NEWS

Coronavirus Update: Concerns Regarding Spread of Indian Variant

BY ANA DUMBADZE

Against the background of lifted restrictions (apart from the curfew and face masks), the epidemiological situation in Georgia remains concerning and needs constant monitoring.

The country’s capital Tbilisi still records the majority of newly detected cases daily, considering the largest number of population living there, followed by the Imereti and Adjara regions.

During the week, as usual, the lowest number of new COVID cases was reported on Monday largely due to the small number of tests conducted. Georgia reported 311 coronavirus cases, 936 recoveries, and 12 deaths on Monday, with 10,442 tests conducted.

The country reported 1092 coronavirus cases, 775 recoveries, and 23 deaths on Tuesday, with 29,734 tests conducted. Tbilisi recorded the highest number of 586 Covid-19 cases within the 24 hours.

Georgia reported 811 coronavirus cases, 672 recoveries, and 13 deaths on Wednesday, with 34,668 tests conducted in the 24 hours. Tbilisi again recorded the highest number of 470 Covid-19 cases within the 24 hours.

The country recorded 741 new coronavirus cases, 945 recoveries and 18 deaths on Thursday, with 31,350 tests conducted.

Currently, the daily test-positivity rate stands at 2.36%, down from 2.4% in the last 7 days.

Georgia’s total case tally has reached 356,920, among which 342,720 people recovered and 5114 died. 42 people are in quarantine, 2,926 under supervision in hospitals, and 602 are in COVID hotels.

THE VACCINES

221,156 Georgians have received a coronavirus vaccine so far, while 4302 people are being vaccinated daily.

From June 14, the country resumed registration for both the fi rst and second doses of the Sinovac vaccine. 100,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine were introduced in Georgia on April 29, the fi rst dosing of which started on May 24. 17,199 citizens have been vaccinated with Sinovac so far.

The second dose of Sinovac is given 14-28 days after the fi rst.

Deputy Minister of Health, Tamar Gabunia, stated on June 15 that Georgia is considered among the countries that will receive vaccines from the member states of the Group of Seven (G7). However, she added, it is unknown at this stage which vaccine or how many doses Georgia will receive.

NCDC Head Amiran Gamkrelidze said 3,600,000 doses of 4 vaccines will be delivered to the country from July.

“We have a guaranteed schedule and contracts from July: 3,600,000 doses of four vaccines will be delivered to the country over four months - July, August, September, October,“ he said.

Gamkrelidze also spoke about the importance of the third, so-called booster dose, noting that most scientists are in favor of the third dose as it prolongs immunity, and this is also being taken into account in Georgia. THE DELTA VARIANT

Recently, it was announced that unvaccinated people are most at risk from the Indian (or Delta) variant.

“Nearly two-thirds of new cases are people infected with the Delta variant, and more than half of those who have died from it, have not had a Covid vaccine at all, the latest offi cial data suggests,” reported the BBC.

The Delta variant, which was fi rst identifi ed in India, is now the dominant variant in the UK - accounting for 90% of cases.

The Delta variant is roughly 60% more communicable than the Alpha, or Kent, variant. WHO says the Delta variant has now spread to 80 countries and it keeps mutating. The variant now makes up 10% of all new cases in the United States, up from 6% last week. WHO offi cials said some reports have found that it also causes more severe symptoms, but more research is needed to confi rm those conclusions.

The Indian variant has also spread to Georgia. The country reported 18 cases of Delta, the Deputy Head of the National Center for Disease Control Paata Imnadze said on Tuesday.

Georgia reported the fi rst fi ve cases of the Indian strain on May 27.

Regarding the epidemiological situation in neighboring countries, it remains concerning in Ukraine and Turkey. As of June 17, 1188 new cases and 55 new deaths were reported in Ukraine. The country has recorded 2,227,225 Covid cases so far, among them, 2,145,660 people recovered and 51,902 died.

Based on the latest available data, in Turkey, 6221 new cases and 71 new deaths were reported on June 16. The country has recorded 5,348,249 Covid cases so far, among them, 5,215,654 people recovered and 48,950 died.

Public Defender, Archbishop Iakob to Visit Ninotsminda Orphanage Together

BY ANA DUMBADZE

We had a very constructive meeting, Bishop Iakob showed a very positive attitude towards the Public Defender’s institute, – Public Defender Nino Lomjaria said after the meeting with Bishop Iakob of Bodbe, the newly appointed Head of Ninotsminda Boarding School, where alleged crimes against children took place over years.

Lomjaria said that several important issues were discussed at the meeting, including the fact that large orphanages are not good for the best interests of children, and that the Public Defender should be able to monitor processes at the Ninotsminda boarding school.

The Public Defender noted that she and Bishop Iakob will arrive at the boarding school together next weekend so that she’ll be able to get acquainted with the situation on the spot, while social workers will continue to assess the needs of the remaining children.

“Consequently, the situation will develop in accordance with the needs of the children, in their best interests,” Lomjaria stated.

Regarding the removal of children from the orphanage, she noted that the social workers will continue to assess the needs of the children and relevant decisions will be made.

Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze also commented on the issue, saying that all parties are interested in protecting the best interests and rights of each child.

“We will continue working with the Patriarchate to transfer the children to appropriate conditions, which means small groups homes, for which a number of meetings have been held,” said Tikaradze.

An investigation is underway on possible crimes committed against children at St. Nino Boarding School under article 126, part I1, envisaged by the Criminal Code of Georgia.

Messi Sends Signed T-shirt to Georgian Chess Champion Nona Gaprindashvili

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

The Georgian Chess Federation reported that Lionel Messi sent an autographed T-shirt to Nona Gapindashvili, fi ve-time world chess champion, on the occasion of her 80th birthday.

Akaki Iashvili, Vice-President of the International Chess Federation, handed the gift to Nona.

Lionel Messi, the 6-time winner of the Golden Ball, sent a T-shirt with a Spanish inscription to the Georgian champion: Nona, happy birthday!

“This gift was very unexpected for me, but here are such words, my name is also

Source of photo: Georgian Chess Federation written, Happy Birthday – Leo Messi. In my museum, this T-shirt will take the place of a special exhibit,” said the Georgian champion.

Nona Gaprindashvili has been a fan of Barcelona and Messi for years. The Argentine football player learned about it from FIDE leaders, and the main initiator of the surprise was FIDE Vice President Akaki Iashvili.

Biden after Meeting with Putin: I Did What I Came to Do

BY ANA DUMBADZE

US President Joe Biden said the talks with Vladimir Putin in Geneva were “positive” but warned the US would not tolerate interference in US democracy, the BBC reports.

Putin described his talks with the US president as “constructive”. He said the two sides agreed to return ambassadors after they were withdrawn earlier this year.

A wide range of topics, from cyber attacks to Ukraine, was discussed, but little in the way of concrete deals.

“I did what I came to do,” Biden said.

He said that the US and Russia had agreed to cooperate and “advance our mutual interests”.

“The last thing Putin wants is a new

Source: The BBC Cold War,” Biden told journalists.

The United States and the Russian Federation have agreed to return ambassadors to Moscow and Washington, Vladimir Putin stated after meeting with Joe Biden.

“We talked about the return of ambassadors to their posts, the return of the US ambassador to Moscow and the Russian ambassador to Washington, but when exactly this will happen is a technical matter. Our foreign ministries will agree. We talked about diplomatic issues. I have the impression that both sides are focused on fi nding a solution,” Putin said.