"How three musketeers helped Georgia fight virus," - BBC publishes an article about Georgian epidemiologists.
An article published by the British Broadcasting Corporation states that Georgia got included in the list of 15 countries that the European Union considers safe enough to open its borders.
"Georgia is the only former Soviet republic to achieve the given status.
Fewer than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 registered, and 15 people died out of a population of 3.7 million. A group of public scientists, dubbed the three musketeers, are being praised for steering the Caucasus state's successful response to the pandemic.
By comparison, coronavirus has been raging in neighboring Armenia, a country of similar size. Hundreds of new cases of COVID-19 are being registered there every day, with the total number of infected exceeding 26,000, and the death toll reaching nearly 500. Hundreds of new cases are reported daily in neighboring Azerbaijan as well.
Georgia's first COVID-19 case got registered at the end of February. The government's response was swift. By mid-March, all schools, universities, and non-essential businesses were closed, and public transport suspended. After the introduction of a state of emergency on March 21, large gatherings and intra-city travel were banned and nightly curfews introduced," BBC writes.
According to the article, during the most important religious holiday in Georgia, the Orthodox Easter, the authorities banned private transport and closed cemeteries.
The author of the article writes that the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia, told the BBC via email: "We took note of the pandemic's threat a month before the first confirmed case. Given our country's specifics, such as our location and small size, we could not use the examples of other countries."
According to the article, an information campaign and regular updates were led by the country's top scientists and Georgia's National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC).
As BBC writes, the NCDC's Lugar Laboratory has been a constant target of Russian disinformation.
"NCDC's scientists have become widely respected for their decision-making. The trio includes the head of the NCDC, Amiran Gamkrelidze, the man in charge of the Lugar lab, Paata Imnadze, and the main virologist, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, who is head of Tbilisi's infectious diseases, Aids and immunology research center.
Another famous figure was the face of the public health campaign, Marina Egubaia, the medical head of Tbilisi's infectious diseases hospital.
There are now 19 laboratories across Georgia testing for coronavirus," BBC reports.
The publication notes that the Georgian government thanked the public for following instructions.
There were heavy penalties for those caught breaking the rules during the state of emergency, $1,000 fines for individuals and over $3,000 in fines for violations by businesses.
"Stay at Home warnings got digitally displayed at bus stops, and mobile phone operators broadcast the same message on people's devices. Despite a typically high degree of political polarisation, Georgian society broadly supported efforts to combat the epidemic. The prime minister said the co-operation of Georgians and their "exemplary social responsibility in observing all relevant instructions and recommendations" helped flatten the curve of infections," reads the article.
The article mentions that the country's powerful Orthodox Church went ahead with ceremonies and refused to stop using common spoons for holy communion, but people followed the scientists' advice and stayed home.
"Many Georgian businesses and restaurants reopened. Wearing of masks is obligatory in indoor public spaces, and there are tight rules on distancing and restrictions on large gatherings.
The Georgian government hopes to open its borders for international travelers from July 1. That has now been postponed, so prospects for the country's tourism sector this year are bleak," BBC writes.
The author of the article notes that the head of the NCDC remains cautious.
The BBC article used a photo taken by Report.ge photo-correspondent, published by the agency during one of Marina Ezugbaia's briefings.
