PM: Positive Test Results Dropped below 4%, Enabling Us to Ease Restrictions

Daily infection results have dropped below 4%, and that enables us to be bold and yet careful in easing restrictions, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated during today's Cabinet meeting.

The positive test results allow for easing restrictions earlier than planned, he added.

"The previous Cabinet meeting promised that easing restrictions would be considered if positive dynamics continued. Today, positive test results have dropped below 4% to enable us to be bold and yet careful in easing restrictions. The more boldly we ease restrictions, the more responsibility we all assume in observing the applicable restrictions. Lifting restrictions imprudently, rashly, hastily is a sure way back to enforcing them, which is why we must make sure that our achievements in infection management are maintained until late spring, so that we, in early summer, may be even bolder in assisting and further setting in motion the economy and tourism. Consequently, today's positive test results allow for easing restrictions earlier than planned," Gakharia said.

The Prime Minister noted that municipal transport will resume throughout Georgia on Monday, February 8, and so will marketplaces, with restrictions remaining in force only on weekends.

"On Monday, February 8, municipal transport will resume throughout Georgia, which means that it will resume in Tbilisi, Rustavi, and Kutaisi as well, including subway, buses, and routed taxicabs. Also, on Monday, February 8, marketplaces will reopen in full, with restrictions remaining in force only on weekends," Giorgi Gakharia said.

He noted that schools and kindergartens will resume work in a classroom environment throughout Georgia from February 15, which means, importantly, that students will resume in-person studies in Tbilisi, Rustavi, and Kutaisi as well.

"Apart from this, eateries and restaurants will be able to admit and serve customers in open-air spaces from the following Monday, February 15. These are the key decisions that we need to take today, though restrictions will apply to weekends. Further easing and acceleration of the process towards lifting the current restrictions after February 15 will be considered in a week's time. We will be able to tell our citizens at the following Executive Government Meeting which restrictions will be lifted," the PM emphasized.

The Head of Government, in discussing intentional violations against applicable restrictions by organizations, underlined that such organizations will not be able to participate and enjoy state assistance and subsidies under the effort seeking to provide economic aid amid the pandemic.

He added that this decision is fair in that it will reflect the responsibility of each citizen and organization.

"Should any organization intentionally break the applicable rules, it will be subjected to tough response; better still, we made a decision to exclude such organizations from participating and enjoying state subsidies and assistance under the economic aid effort through the pandemic. In addition, they will not be able to participate in state-support measures in the future. I believe it is a fair decision, one designed to reflect the responsibility of each citizen and organization," Giorgi Gakharia said.

The Head of Government, while speaking of state support for organizations and businesses, pointed out that 80% of the loan interest will be subsidized not only for restaurants, but also sports industry, sports facilities and private kindergartens.

"It was a subsidy on bank loan interest in the portion of 80% for 6 months. About 2000 applications have been received, which means that almost 2000 restaurants requested the concession to apply to them. Nevertheless, eligibility criteria were met only by 420 applicants due to certain technical reasons. Today we will take a decision to ease the participation requirements to make sure that those 2000 restaurants that originally applied get state support through this initiative. Apart from this, we will take a decision to cover not only restaurants with this bank loan interest subsidy of 80%, but sports industry, sports facilities and kindergartens as well, because they also expressed significant demand towards this end. These are the organizations and businesses that were affected by the pandemic as well," he said.

At today's Cabinet meeting, the PM also introduced Kakha Kemoklidze as new Head of the Government Administration. Kemoklidze has enough knowledge and experience to be successful in leading the effective work of the Administration of the Georgian Government, Gakharia added.

"Kakha Kemoklidze, a years-long member of our team, is one of the most honorable public servants who has served his country and team for years. Recently, Kakha served as Head of the Office of the National Security Council, having participated in such important events as the Geneva Discussions, IPRM meeting. He has enough knowledge and experience to be successful in leading the effective work of the Administration of the Georgian Government," Giorgi Gakharia said.