2020-03-03
Georgian Prime Minister expresses his gratitude to the Health Ministry, medical personnel without exception, border guards, and customs officers for their high professionalism and civic responsibility in the fight against the spread of coronavirus.
During today's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council on Coronavirus, the Head of Government singled out the high level of citizen consolidation and responsibility of the persons under quarantine.
"Firstly, I would like to thank doctors, nurses, and especially the Health Ministry, for cooperation and active engagement in the coordination group. Of course, special thanks are due to all public servants who, in fulfilling their duties as border guards or customs officers, absolutely sincerely and selflessly do their jobs on a daily basis. This gratitude stems from the objective appreciation of the hard work performed by daily by those fighting against this challenge. We understand well that it is a common challenge, and everyone must deal with it with due responsibility. There is no room for panic of fear. What it takes is effective work. I am especially grateful to all our citizens. It has been a while since we last saw this magnitude of citizen consolidation. We all must realize that it is one of those cases when each of us, regardless of our political affiliation, must serve the country-as ordinary citizens, doctors, nurses, customs or police officers. That is our main task, and it does not matter if we are parts of the Government, civil sector, opposition, or if we are those presently under quarantine, to whom I am especially grateful for their responsibility and perseverance, and we all embrace this responsibility," the Prime Minister stated.
During today's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council on Coronavirus, Georgia's Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs Ekaterine Tikaradze reported that the number of those infected with novel coronavirus has not grown, and that the health conditions of the three previously diagnosed persons remain satisfactory.
Today's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council pointed out the Marc 2 decree of the Government on the temporary closing of all public and private schools throughout Georgia.
According to the decree signed by the Prime Minister, all schools throughout the country will be out on March 4.
Previously, on the recommendation of the Interagency Coordination Council on Coronavirus under the Prime Minister, classes were cancelled in all public schools and preschool institutions in Georgia, and in several schools of higher education, from March 2 to March 16.
To ensure mandatory compliance to this decision by private high and vocational schools, and schools of higher education, the Government of Georgia issued a decree on the cancellation of classes in all public and private schools of education in the country until March 16. As a preventive measure, all schools are obligated to carry out disinfection in their buildings, in line with the Health Ministry's protocol.
In addition, the March 2 decree of the Government amends the plan for averting a possible novel coronavirus outbreak in Georgia and for operative response to novel coronavirus-affected cases. These amendments, among others, prescribe escorting trucks and their crews from coronavirus-affected countries transiting through Georgian territory, and convoying them to relevant border checkpoints. Also replacing the drivers of trucks from WHO-designated high coronavirus risk countries with persons outside risk groups, with full disinfection of the given vehicle under the supervision of an officer authorized by border authorities, and the driver of the motor vehicle (foreign citizen)-who has previously driven the vehicle to the customs border-returning home or, based on his/her clinical condition, placed under quarantine/hospitalized.
During today's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council, the Government's economic team presented information on the ongoing global trends triggered by coronavirus and its potential impact on Georgia's economy.
The Prime Minister of Georgia instructed the economic team to join forces with the National Bank and develop a special plan for minimizing a possible negative impact of coronavirus on the country's economy.
The meeting singled out the importance of public awareness and pointed out that the Government spares no effort to keep the population updated on all steps and preventive measures taken.
To that end, a website has been set up, www.stopcov.ge, to reflect all measures taken by the Government, alongside recommendations from the World Health Organization and the Georgian Ministry of Health.
Led by the Prime Minister, the Interagency Coordination Council on Coronavirus continues to hold regular meetings. All relevant agencies work in a coordinated manner, and the Government is in full control of the situation.
The Government has set up a special website - www.stopcov.ge to inform the public about Coronavirus.