First Coronavirus case in Georgia, gov’t closes borders with several countries
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Friday, February 28
The Minister of Health of Georgia Ekaterine Tikaradze announced on February 26 that one Georgian citizen tested positive for coronavirus. The new coronavirus originally spread from Wuhan province of China.
The rapid spread of the new coronavirus increased the specter of a global pandemic as countries ramped up their emergency responses and financial markets fell again on Thursday, despite signs that China's epidemic could be easing.
The citizen who tested positive for Coronavirus was traveling from Iran to Georgia through Azerbaijan.
According to the minister, the customs officers are placed in quarantine and they will be under control. According to Tikaradze, at this stage, the patient is not in danger and there are no fears for an epidemic.
The fears of the virus are spreading fast in Georgia. The pharmacies are running out of face masks. According to the Health Minister, there is no danger in Georgia for the virus to spread further.
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says there is no reason to panic over Georgia's coronavirus outbreak. He said this before the start of the government session.
According to him, it is important to keep in mind all the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
“We have no reason to panic. The Ministry of Health, the relevant agencies and the established interagency coordination council are in full control of the situation,” said Gakharia and thanked the staff of the Ministry of Health, border guards and customs for their work.
Following the first case of coronavirus, Gakharia has set up an inter-agency emergency coordination group, the press service reported.
The press service stated that Gakharia heard from all agencies about the current and planned measures to prevent the spread of the virus. After the meeting, it was decided to restrict entry by land along with air traffic from Iran.
More than 80,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus, most of whom have been reported in China.
