and the full amount of money collected in StopCov fund when it is most necessary for the country.