2020-09-09
Theaters and cinemas, and children's amusement centers, will open on November 1. Effective September 10, social events and rituals, such as anniversary celebrations, wedding and memorial receptions, including outdoor events, will be banned. Effective September 10, outdoor cultural and sports events will be limited to 200 attendants. However, these restrictions do not apply to political agitation and political activities. For the purposes of health safety, the Coordination Council has issued a recommendation to suspend festive events in schools. The decisions above were made today by the Interagency Coordination Council under the chairmanship of Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, based on the current epidemiological situation.
Additional restrictions were discussed by the Head of the Government Administration during a briefing after the meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council.
According to Natia Mezvrishvili, in line with the Interagency Council's decision last week, restrictions on theaters and cinemas were expected to be eased on September 15. However, given the present epidemiological situation, these facilities, alongside children's amusement centers, will not reopen until November 1.
In addition, the limitations on indoor rituals will now apply to outdoor events as well. In particular, so-called social gatherings, such as anniversary celebrations, wedding or funeral receptions, and others, will be banned.
"The epidemiological situation deserves special attention, which is why the Interagency Council has decided to introduce or toughen specific regulations to come into force on September 10. We understand that it may cause discomfort for some, but we take into account the current situations and, effective tomorrow, ban social gatherings, such as anniversary celebrations, wedding or funeral receptions, and others, will be banned. This rule, presently enforced on indoor events, will be applicable to outdoor gatherings as well, starting tomorrow," Natia Mezvrishvili stated.
As for outdoor athletic and cultural events, the audience will be limited to 200 people.
In eth same vein, effective September 10, cultural and sports events with more than 200 attendants will be banned. Failure to comply will entail legally prescribed sanctions.
The restrictions adopted by the Interagency Coordination Council do not apply to processes related to the upcoming elections and political agitation activities.
The council urges entities running for election to exercise high civil responsibility by keeping 2-meter social distancing and using facemasks wherever applicable by authority of the Government's decisions.
"We understand that political campaigning is in full swing, which is why the restrictions on cultural and sports events will not apply to political agitation," the Head of Government Administration emphasized.
The Interagency Coordination Council urges citizens to be extra diligent in observing applicable rules and exhibit high civil responsibility, to wear facemasks and maintain social distancing. The enforcement of said regulations will also become stricter.
"Facemask use will be monitored closely by state agencies. Both the Police and the Labor Inspection will be extra alert. As you know, facemasks are mandatory, including on public transport, indoors, public elevators, and others, and these rules will be enforced strictly, and our approach will be as tough as possible. That is why we once again urge everyone to observe applicable rules," Natia Mezvrishvili said.
Also, for the purposes of health safety, the Coordination Council has issued a recommendation to suspend festive events in schools.
The Coordination Council has also made decisions concerning the health management of COVID-19-infected citizens. In particular, asymptomatic infected patients will continue their treatment in quarantine areas. To that, hotels in three cities: Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi have been designated. According to Georgian Minister Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Ekaterine Tikaradze, underage citizens, those aged over 65, and persons with underlying chronic diseases will not be transferred for treatment to hotels.
As of today, Georgia has 1,773 confirmed cases of coronavirus, of which 1,325 have recovered, with 41 Georgian citizens transported for treatment to Georgia, and 19 fatalities.
Presently, 5,882 persons are under quarantine, and 390 patients are hospitalized under medical supervision.
The Parliament of Georgia under the leadership of Speaker Archil Talakvadze and the President's Administration are actively involved in eth work of the Interagency Coordination Council under the Prime Minister.
Press Service of the Government Administration