PM: We Need To Be Extremely Attentive, Even Though We are in Control of the Situation
"Unfortunately, there is a sharp increase in the number of infections in the country, which is extremely significant. We need to be extremely attentive, even though we are in control of the situation, and the speed of the spread of the virus," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia made this statement during the session of the government, which took place today.
The first issue that the prime minister addressed was the epidemiological situation in the country. According to the head of the government, each and every one of our citizens must be extremely attentive in order to retain the relative success that the country enjoys today in terms of managing the virus.
"Today, we have to begin by once again talking about the epidemiological situation. As you know, there were 24 cases of infection yesterday and 12 more today; unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in the number of infections in recent days in the country, which is extremely significant. Of course, even though we are in control of the situation, as well as the speed of the spread of the virus, we need to be extremely attentive. The fact that the spread of the virus is chiefly concentrated in several villages of Gardabani Municipality is particularly significant, especially given that the social structure of these villages is such that many of our citizens from these villages work in markets and open-air markets in Tbilisi and the country in general. Therefore, the corresponding decision to tighten control over markets and open-air markets has already been made. This will consist of thermal screening and selective testing, while also carrying out active testing in these villages. It is noteworthy that the headquarters has received instructions whereby in the event of further aggravation of the situation, we must be able to quickly tighten quarantine measures at specific locations, and we must be prepared for that as well," the head of the government noted.
He stressed that the correct and effective management of the virus and the rapid recovery of the economy are two interrelated issues and it is impossible to achieve success in these fields without doing so in both of them.
"Once we have gradually and carefully lifted the restrictions aimed at [preventing] the spread of the virus in order to revive economic life in the country, each and every one of our citizens must nevertheless be as attentive as possible in order to retain the relative success that the country enjoys today in terms of managing the virus. We must all remember that the correct and effective management of the virus and the rapid recovery of the economy are two directly related issues – it is impossible to achieve success in these fields without doing so in both of them, and we must all take this into account," the prime minister stated.