Tbilisi Clubs Shut Down to Prevent Corona Spread

Popular Tbilisi weekend clubbing hangouts, Bassiani, Mtkvarze and Khidi, have announced their decision to cancel all March events on their calendars as a measure aimed at reducing the threat of spreading coronavirus.

The decision to do so came in light of yesterday's labelling of the COVID-19 outbreak as a "global pandemic" and today's government meeting which saw recommendations against large gatherings of people.

Bassiani released a statement for its thousands of loyal fans on social media.

"Taking into account the crisis situation caused by the pandemic of the Coronavirus - COVID-19, recommendations issued by the World Health Organization, and practice in other countries, we would like to call off club nights for some period of time. We will further update you along with the development of the situation. We acknowledge that the impact of this decision might pose a huge damage to any field of life and in the first place the well-being of employees.

"Regardless of the exhaustive list of preventive measures we have already taken, we still cannot allow posing the potential threat to the health of our crowd, as solidarity, responsibility and care for people would always remain the main value.

"We would like to call on everyone to retain the high sense of public consciousness and refrain from hanging out in crowded places, think of the health of others like one's own. For the time being, this seems to be the only way to defeat the epidemic and reclaim our loved spaces soon.

"We regret that we have to temporarily limit the access to the vitally important spaces to many. Please be assured that we dance together, even in isolation."

By Katie Ruth Davies

Image source: Bassiani