2020-11-25
Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia discussed the tightening and extension of precision-targeted restrictions, along with a support package for the affected citizens and businesses with private sector executives and healthcare professionals today by taking into account the existing epidemic situation in the country.
The Head of Government of Georgia discussed several options of precision-targeted restrictions \with businesses and healthcare professionals today. They are aimed at causing less harm to the economy on the one hand and at effectively managing the community transfer rate on the other hand.
Private sector executives expressed their ideas on the forms of proposed restrictions and support package for businesses.
Amiran Gamkrelidze, Head of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gave an overview of the existing epidemic situation and current projections. He believes that the country is approaching a peak threshold and significantly tightened precision-targeted measures are essential and required to ensure a greater curbing of the viral spread. According to the clarifications made by the healthcare professionals, extended restrictions will not lead to a sharp decline in the number of infected people, though they will significantly lead to the stability of the situation.
Meeting was joined by Akaki Zoidze, Healthcare Expert; Giorgi Pkhakadze, Public Health Expert and Adviser of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) based in Switzerland; Zaza Tsereteli, Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Norway based in Estonia; Prof. Zurab Guruli, practicing medical doctor and Mississippi University Teaching Scholar based in the USA. Healthcare professionals working overseas shared the experience accumulated in countries of their current domicile and operation with the meeting participants in view of COVID restrictions and noted that a plan designed by the Government of Georgia adequately responds to the epidemic situation currently existing in the country.
The Head of Government of Georgia also discussed measures with private sector executives that are designed to support citizens and businesses. It was stressed that it is a significant task on its own merits to come up with a package that is capable of supporting citizens and those industries that are bound to fall under restrictions in the second wave of the pandemic.
Meeting was attended by Ekaterine Tikaradze, Minister of Health of Georgia; Maya Tskitishvili, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia; Ivane Matchavariani, Minister of Finance of Georgia.
Discussion engaged Amiran Gamkrelidze, Head of NCDC, Paata Imnadze, Deputy Head of NCDC Responsible for Science; Dr. Bidzina Kulumbegov, Immunologist and Allergist; Dr. Giorgi Gotsadze, Healthcare Policy Expert.
Press Service of the Government Administration