Georgia Lifts Outdoor Facemask Mandate from March 28
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
The Inter-Agency Coordination Council, the responsible body for fighting back the pandemic made the decision at Tuesday's meeting that Georgia will drop its outdoor mask mandate starting March 28. Wearing the mask will remain obligatory in public transport and indoors.
Additionally, the restaurants, cafes, arts, entertainment and sports venues will be allowed to operate at full capacity, without restriction on number of guests per table.
The decision of terminating the remote working was made as well.
Georgian nationals who arrive in the country without presenting a negative PCR test result will no longer be required to self-isolate.
The council also made a decision to continue the vaccine incentive program through April, paying citizens over fifty years GEL200 for their first jab and GEL100 for receiving a booster dose.
Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili commented that the pandemic is nearing its end.
“Hospitalization rate has significantly decreased… there are less than 800 people undergoing treatment at a hospital,” he noted, adding “mortality rate has also significantly declined.”
The Minister also added that this week Georgia will receive the first batch of Paxlovid, Pfizer’s antiviral medicine for treating COVID-19.
On February 22 the Government decided to halt the use of quarantine hotels, along with several other restrictions, such as limitations on public events and gatherings, starting March 1.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced in mid-February the Government anticipated the general situation with the epidemic to stabilize by the end of March.
Chief of the National Center for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze said after the meeting that spread of the virus has ‘stabilized’ in Georgia. According to him, 14-day positivity has fallen below 5%, while the number of fatalities recorded were the lowest since summer of 2021.
As of March 22, Georgia has confirmed 1,643,295 cases of Covid-19 of which 16,678 have died. On Tuesday, 1,053 cases and 7 fatalities were reported.
