Curfew in 7 cities including Tbilisi between 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. starting November 9

Vice PM Maia Tskitishvili announced that this will not be a typical curfew but ‘local restriction of movement’ to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

Agenda.ge, 07 Nov 2020 - 15:07, Tbilisi,Georgia

Starting November 9, a curfew will go into effect in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Zugdidi, Gori and Poti between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. amid an uptick in coronavirus cases.

Vice Prime Minister Maia Tskitishvili announced at today’s news briefing that the interagency coordination council has made a decision based on the epidemiological situation in the country and the increased cases of the infection. 

Tskitishvili also noted that the restrictions will not affect international cargo transportation, as well as emergency, pharmacy, media and delivery services. 

She meanwhile underscored that this is not a typical curfew but ‘a local restriction of movement’, the violation of which will be punishable by 2,000 GEL. 

Meanwhile:

  • All organisations except for medical, pharmacy and other strategic objects can work until 10 p.m., which can work until later
  • Both public and private kindergartens will temporary close in all of the above seven cities 
  • The number of passengers will be reduced and regulated in municipal transport

Urging everyone to properly use face masks and maintain social distancing, Maia Tskitishvili said this also refers to political processes in Georgia. Opposition politicians are holding protest rallies in Tbilisi and other regions of Georgia demanding repeat parliamentary elections. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who has gone into self-isolation due to the coronavirus infection, told Imedi TV yesterday that the ruling team will never restrict freedom of expression.

However, he said, ‘street rallies spread the virus rather than containing risks’. 

It is a mere fact. It is not our discovery or assessment. It is an opinion of epidemiologists”, Gakharia said, adding that ‘the community transmission rate, is increasing on a daily basis’.

PM Gakharia had stated earlier as well that the country needs to broaden the scale of local coronavirus restrictions to make the measure more effective amid election-related street protests.

Georgia has reported 2,859 new cases of the coronavirus, 2,754 recoveries and 18 deaths over the last 24 hours.