Interagency Coordination Council Reviews Further Easing of Restrictions

A session of the Interagency Coordination Council was held via videoconferencing under the leadership of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.

Council members discussed further easing of restrictions, which will be carried out in accordance with the epidemiological situation.

Representatives of relevant agencies noted that hundreds of companies have already applied for the resumption of work. Representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Healthcare will inspect their compliance with the safety regulations and recommendations issued by the Ministry of Healthcare as soon as possible. Dozens of enterprises that have satisfied the regulations have already resumed operation. They will undergo periodic inspections during the work process. Additional inspection will be carried out in the enterprises where flaws were identified.

The situation in the country in terms of food and medical supplies, which is being coordinated by Environmental Protection and Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili, was also discussed during the session of the Coordination Council. The minister explained that there are no problems with regard to supplies in the country.

It was noted during the session of the Interagency Coordination Council that the process of returning Georgian citizens to their homeland is ongoing. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Davit Zalkaliani, yet another special flight will take place today, bringing back Georgian citizens from Madrid. A total of 8,563 citizens have returned to their homeland as a result of the special flights (which are carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization), while 17,072 citizens received assistance from Georgian diplomatic missions abroad. Upcoming flights will be carried out in accordance with the following schedule, as determined by the Coordination Council:

1 May: Vienna-Tbilisi

2 May: Prague-Batumi

5 May: Athens-Tbilisi

7 May: Amsterdam-Tbilisi

9 May: Berlin-Tbilisi

The epidemiological situation in the country was also discussed during the session. As of today, there are 539 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Georgia, 178 of whom have already recovered. Three Georgian citizens have been repatriated from foreign countries for treatment. Six persons have died.

Persons infected with the coronavirus are receiving appropriate treatment. Currently, 5,256 persons are in quarantine and 548 persons are hospitalized under medical observation.

The Interagency Coordination Council continues to hold regular meetings under the leadership of the prime minister in order to take coordinated steps. The Parliament of Georgia, headed by Chairman Archil Talakvadze, and the Administration of the President are actively involved in the council's work.