Georgia: State of emergency extended until May 22, driving ban – until April 27

To counter the pandemic, the state of emergency in Georgia has been extended until May 22.

President Salome Zurabishvili signed off on the measure yesterday and it will come into effect once it has been signed by the prime minister and approved by the parliament.

The restrictions on the use of private vehicles have also been extended, and will be in force until April 27.

As of April 21, 408 cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in Georgia. 4,779 people were quarantined, 561 in hospitals. 95 patients recovered. 4 people passed away.

On April 24, the government promises to introduce an exit plan for the state of emergency.

“Infection clusters are expanding, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify the source of infection. In the next 2-3 weeks, we will enter the most difficult period – the peak phase,” said Irakli Chikovani, spokesman for the Georgian prime minister.

Parliamentary opposition does not support prolongation of the state of emergency

Roman Gotsiridze, chairman of the opposition United National Movement faction, said that if the authorities did not come up with a plan to save the economy, his faction would not support the extension of the state of emergency.

“People who had to go out every day to earn a livelihood and are now stuck at home need to be sure that they will not have their electricity or water supply cut off. For that we need a program,” Gotsiridze said.

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He said the party would support all measures in the field of health and medicine, “but not absurd restrictions”.

The chairman of the parliamentary committee for defense and security, Irakli Sesiashvili, said the parliamentary majority would unanimously support the proposal to extend the state of emergency on April 22.

To counter the pandemic in Georgia, a state of emergency was introduced on March 21, and a curfew was announced on March 31, banning outdoor movement from 21.00 to 6.00.