Restrictions and Permissions Applicable throughout Georgia during the State of Emergency

On the decree of the Government of Georgia, under the state of emergency throughout the country’s territory, certain restrictions shall apply.

1. Travel shall be limited.

∙ Until the expiration of the state of emergency, all types of international travel are be suspended: air, land, and sea travel. Charter flights will be scheduled, as needed. Rail transport is suspended, only cargo transport continues without restrictions.

∙ Domestic passenger air travel is suspended. Only charter flights are carried out with permission from the Government of Georgia.

∙ Travel, passenger transport by intercity taxicab and bus, is suspended between the boundaries of self-governing cities and administrative municipal centers. This restriction does not apply to passenger transport commuting between administrative centers and villages within given municipalities.

2. Classes are suspended until April 21 in all educational institutions:

∙ With relevant technical resources in place, schools of general and higher education can employ remote learning.

∙ The administrations of educational and scientific research institutions are obligated to carry out remote work until April 21, unless reporting to offices is absolutely essential.

∙ All types of training, conferences, and seminars are prohibited. These and similar activities are allowed only remotely.

∙ Whenever possible, administrative procedures for remote authorization and accreditation and professional training and retraining are allowed. In such cases, the timeframe for completing administrative procedures will be considered suspended until the expiration of the state of emergency.

3. Various types of events are suspended.

∙ All types of cultural events, both indoor and outdoor, are prohibited.

∙ All types of sports events, both indoor and outdoor, are prohibited, including exercises/training.

∙ Only remote forms of cultural and sports events are allowed.

4. Assembly, manifestation, and association are restricted.

∙ No more than 10 persons are allowed to assemble in a single public space. A public space is defined as any place both outdoors and indoors, and is not defined as a person’s living space.

∙ All types of social events with more than 10 participants are prohibited (for example, funerals, weddings).

∙ More than 10 persons are allowed in private organizations that continue operating. They are obligated to maintain 2-meter social distancing and follow the Health Ministry’s recommendations.

5. Economic activities are restricted.

∙ Restaurants, food services, and manufacturing outlets are prohibited from admitting customers into their respective spaces. Said outlets may only conduct delivery and drive-through services.

∙ The operation of clubs, entertainment centers, movie theaters, spas and fitness centers, beauty salons, and nightclubs is suspended.

∙ Gambling and prize competition services are prohibited. These services are allowed only in electronic form.

∙ Food manufacturing and processing outlets are obligated to maintain temperature regimes when conducting any food-related operations, with their personnel obligated to wear masks, hats, and gloves. Personnel are also obligated to wash their hands frequently, with liquid soap and water. After having dried their hands with tissue paper, they are obligated to wipe their hands with at least 70% alcohol-based spirit or disinfectants. 

∙ Food manufacturing and processing outlets are obligated to ensure that all surfaces and machinery/tools that come in contact with food products are frequently rinsed/disinfected with a maximal acceptable concentration of disinfectants and detergents.

∙ All food manufacturing and processing outlets, before commencing work, are obligated to check the health condition of their staff (cough, shortage of breath, temperature). Temperature regimes must be maintained throughout the process of work.

∙ Delivery service outlets are obligated to place food products in disposable containers, and in case of multiple-use containers, rinse and disinfect containers after each use, also to maintain relevant temperature regimes while transporting food. The personnel must be equipped with masks and gloves.

∙ Retail and wholesale outlets are obligated to equip their staff with masks and gloves, also conduct frequent rinsing and disinfection, and monitor compliance of customers with at least 2-meter social distancing.

6. Restrictions are set towards private property:

• At the first demand made by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, legal and physical entities are obliged to carry out charter flights to bring citizens of Georgia home from overseas and to transport cargo;
• Ensure the transportation of designated individuals to the quarantine zone and cargo - to the designated areas;
• Allocate hotels and similar accommodation spaces for placing citizens of Georgia in quarantine and for creating relevant conditions of stay.

7. Restrictions are set for public service delivery;

8. Dismantling of buildings are suspended or postponed;

9. Deadlines for submission and consideration of administrative grievances are suspended;

10. Different rules are set for public notary services.

The following shall be permitted on the entire territory of Georgia during the State of Emergency:

Gathering of more than 10 people in public transport, if operation has not been suspended due to the State of Emergency;

Gathering of more than 10 people at healthcare facilities or public institutions, defense forces and penitentiary institutions;

Restriction of public gathering for more than 10 people does not apply to construction and infrastructure works;

Retail sale of food, animal fodder, animals, animal and plant products, household chemicals and items of personal hygiene, veterinarian medication, pesticides and fertilizers, seeds and planting materials shall be permitted;

Operation of digital communication, power energy, natural gas, water supply, petrol, diesel, liquefied gas supply utilities;

Sale of goods intended for medical use, pharmaceutical products;

Suspension of operation shall not apply to the supply/sale outlets of goods and products at large, provided such retail supply/sale is rendered through a delivery service or taken-away by customers without accessing the space of retail sales;

Suspension of operation shall not apply to newspaper sales booths;

Operation of restaurants, public catering facilities and canteens at enterprises and factories is permitted only through a delivery service or for drive-through take-away whereby customers gain no access to the space of actual sales.

Source: Government of Georgia's Press Service