2021-07-20
The growth of coronavirus infection cases, the situation in the hospital sector, and the process of vaccination were discussed during today's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council chaired by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the Government Administration.
The meeting emphasized that, over the past 24 hours, more than 2,600 infections have been identified, an obvious reason for concern. The Government is in full control of the situation, though joint efforts on the part of the authorities and society are in order to prevent the epidemiological situation from taking a drastic turn for the worse, something that may force the country to reintroduce restrictions. On the Prime Minister's instructions, the Health Ministry will take additional steps to mobilize more beds in the hospital sector. At this point, more than 5,700 beds are mobilized, with 1,300 vacant beds, and this number will grow further-and there is no shortage of beds for children, the Ministry reported.
The council also discussed the country's active vaccination process, underlining that a total of 1.5 million doses of WHO-authorized Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines are currently mobilized in the country. Vaccination with AstraZeneca continues, and so does immunization with Pfizer vaccines, with the latter's additional doses to arrive in the country in the next few days. In addition, on the Prime Minister's instructions, and to ensure even more active and faster vaccination management, mass vaccination centers will be set up shortly, including in malls.
Alongside intensive vaccination, the council singled out the need to comply with applicable regulations to prevent the epidemiological situation from taking a drastic turn for the worse. It is common knowledge that facemasks remain mandatory indoors, on public transport, on transport stops, marketplaces, and places of public circulation.
July 19 marked the enforcement of the Government's decree limiting the participants of trainings, conferences, and seminars only to vaccinated individuals or those with PCR or antigen-based test results. Also, camping is prohibited, regardless of its organizational form or location. Athletic competitions and learning/training gatherings for adolescents under 18 is allowed based only on all participants' PCR testing in advance. On the council's decision, amendments will be mad to mandatory testing regulatory provisions. Consequently, fully vaccinated individuals will no longer be subject to mandatory testing. In addition, on the Government's decree, such indoor social gatherings as wedding and funeral receptions, anniversary celebrations, and others remain banned.
Since the first coronavirus case identified in Georgia, the country has seen 390,945 confirmed cases, with 367,130 recoveries and 5,592 deaths.
Presently, 70 persons are quarantined, 1,120 are in clinical hotels, and 4,495 are hospitalized under medical supervision.
The Parliament of Georgia led by Speaker Kakha Kuchava and the President's Administration are actively involved in the work of the Interagency Coordination Council under the Prime Minister.
Press Service of the Government Administration