Georgia: Authorities to introduce curfew across large cities due to COVID-19 from November 9 /update 20

Event

Authorities in Georgia have announced that a curfew will be imposed in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Gori, Zugdidi, and Poti from Monday, November 9, due to an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country. The curfew will be in effect nightly between 22:00 and 05:00 (local time). Face masks remain mandatory in outdoor and indoor public spaces and restaurants and bars are ordered to close by 22:00.

Additionally, schools and universities will continue with online teaching in ten of the country's main cities, including Tbilisi, until at least November 25. Events such as weddings, birthday parties, wakes, and baptisms remain forbidden countrywide.

As of Saturday, November 7, there have been 54,852 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia with 441 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.