Deputy Minister of Agriculture Tests Positive for the Coronavirus

Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Iuri Nozadze, has tested positive for Covid-2019.

"Given the high public interest, the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture declares that Deputy Minister Iuri Nozadze tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10. He was in self-isolation due to the fact that one of his family members had been earlier infected with coronavirus”, the statement published by the Agriculture Ministry reads.

The Ministry assures society that there was no threat of the virus spreading from him to his employees.

“Initially, he tested negative for the virus. However, a repeat test yesterday confirmed the virus. As he has not been at the ministry since last week, there are no threats that the virus has spread among his employees and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continues to work in the usual regime,” the statement reads.

Georgia has a total of 23 confirmed coronavirus cases, Iuri Nozadze and his son are among these patients. He and his son are being treated in the Clinic of Sachkhere.

By Nini Dakhundaridze