Georgia creates StopCov foundation to assist in coronavirus crisis

Liberty Bank has announced it will transfer 100 million GEL in pensions in advance to citizens of Georgia who are in a high risk group for the coronavirus, announces the Director General of Liberty Bank Vasil Khodeli.

Volunteers from the Tbilisi City Hall and the Georgian Red Cross Society (GRCS) will provide food, medications and hygiene products to 2,500 elderly individuals at the first stage in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus – COVID-19, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated today.

The Georgian Red Cross Society (GRCS) has started to train volunteers who will be able to provide food, medication and hygiene products to elderly individuals, those with special needs living alone, as well as to the disadvantaged and individuals with chronic illnesses in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus – COVID-19, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated today.

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.

Seven new confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection were announced in Georgia on Monday, bringing up the total number in the country to 61.

Despite a state of emergency, economic activity continues in Georgia except for Marneuli and Bolnisi municipalities in eastern Georgia where a strict quarantine regime has been imposed after a local, 62-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19 came into contact with more than 80 locals. 

Georgia has reported three more cases of the coronavirus in the evening, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 70, including nine individuals who have recovered. As of now, the number of infected individuals stands at 59 in Georgia out of 70.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is offering about $6.5 billion to address the immediate needs of developing states, including Georgia, as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A total of 9 million GEL  (about $2.60m/€2.37m) has already been accumulated in the StopCov foundation created on March 23 to help the poor and disadvantaged get through the coronavirus crisis in Georgia.

US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has praised the Georgian government for its ‘proactive steps’ to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus. “These are challenging times, and we are all trying to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and healthy. We at the U.S. Embassy are particularly grateful for the pro-active efforts of the government of Georgia, including the NCDC, the PM, the president, almost every ministry, and parliament, doing their best to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus and minimize its impacts”, she said. 

Dozens have gathered in Zugdidi,in western Georgia, to receive facemasks and hand sanitizer gifted by Saakashvili’s Presidential Library, despite the state of emergency in the country which bans more than 10 individuals standing together. 

A total of 15,500,000 GEL (about $4.67m/€4.22m)  has already been accumulated in the StopCov fund created on March 23 to help the poor and disadvantaged through the coronavirus crisis in Georgia.

A total of 19,935,000 GEL (about $6.02m/€5.49m) has already been accumulated in the StopCov fund as of March 31. The funds raised in the StopCoV fund, that was created on March 23, will be used to meet 'identified needs'.

The Georgian government will cover utility fees, including sanitary service, gas and water bills for three months (March, April, May) for households which consume less than 200 kWh of electricity and 200 cubic meters of natural gas per month.

The Interagency Coordination Council, a body charged with orchestrating the response to the new coronavirus, will begin working remotely starting today and carry out sessions online to avoid gathering people as a measure against the spread of the new coronavirus.

The Prague Civil Society Centre has written about Georgian practices in the effort to combat the new coronavirus.  The centre highlights several aspects of Georgia’s work to mitigate the social impact of the pandemic.

A total of 10,000 GEL has been collected via a social media campaign in two days for a 73-year old man who was fined by police in Georgia’s Eastern town of Telavi for selling tulips on Palm Sunday, April 12.

An innovative application called ‘Stop Covid’ has been created to help stem the further spread of the new coronavirus in Georgia. 

Students from the occupied territories of Georgia living in Tbilisi have been given food and other necessary items earlier today amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Georgian government announces.

The Stop Covid application, developed for Georgia by an Austrian company in order to help stem the spread of the new coronavirus, has identified 27 people infected with the coronavirus since its inception.

The government will cover the utility fees of certain citizens starting November for four months based on their level of consumption of power and gas.

Georgia has reported a total of 794 new cases of Covid-19 after conducting 40,667 tests over the last 24 hours. Out of the 794 new cases 452 were reported in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.