Gov’t temporarily bans mini-buses, imposes additional restrictions to prevent spread of coronavirus
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that Georgia is ready to cope with the challenges caused by the coronavirus. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
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Starting tomorrow mini-buses, so-called ‘marshrutkas’, will not serve passengers in Tbilisi and sport and spa venues will be closed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as the country has had 34 confirmed cases of the respiratory infection since the end of February.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated earlier today that public transport - busses and metro - will continue to work in a regular mode and will be disinfected on a daily basis.
Georgian Economy and Health Ministries and the Georgian Post were instructed to offer a mechanism which will ensure support for socially vulnerable families and pensioners over 70 on a daily basis.
As of now there is no need to declare an emergency situation in the country. If there is the need for this in the coming days, we will definitely take this step,” Gakharia said.
People in Tbilisi with no private vehicles will be able to take only public transport starting tomorrow. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
He stated that the country has ‘all instruments at its disposal to effectively combat the virus.
Our healthcare field is well-prepared to resist and cope with the challenges caused by the virus,” Gakharia said.
One of the 34 infected with the virus was discharged yesterday.
Georgia temporarily closed its borders to foreigners, with exceptions, yesterday.
One individual who had contact with three people who were recently infected has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, director of Tbilisi Hospital of Infectious Diseases Marina Ezugbaia stated earlier today. The condition of the new patient is not severe, Ezugbaia said. Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 34 confirmed cases of the China-born respiratory infection, with one recovered and discharged yesterday.
The Georgian government has announced a temporary, two-week closure of its borders for all foreign citizens, with exceptions, to avoid the further spread of the Covid-19 virus. The ban will come into effect starting March 18, at 00:00. The government says that Georgian citizens [and their family members] who want to come back to the country will be able to use the flights of Georgian Airways or Turkish Airlines.
Georgia and Russia will temporarily ban travel from March 16 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. No restrictions will apply to cargo transportation. Movement will also be temporarily suspended with neighbouring Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
One Georgian citizen who had tested positive for the new China-born coronavirus in February has been reportedly cured. Medical director of Tbilisi Infectious Disease Hospital, Marina Ezugbaia stated today that the first individual who had tested positive for COVID-19 back on February 26 after returning from Iran, has now tested negative.
Several new restrictions have been placed on public transport in Tbilisi to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Starting tomorrow, entrance onto buses will be available from the back door only, as the passenger cabin and driver’s area will be separated to keep drivers safe from coronavirus.
Within the last 24 hours, Georgian law enforcers have placed 22 individuals under quarantine throughout the country for violating self-isolation rules to prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus – Covid-19, reports the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
Elderly beneficiaries of care homes in Tbilisi will receive food for free starting from today, as soup kitchens have temporarily closed in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus-Covid-19, reports the press office of Tbilisi City Hall.
The Minister of Health of Georgia Ekaterine Tikaridze says the country has enough resources to cope with the coronavirus, including medical staff and equipment.
Georgian health officials say that Georgia is between the containment and the spread of China-born COVID-19 virus, a respiratory infection which has infected 34 in Georgia since February 26, 2020. Head of Georgia’s Hospital of Infectious Diseases Tenzig Tsertsvadze says as of now the ‘trace has not been lost’ and all the infected know how they contracted the virus. "We have managed to contain the virus so far. However, now we are on the verge of the virus spreading,” Tsertsvadze said.
Tbilisi City Hall will allocate additional buses for busy routes in Tbilisi as mini buses, so-called marshrutkas, have been temporarily banned from serving passengers starting today to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze stated earlier today.
Some streets in Tbilisi were sanitised last night to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus and ensure the safety of citizens, says Tbilisi City Hall. The streets which were sanitised last night were Pekini Avenue, Kostava street and the central streets in Varketili.
Public transport may be restored in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi in June, announced Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze today.