Page 9 - GEORptOct20

not necessary when the pandemic really hit.
Georgia’s infectious diseases chief, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, says that the initial strict measures won Georgia critical time to prepare its hospitals and emergency services for the impact, as well as to learn more about the virus and gain experience in managing outbreaks. “It helped us prepare,” Tsertsvadze told​ ​local television​.
Butsashvili agrees that the repressive containment effort initially may have helped spare the Georgian health system of the stress. But she added that it’s still too early to judge whether a tough approach like Georgia’s was preferable to the looser approach tested by Sweden, which has remained largely open throughout the pandemic.
“It depends on when and how the pandemic ends,” Butsashvili said. “If an effective vaccine becomes available soon, before we reach high levels of transmission and deaths, then strict containment measures are justified by all measures.”
2.5​ ​Georgia introduces restrictions as COVID-19 cases hit record level
Several restrictions have been introduced in Georgia in response to the number of active cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country surpassing 400, the highest number seen since the start of the pandemic in the South Caucasus in February.
“Anniversaries, weddings, funeral ceremonies and other social events will be banned," Natia Mezvrishvili, head of the government administration, stated.
"We are returning to the restrictions that existed before... These restrictions are already valid in closed spaces as of today, but will be extended to open spaces from tomorrow as well,” she added.
The reopening of theatres and cinemas, as well as children's entertainment centres, has been delayed for a month to November 1.
"Some of these facilities should have been opened from September 15, part from October 1, but due to the epidemiological situation, their openings are delayed for a month, therefore, theatres and cinemas, as well as children's entertainment centres will open from November 1," Mezvrishvili said.
It is forbidden also to hold cultural and sports events with the participation of more than 200 people.
The reopening of schools was delayed from September 15 to October 1 and festivities in schools have been cancelled.
Some of the patients infected with coronavirus will be treated in hotels. Patients over the age of 65 and under 18 will not be transferred to hotels, while patients aged 18-65 with no chronic diseases will be treated in hotels.
The restrictions on cultural and sports events do not apply to the campaign for the October general election.
9​ GEORGIA Country Report ​October 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com