Winter Holidays Extended at High Educational Institutions Due to H1N1 Threat
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, January 11
Georgia’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health have decided to extend the winter holidays at all educational institutions, for high educational institutions for one week, which means that the studies will resume on January 21st.
The decision was made due to the increased cases of flu virus in Georgia and the so called swine flu, H1N1 spread, which claimed the lives of at least 13 people in Georgia, including 22-year old girl, who died on January 9 in the hospital.
“Despite the fact that the flu virus is not epidemic, the ministry believes it is necessary to prolong the 2018-2019 winter holidays, including January 18, to prevent the spreading of the flu virus. During this period we will continue to monitor the current situation and taking into consideration the recommendation of the healthcare ministry, we will inform the public about the next joint decision," the Education Ministry said.
Tbilisi Public Kindergarten Management Agency also announced that the childcare process will be resumed at kindergartens from January 21.
According to the official statistics, the virus cases have decreased this week. If before there were 277 cases per 100,000 people, this week it is 13 cases less, which is 254 cases per 100,000. It is predicted that the decrease will continue during the next week too.
The Director of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and Public Health, Amiran Gamkrelidze says there is no ground for panic, as the situation will be grave only if the virus cases reach 500 per 100,000 people.
“About 450 researches have been made, 55% (230 cases) of which are reported to be the flu virus. Out of them 98 percent is H1N1. There are four-five cases of H3N2 and one case of B virus,” he said.
Gamkrelidze said there supply of the Tamiflu medication, which is available for free for pregnant women, children, socially vulnerable persons, pensioners and persons with certain diseases, will be filled these days, adding the medication is not in deficit as reported.
Minister of Health of Georgia, Davit Sergeenko, stated that around 640 people with flu are being treated at various clinics across Georgia and 39 of them are in intensive care units.
The minister called upon the population to address doctors or clinics immediately upon detecting the symptoms of the flu.
