Georgian Gov't Announces Tightened & Expanded Restrictions

The Georgian government has decided to tighten and expand restrictions throughout the country.

Based on the decision of the Interagency Coordination Council, from November 28 to January 31, the following will be FORBIDDEN in Georgia:

Movement of persons from 21:00 to 05:00 on foot or by transport, as well as being in public spaces. Exceptions will be New Year's Eve - December 31 and Christmas Eve - January 6;

Regular intercity transportation of passengers, including by rail, bus, minibus. There are NO restrictions on cars (including taxis);

Operations of gyms and swimming pools;

Activities of sports, art and cultural circles/studios;

Holding all kinds of live conferences, trainings, cultural and entertainment events. The above will only be allowed online;

Restaurants and eateries will be fully switched to takeaway service. Allowed services: takeaway, "delivery" and "drive".

In big cities - Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Gori, Poti, Zugdidi, Telavi - and ski resorts Bakuriani, Gudauri, Goderdzi and Mestia, the following restrictions are additionally imposed:

Operation of municipal transport within the borders of Tbilisi, Telavi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Gori, Poti and Zugdidi;

Shopping facilities (except for grocery stores, animal food stores, pharmacies, veterinary pharmacies, household chemicals and hygiene shops and press booths) will operate only remotely;

Outdoor and indoor markets will not operate. Agrarian markets will continue to function;

Schools, vocational schools and higher education institutions (except medical education programs) are fully switched to distance learning;

Private and public kindergartens will close;

The operation of hotels in ski resorts will be allowed only for the arrangement of quarantine spaces. The operation of ski slopes and ski lifts will be suspended until February 1st.

Restrictions will be eased between December 24 and January 2:

Shopping centers, outdoor and indoor markets will operate;

Operation of both municipal and intercity transport will be restored;

From January 3 to January 15:

All restrictions imposed from 28 November to 24 December shall be reinstated;

Public and private institutions will not operate, except for banks and objects and services of strategic importance.

From January 16 to January 31 across the country:

Operations of municipal and intercity transport, shops and outdoor and indoor markets (except weekends) will be restored;

BUT on weekends, transport, shopping malls and markets will stop working;

During this period, transportation by car (including taxi) will not be restricted and the restrictions will not apply to all other economic activities, including:

Public and private construction-repair activities- allowed;

Banking and financial activities- allowed;

Operation of grocery stores, animal food stores, pharmacies, veterinary pharmacies, household chemicals and hygiene stores and press booths- allowed;

Delivery and takeaway services- allowed;

Operation of beauty salons and aesthetic medicine centers- allowed;

Car maintenance and technical inspection services- allowed;

Home appliance repair services -allowed;

The operation of the agrarian markets -allowed.

And so on.

By Ana Dumbadze