Georgian high mountainous region Mestia reopens, quarantine restrictions lifted
Deputy Governor of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Nino Vibliani said that mass thermoscreening will continue in the Mestia municipality despite the lifting of the quarantine restrictions. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The quarantine restrictions have been lifted today in the Mestia municipality in western Georgia, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, which was under lockdown after 17 people tested positive for the coronavirus on August 10.
Deputy Governor of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Nino Vibliani said that mass thermoscreening will continue in the Mestia municipality despite the lifting of the quarantine restrictions.
She said that about 5,000 PCR tests had been performed in the municipality of which about 1,500 are repeat tests.
Meanwhile, Georgia reported 38 new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, which is a record high number since April 16 when 42 cases of coronavirus were detected.
Georgia has created additional quarantine facilities in the Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti region to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The new quarantine facilities have been erected in the coastal town of Anaklia and the highland town of Mestia, said Governor of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Alexandre Motserelia.
Georgia has reported 38 new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, which is a record high number since April 16 when 42 cases of coronavirus were detected. 22 new patients contracted the virus from the cluster of confectionery Dona in Georgia's Black Sea resort town of Batumi, seven cases from contact from infected individuals, four cases were ‘imported’ of which two are truck drivers and the source of infections has not been identified in the remaining five cases.
Villages in Mestia municipality which have been under lockdown will open starting August 21, except the village of Lenjeri and the small town of Mestia – the administrative center of the municipality.
Mestia municipality in western Georgia, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, has been placed on lockdown as 16 people have tested positive in the past two days in the municipality for the coronavirus. People will not be able to enter or leave the municipality without the police’s consent. Tourists who are now in the municipality will be placed under quarantine in hotels where they are currently located (if the hotels meet the recommendations of Georgia’s Health Ministry) or will be transported to other quarantine zones.
Despite the micro-epidemic in the Georgian Black Sea resort city of Batumi, where 22 new cases of coronavirus have been reported during the last 24 hours, the city will not be put under lockdown.
The Georgian government’s key goal today is to manage the coronavirus pandemic with minimal risks as a new academic year is around the corner which will further increase mobility, especially in big cities, Georgian PM Gakharia said earlier today.
Once a vaccine for the coronavirus is approved, it will be available to the Georgian population, at first primarily to risk groups, said Head of the National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze earlier today.
Dreamland Oasis Chakvi hotel in Adjara region will be placed on temporary lockdown as a doctor attending a conference along with 400 other doctors has tested positive for coronavirus.