More Coronavirus cases, gov’t says there is no need for new regulations

By Nika Gamtsemlidze

Monday, June 15

There are more than 864 cases reported in Georgia.

Some members of the ruling party, including Irakli Kobakhidze, have said that the gov’t might need to postpone the 2020 elections if the situation with the virus gets worse.

Around the world, about 8 million people have already been infected by the virus.

Over the last few days, more cases of the novel Coronavirus were reported in Georgia. Yesterday, another 13 cases were reported in Georgia, out of which, the sources of five cases are still unknown. The 14th patient has passed away due to the complications caused by the virus.

The head of the Disease Control Center Amiran Gamkrelidze says that there is no need for additional regulations considering today’s situation in the country. He talked about this in his interview with Rustavi 2. However, he noted that it is important that people follow the recommendations that are in place right now. “We are waiting for a more classic second wave during the cold autumn. Right now, we believe that this situation is connected to the loosening up of our policies, which we were ready for,” said Gamkrelidze.

The health sector is prepared and will easily cope with 12, 13, 14, and even 20 new cases, but it will be difficult if 50-70 cases are reported daily. A total of 864 cases of Coronavirus have been identified so far, of which 703 have already recovered. However, on June 13th, the virus killed the 14th patient. The deceased was an employee of the National Bank. The 68-year-old patient had been receiving treatment at the Tbilisi First University Clinic for 70 days since April 4th.

“He was transferred from the sepsis center, where he was diagnosed with the Coronavirus, in addition, he had acute pneumonia, heart failure, and severe respiratory distress. The patient was critical at the time of admission, and we could not do anything to help him,” said Levan Ratiani.

A few members of the ruling party are talking about moving the elections. Some of the members of the ruling party noted that they think the elections might take place in late December or January if the virus continues to spread in October as well.

The statements of ruling party members were followed by harsh criticism from the opposition. As UNM’s Giorgi Vasahdze said, the situation in the country is not severe enough to not hold the elections.

“If by the end of October, they have a low-rated political situation, they will try to postpone the elections until the end of December. To say, this is playing with fire, they are playing with people’s nerves, they are playing with their hunger, the hardship, that our population is going through,” said Vashadze.

Around the world, the number of people infected by the Coronavirus is rising every day. As of now, there are about 8 million cases of the virus reported around the world, out of which more than 2,1 million were reported in the US.