Individuals entering establishments in Georgia that had required green pass for access will be able to enter the venues without having to present it, Chief of Operations at the Interagency Coordination Council Giorgi Ghibradze announced earlier today.

Ghibradze explained the council, the body overseeing Covid-19 related regulations and limitations, decided to cancel the obligation of presenting the green pass due to the reduced severity of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, citing the “fully manageable” situation with confirmed virus cases.

Despite the growing number of infections, the situation is fully manageable, the pressure on the hospital sector is not increasing significantly, the vast majority of patients are treated at home and their health is monitored by family doctors, whose number has increased even more in recent days,” Ghibradze said. 

• Georgia hits record high 24,201 daily cases of coronavirus

Georgian Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia made further explanations for the council’s decision by saying the “technical basis for green passes has been weakened due to several factors related to Omicron.”

Gabunia also noted almost 35 percent of beds prepared for virus contingency in hospitals across the country were still available, adding ​​the number of patients in resuscitation care was decreasing.

However, she also noted the possibility of reinfection with coronavirus was high due to the rapid spread of the Omicron, saying “[t]here is no guarantee a person will be safe when they enter any business establishment as it was with green passes.”

• Health authorities highlight Covid booster dose effect in Georgia with Omicron variant cases on the rise

Individuals required to present a green pass to travel abroad will still be able to use the tool, the council ruled.

Covid-19 green passes came into force in Georgia on December 1, 2021, obliging the public to present proof of vaccination, testing or recovery from Covid-19 when entering certain establishments.

• Health minister: Covid hospitalisation rate has dropped from 20% to 4.5%

The vaccination promotion campaign still remains in force, with Georgian citizens over 50 years of age receiving 100 GEL (about $32) if they receive a booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 200 GEL for those over 50 years who receive their first dose of the vaccine. 

Georgia has registered a new record high of 24,201 Covid-19 daily cases, while overall 164,572 remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia.

• NCDC head: COVID patients without test results under doctor supervision to receive COVID ‘green status’

A total of 1,754 cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in the country as of February 1.

Overall, 1,221,340 people have been fully vaccinated in Georgia amounting to 42.5% of the country’s adult population.

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