Georgia reduces curfew as previously vaccinated Minister of Health tests positive for COVID-19

A number of pandemic-induced regulations were removed earlier today in Georgia. On top of reopening its land borders, the country removed restrictions on restaurants hosting the visitors indoors during the weekend and reduced the curfew by one hour. Starting from today, the curfew will last from 23.00 – 04.00, Chief of the Operational Staff of the Interagency Coordination Council Giorgi Gibradze announced earlier today.

Amidst the easing of some of the restrictions, it has been reported that the country’s Minister of Health Ekaterine Tikaradze tested positive for COVId-19, despite receiving the first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine on March 23. The minister’s press service has reported that Tikaradze is feeling well, but will remain home until she makes a full recovery.

Head of the National Center for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze has commented on the reopening of the country’s land borders by saying that the country will have to be extra cautious with the inflow of visitors, which is why the Interagency Coordination Council was proposed a number of additional recommendations that will help to regulate and monitor visitors in the country:

“Today we proposed additional materials to the Interagnecy Coordination Council, that might be implemented in two weeks. I cannot yet say what kind of regulations will be implemented, however, it all comes down to the monitoring and regulation of the people entering the country for the purpose of reducing the threat of the spread of the virus,” Gamkrelidze explained.

As of June 1, a total of 1,233 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Georgia, as well as 1,002 recoveries and 31 deaths. A total number of confirmed cases in the country since February last year has now reached 345,196 .