Gov't Urges Public, Businesses to Strictly Adhere to Guidelines & Restrictions

Mechanisms for the implementation of the recommendations and restrictions issued by the government were discussed at the meeting of the thematic group on the economy of the Inter-Agency Cooperation Council, which took place in the Administration of Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia on Sunday.

Special attention was paid to the targeted economic plan which is being developed by the economic team on the PM's instructions, and which aims to enable the government to provide as much assistance as possible to the citizens who have lost their sources of income due to the current situation, as well as to support Georgian businesses in overcoming the crisis. The government's economic team is actively cooperating with major international financial institutions in the process of developing a further support package for economic sectors, including in terms of mobilizing additional material resources. It was highlighted that the implementation of major infrastructural projects will not be hindered.

Challenges to the process of implementing the recommendations issued by the government, including the issue of open agricultural markets in the regions, were discussed during the meeting. It was noted that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture will strictly control the enforcement of mandatory regulations, as the norms of social distancing must be respected in the agricultural markets of both open and closed types. In addition, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture will, in accordance with the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Healthcare and the National Center for Disease Control, carry out disinfection operations at food markets throughout Georgia using its own special equipment.

The domestic production of face masks and disinfectants was also discussed during the meeting. According to the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, the relevant production process has already been set up in the country and the distribution of face masks to solitary elderly people over the age of 70 will begin on 23 March. The distribution will gradually apply to all priority groups of the private sector that directly serve citizens.

The need to organize additional quarantine zones was also discussed, as according to the government's decision, starting Monday, all citizens returning to their homeland will undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine. The enforcement of the aforementioned decision requires the mobilization of additional quarantine zones and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development is actively working on this.

It was stressed during the meeting that caring for the health of citizens and slowing down the spread of the virus are top priorities for the government. Therefore, the repatriation of Georgian citizens will take place gradually, in accordance with the developed plan. The government's decision, according to which entering Georgia from neighboring countries is only possible through the Larsi, Sadakhlo, Red Bridge, and Sarpi border crossing points, also serves precisely this purpose. The aforementioned restrictions do not apply to freight traffic.

For greater efficiency, the Inter-Agency Coordination Council has been divided into thematic groups on healthcare, economy, and law enforcement, and holds regular meetings under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Chairpersons of relevant parliamentary committees are also actively involved in the meetings.