2020-03-19
It has been decided that all shopping facilities throughout the country must be closed, with the exception of food stores, pharmacies, gas station chains, post offices, and bank branches, in order to ensure social distancing and limit mobility in the country, the Prime Minister of Georgia stated after today's meeting of the Security Council.
According to the Head of Government, it is a necessary step to protect the health of citizens, a temporary but necessary measure to contain the spread of the virus.
"Our main task, together with epidemiologists, is to minimize the speed of the virus's spread, in order to enable our healthcare sector to fight effectively for the speedy recovery of those infected," Giorgi Gakharia said.
The Government already suspended schools and various commercial facilities, and closed borders with countries posing a high risk of virus import, the Prime Minister said, but today, "as we held a meeting of the Security Council, attended by the President of Georgia and the Chairman of Parliament, our discussion centered around coronavirus-related challenges and an effective fight against it, so consequently we made several decisions.
As you know, the first phase of measures against the spread of coronavirus is over, and now we are entering the phase of the domestic spread of the virus requiring the Government to ramp up relevant measures," Giorgi Gakharia said.
According to the Prime Minister, the Security Council's meeting also considered the likelihood of declaring a state of emergency.
"The meeting of the Security Council was attended by the President of Georgia and the Chairman of Parliament. We also considered the likelihood of declaring a state of national emergency. Presently-and I emphasize-it is not necessary. However, we, in agreement with the President, have decided that we will able to make this decision within hours, if need be, and then to execute it. We may make this decision, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or later, as the need to do so arises, and our medics and healthcare system tell us that this decision is necessary to stop the virus-then we will do it," Giorgi Gakharia emphasized.
According to the Head of Government, fear and panic among citizens is not the right way of facing up to this global challenge. The country is ready to rise to this challenge, he added.
"Most importantly, I once again urge our citizens that our response to this global challenge should not be fear or panic. Our response must be resolute and effective. We have been holding meetings all day today, both within the framework of the special Interagency Council and with our international partners and the private healthcare sector, whose commitment to tackle the virus is of utmost importance. I assure you that the country is ready to rise to this challenge," the Prime Minister added.
The Head of Government urged the public against leaving their social environments for any non-essential reason-especially our parents, pensioners, and persons over 70, those whom the state has, to some extent, taken under its wing.
"I would like to urge all of citizens to do our best to stay at home. In the next few days, Georgian Post will start providing you with everyone you normally received from the state," the Head of Government stated.
Giorgi Gakharia pointed out the key directions prioritized in the fight against the virus-systemic directions designed to enable to be effective in fighting against the virus.
"The first direction is healthcare within the purview of Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze.
The second direction is public order, and Interior Minister, Secretary of the Security Council Vakhtang Gomelauri will be in charge of this direction. The third direction is food supply management, logistics, and transport-the responsibility of Minister of Agriculture Levan Davitashvili. And the fourth direction obligates us all, after the crisis has run its course, to make sure that our economy rapidly bounces back. We are doing everything to minimize economic damage. The economic direction is the responsibility of Vice Prime Minister Maya Tskitishvili. Once again, I emphasize that state institutions, together with the private sector and civil society, we are all ready to be adequate and effective in rising to this challenge. I assure you that we will have desired results, and we will prove to be most effective in the fight against the virus," Giorgi Gakharia stated.
The Prime Minister wished health to all. Georgia will respond to this challenge globally and effectively, together with the partners of our country, together with our friends, Giorgi Gakharia added.
Press Service of the Government Administration