2020-06-15
The Georgian Government's latest decree defines indoor facilities to enforce the mandatory use of facemasks. Failure to comply will result in legally prescribed fines against both individuals and legal entities.
Facemasks will be mandatory in the front offices of public and private facilities, where contact between people is especially intense, also during meetings in public and private spaces wherever 2-meter distancing cannot be observed. Speakers and presenters at such meetings may remove their masks to deliver speeches, reports, or presentations.
Masks will be mandatory when using elevators or visiting retail outlets, in beauty salons and aesthetic medicine centers, schools of general, vocational, and higher education, and on public transport.
The obligation to use a mask does not apply to children under 6, to persons with respiratory issues, including chronic pulmonary diseases and bronchial asthma, also to persons with limited abilities, and certain other categories who, given their health conditions, cannot wear facemasks.
Today's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council chaired by Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia discussed additional measures to minimize growing epidemiological risks alongside the reopening of Georgia's economy.
In the past 24 hours, 15 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the country, including 2 with untraceable sources. At this point, sources have not been identified in a total of 12 cases, which increases risks significantly and requires extra caution.
The Council also discussed risk management mechanisms in light of growing mobility and reopening domestic tourism. To that end, applicable rules and standards are strictly controlled in public circulation areas, including restaurants and recreation areas. Failure to comply will result in legally prescribed penalties. The Inspection Department of the Health Ministry, as part of its regular inspection, scrutinized 26 restaurants, of which 16 were sanctioned.
The enforcement of applicable rules is also controlled in hotels. Of the 939 hotels inspected so far, 150 have been allowed to reopen, though 175, which have failed to comply with the rules, are awaiting follow-up inspections. The rest requested more time to meet the standards.
As it was emphasized during the Council's meeting, given the great importance of timely identification and treatment, the testing system is yet another tool for combatting coronavirus. Consequently, on the Government's decree, high-risk groups will be defined in the nearest future to undergo regular, mandatory PCR testing.
In addition, the recommendation for public servants to work remotely remains in force.
Based on the analysis of the present epidemiological situation, the Interagency Coordination Council has decided to lift the strict lockdown in the village of Geta, Bolnisi Municipality, while keeping the village of Mushevani under lockdown.
As of today, Georgia has 879 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 704 patients having already recovered. 3 persons have been transported to Georgia for treatment, and 14 have died.
At this point, there are 2,710 persons under quarantine and 267 under in-patient supervision.
The Georgian parliament led by Speaker Archil Talakvadze, also the President's Administration, are actively involved in the work of the Interagency Coordination Council chaired by the Prime Minister.
Press Service of the Government Administration