Page 10 - GEORptFeb21

The four MPs explained their decision in a joint statement that underscored the significance of political stability amidst the ongoing crises in the country and cited the lack of “well-founded evidence” of election-rigging. The lawmakers also announced that they were leaving the AoP and were forming a new political union of “European Socialists.”
Enukidze was the first to announce his decision to enter the parliament back in December. Party leader Inashvili said at the time that Enukidze was a “business component” and noted that the party’s “political component” – the top three mandate-holders – would be upholding their boycott.
2.6​ ​Seven-day snapshot finds Georgia with world’s highest rate of newly registered coronavirus infections
Georgia ranked first in the world in terms of newly registered coronavirus (COVID-19) infections per capita over a seven day-period to December 6, according to a ​New York Times​ report, with an average daily total of 115.3 cases detected per 100,000 members of the population.
Next on the list are Serbia (103.2), San Marino (85.8) and Luxembourg (84.8). For comparison, the latest figure per 100,000 of the population in Russia is 18.7, in Turkey 38.3, Ukraine 29.7, Armenia 34.7 and Azerbaijan 40.9.
According to the government website stopcov.ge, 2,501 new infections were detected in Georgia on December 7, as a result of which the total number of infections increased to 164,976. The death toll rose by 36. In total, the virus has officially been behind the deaths of 1,540 people in the country.
In the early days of the pandemic, Georgia enjoyed one of the most enviably low infection rates in the world. Things began to fall apart in late summer, however, as Georgians let their guard down on their seaside vacations and the disease began to spread rapidly.
In an attempt to move down from this peak, Georgia announced a reprise of the lockdown that managed to keep the coronavirus in check in the spring.
The government imposed a set of tight restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus to be applied between November 28 and January 31, in tandem with a new assistance programme to provide both social and business support.
Deputy Prime Minister Maia Tskitishvili announced on January 22 that certain COVID-19 restrictions would be extended in some of the largest cities through March 1​, while rules would be eased as planned in some others.
The nationwide coronavirus curfew – which runs from 21:00 to 05:00 – will be prolonged to March 1. Public transport will remain closed in the capital Tbilisi, as well as in the large cities of Rustavi and Kutaisi until that date as well.
From February 1, a wide array of shops and shopping malls will reopen in the cities, while both open and closed marketplaces will return to operation starting February 15.
10​ GEORGIA Country Report​ February 2021 ​ ​www.intellinews.com