PM Press Speaker: It is Essential to Adhere to All Announced Restrictions

“It is essential to adhere to all restrictions that are announced and binding for all of us to keep a maximum distance and stay at home to combat COVID-19 together,” stated Irakli Chikovani, Adviser and Press Speaker of the Prime Minister of Georgia at a briefing held today after the Inter-Agency Coordination Council Meeting of the Government of Georgia.

In his opinion, the country is entering a phase of spread, which means the number of people infected with a novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) will be increasing.

“We and the healthcare sector are jointly doing our best to curtail the spread most efficiently and effectively, however, practice shows that an increased number of infected individuals is expected in Georgia,” he noted, adding that for several weeks already, decisions and measures taken by the Government of Georgia have been noted as highly regarded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and various other organizations operating in this field.

“Sadly, however, we have cases when our citizens go against our recomendations, thus creating a greater threat for each of us, and others,” Chikovani noted.

He also stated that Government Administration has moved to a different format of information provision for media, and decisions taken by the Inter-Agency Coordination Council will be disseminated via a transmission signal of the Public Broadcaster. Every media outlet operating in the country will be able to receive the signal.

He announced that it was decided at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council to further tighten security measures and restrictions in the country.

Each line ministry has been instructed to submit a list of all the possible restrictions within their scope of competence by the end of the day, which may be enforced in the nearest future.

“I wish to underline that we are not referring to a state of emergency and this is not a phase requiring a state of emergency. We are just tightening restrictions, which are still targeted at preventive measures” he noted, adding that the stocks of food and essentials were more than sufficient and no problem exists to this end in the country.

“Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia has been briefed about the current situation in view of the food stock. As previously, the supply of groceries and essentials is more than sufficient in the country. There is no problem to this end. The decision was taken yesterday on the 7 basic commodities. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Georgia has been instructed, in consultation with the private sector, to establish a price curtailing mechanism. It has been practically agreed by and between the authorities and businesses. We are now speaking about 9, rather than 7, basic commodities. It is an essential move and helps to keep our citizens calm. No price increase is expected on these nine products,” Chikovani affirmed.  

He noted that a recommendation has been given to municipalities to suspend rental fee payment on properties in their title ownership that are leased out to the private sector.

“Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze's initiative aims to suspend the rental fee payments on property in the municipal title ownership that is leased out to the private sector. This will benefit the trade sector. The same recommendation has been issued to all other municipalities. According to the suggestion, all businesses trading from space leased out from municipalities will not be required to pay rental fees. Of course, it is essential in all these measures to adhere to the recommendations issued by the Inter-Agency Coordination Council of the Government of Georgia and stay at home. It is the prime calling we should all practice,” he said.

The Press Speaker further noted that production of face masks and disinfectant solutions has already been launched under the instruction of the Prime Minister of Georgia.

“It will enable us to primarily meet the demand witnessed among the front-line healthcare professionals fighting COVID-19, and then all others in the country,” he added, noting that the Ministry of Health expresses full readiness for potential complications.

“Hospital beds have been freed-up in the public sector, though we also have an agreement with the private sector to create additional capacity within 48 hours if and when required. This will enable us to deliver medical services to a greater number of patients. Let me also note that the Head of Government will meet healthcare professionals from the private sector later on today,” he said.

He also underlined that the Ministry of Health is working on building a stock of express tests, and additional information will be shared with public on this.

The recommendation has been issued at the Inter-Agency Coordination Council of the Government of Georgia for employers to refrain from summoning their staff to offices if not conditioned an extreme necessity.

“The public sector has been instructed to further restrict the number of staff summoned to work. Let us move to a greater degree of distance work and reduce office work to the absolute minimum, as otherwise, they will need to travel to work. A similar recommendation has been issued to the private sector. They have also been urged to minimize office work and only summon their staff to work in case of absolute necessity,” he added.

He noted that one fatal case has been recorded in Spain in relation to a citizen of Georgia.

“We have an unfortunate case of death within the global pandemic. A lady, aged 74 died in Spain. She was suffering a chronic illness when she caught coronavirus. The Government of Georgia is in communication with her family, and the diplomatic mission of Georgia is taking care of all the essential procedures. Diplomatic missions are working round the clock. A hotline is operating to share the most efficient, verified and updated information with our citizens that happen to be overseas at present” he concluded.