2020-11-05
We are entering a new phase - today, we had more than 2,400 new cases of coronavirus infection. Given the political processes that are taking place in the streets and the dynamics of the spread of the virus in Europe, it seems that the numbers will continue to increase; this is a fact and we must be ready for it, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated at the session of the Interagency Coordination Council, which was held via video conferencing and chaired by the head of the government.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of maximum mobilization of all relevant government agencies to ensure that all measures - including pinpoint restrictions - are implemented even more effectively.
"Of course, the political activity that is taking place in the streets will greatly accelerate the arrival of the peak. The situation will be more serious than we expected because the mobility caused by street rallies is, of course, directly related to the rapid increase in the rate of infection. Therefore, the full mobilization of absolutely all ministries and relevant agencies is necessary. Additionally, of course, while we are not changing the strategy of adaptation, we must think about what would constitute an even more effective package of pinpoint restrictions, in parallel to adaptation. We are talking about pinpoint restrictions, rather than systemic restrictions throughout the country," the Prime Minister stated.
The head of the government stressed the effectiveness of self-isolation as a tool in breaking the chain of the spread of the virus, as well as the importance of home treatment in preventing the hospital sector from being overwhelmed.
"When a person begins exhibiting initial symptoms, regardless of whether he/she has had a positive test result or has managed to get tested at all, he/she must immediately begin to self-isolate as self-isolation is the best and most effective means of breaking this chain. Home treatment, family doctors - Eka, it is very important for the maximum number of citizens to have the possibility to receive treatment at home, calmly and quietly, since home treatment is one of the most effective solutions to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed, so that the people who require treatment with special medical services are not left without access to them. Furthermore, as we discussed yesterday, we urgently need to introduce elementary therapeutic elements to COVID hotels, starting today, and these should be not only COVID-hotels for our citizens who lack the means for self-isolation but also COVID-hotels with elements of therapeutic management and medical supervision, and hospitalization must be limited to severe cases only. Regardless of the cost, the reduction of the rate of hospitalization to 15% is the only and critically important factor that should allow us to overcome this crisis. Therefore, we must do everything, ranging from hospitalization protocols to manual management, to reduce this 26% to 15%," Giorgi Gakharia stated.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the importance of expanded testing with rapid antigen-based tests.
"Assuming that home treatment, COVID hotels, and hospitalization have all been properly organized, rapid antigen testing will enable us to inform people that they have been infected, and infrastructure has already been created that will allow them to receive treatment based on the severity of infection. These are the critical points that we need to address: First is the reduction of the rate of hospitalization to 15%, unequivocally; second is the introduction of the elements of therapeutic management in COVID hotels and home treatment via the primary level of healthcare; face masks, self-isolation, and rapid antigen testing are the tools that should help us overcome this peak. Another important issue: We must determine which of the pinpoint restrictions that we discussed today are of the greatest importance for the current situation. The situation was completely different one month ago; it is somewhat different today due to the different pattern of activity - I am referring to the political process taking place in the streets. Correspondingly, we will need to review [our approach] to some extent in terms of pinpoint restrictions. From what I can see, the situation is worsening significantly in Europe as well and there is only one criterion everywhere - preventing the hospital system from being overwhelmed. That is when the unmanageable processes begin. At the moment, victory or defeat depends on the hospital system so, Eka, please take this into consideration," the Prime Minister addressed Healthcare Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze.