PM's Advisor: The Country Has a Significant Expansion of Domestic Clusters

We have a significant expansion of domestic clusters in the country and, in fact, we are preparing to enter the peak phase of the epidemic, - said Advisor to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Chikovani.

He noted that new cases are being investigated and newly infected people are being identified.

"The highest increase in the number of cases of infection to date has been registered, and we already have 306 [Editor's note: now 336] confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the country. New cases are being investigated and the contacts of the newly infected people are being identified. We have a significant expansion of domestic clusters in the country, and in fact, we are preparing to enter the peak phase of the epidemic,” Chikovani said.

He again reminded the public that given the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country, the Georgian government has decided to prohibit all types of movement, entry and exit to four major Georgian cities - Tbilisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Kutaisi, from April 15. 

Restrictions will enter into force from 9 pm on April 15 and will last for 10 days. 

"Citizens who are registered in these municipalities will be able to enter but they will not be able to leave those municipalities for 10 days. Only the individuals and citizens who are registered in other municipalities will have the ability and the right to leave these municipalities.

Restrictions will not apply to the following cases:

1. 1.      Movement of employees of medical facilities, given their official business;
2. 2.      International and local freight transportation;
3. 3.      Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia, given their official business;
4. 4.      Transfer of defendants and convicts;
5. 5.      Collection and secure transportation of cash, precious metals, and other valuables;
6. 6.      Movement with the aim of providing electricity, natural gas, or water supplies;
7. 7.      Movement with the aim of providing services related to telecommunications, postage, or waste management;
8. 8.      Movement for the purpose of service railway traffic, which is connected with technical transportation only;
9. 9.      Movement of media representatives with the purpose of carrying out journalistic activities;
10. 10.   Movement with the purpose of providing ritual services – transporting or burying the deceased;
11. 11.   Movement of international organizations for humanitarian purposes;
12. 12.   Movement for the purpose of providing private security;
13. 13.   Movement of the employees of those public institutions, the activities of which are of critical importance during the state of emergency;
14. 14.   Also, those entities that are carrying out economic activities permitted by the ordinance of the government, which are on the list that was agreed with the Operational Headquarters, whose movement is of critical importance while performing official duties under the state of emergency," the prime minister's spokesman stated.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Related Story: Entry to 4 Major Cities Forbidden for 10 Days, State of Emergency to be Extended