Corona Updates: Int’l Support, a World Vaccine Deficit and the Newly Reopened Land Borders
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Newly detected coronavirus cases in Georgia continue to maintain a decreasing trend, however, the death toll remains high compared to previous periods. Despite the fact that last week Amiran Gamkrelidze, Head of the Georgian National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), announced “the end of the peak of the third wave,” the death rate among registered cases of COVID-19 has been rising, and is currently higher than it was in the autumn, during the second wave, with 24 deaths on Monday and 17 on Tuesday.
Georgia reported 821 coronavirus cases, 866 recoveries, and 31 deaths on Wednesday, with 38,478 tests performed across the country. Georgian capital Tbilisi recorded the highest number of 439 Covid-19 cases, followed by the Imereti region with 86 cases, and the Adjara region with 71 cases.
Currently, out of 708 critical patients, 199 require mechanical ventilation.
On Thursday, Georgia reported 705 coronavirus cases, 1128 recoveries, and 14 deaths. 33,253 tests were conducted across the country. The daily test-positivity rate stands at 2.12%
International Support
Georgia’s international partners continue to support the country in its fight against the pandemic. On June 7, it was announced that Georgia’s vaccination rollout would be strengthened with $34.5 million additional financing from the World Bank.
“Georgia’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts will gain a major boost thanks to $34.5 million in additional financing approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors. This financing augments the original $80 million Georgia Emergency COVID-19 Response Project, approved in March 2020 with the purpose of helping Georgia address and mitigate the health and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” announced the World Bank.
As the World Bank reports, the primary objectives of the Additional Financing are to enable affordable and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, help ensure effective vaccine deployment in Georgia by strengthening the vaccination system, and further boost preparedness and response activities under the parent project. Through this support, the Bank will contribute to the government’s plan to vaccinate 60% of the adult population in 2021. It will help the acquisition and deployment of eligible COVID-19 vaccines, including syringes and other supplies, vaccine logistics and distribution, planning and management, vaccine-related communication and outreach, training, and overall health system strengthening.
Vaccination
Georgia, Ukraine and Kosovo are to be the first three European countries to receive the coronavirus vaccine from the United States, the US Embassy in Tbilisi announced on Monday. The United States is also committed to supporting economic recovery from the pandemic, the Embassy said.
“This week, President Biden announced that the United States will share COVID-19 vaccines with Georgia, because none of us are safe until all of us are safe. Georgia, Ukraine, and Kosovo are the first three European countries expected to receive vaccines from the United States, based on regional priorities and partnerships. The US is also committed to supporting economic recovery from the pandemic,” reads the Embassy statement.
In addition, Latvia will allocate 15,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine to Georgia, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics announced following his meeting with his Georgian counterpart David Zalkaliani on Monday.
The NCDC’s Amiran Gamkrelidz said that more than 3 million 200 thousand doses of coronavirus vaccine will be delivered to the country from July to October, but highlighted that there is currently a global shortage of vaccines.
“There is a global shortage of vaccines. So far, the country has received 315 thousand doses of vaccine, which are being administered. July-August-September-October have already been approved for, and we can expect 3 million 200 thousand further doses of vaccine to be delivered,” he said.
He did not specify which vaccine the US will provide Georgia, but added: “most likely, we will receive several tens of thousands of doses of one of the American-made vaccines this summer.”
As of June 10, a total of 191,001 vaccinations had been administered, while nearly 55,000 people are fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, in the Neighboring Countries…
The Government of Georgia opened land and sea borders on June 1, making the epidemiological situation in those countries with which Georgia is connected by land even more relevant for its citizens and healthcare sector.
Daily new COVID-19 cases in Russia stood at nearly 10 thousand on June 8, having increased steadily over the past week. The total number of confirmed cases of the disease in the country stands at around 5.1 million, with the capital Moscow accounting for the largest number of infected individuals.
The epidemiological situation has been stabilized in neighboring Azerbaijan. The country reported only 68 new cases and 1 new death on June 9. Its total number of confirmed cases reached 334,917, among them, 327,626 people recovered and 4948 died.
The same can be said about Armenia, where a maximum 100 newly detected cases were reported daily throughout the week, with 99 new cases and 11 new deaths recorded on June 9. Its total number of confirmed cases has reached 223,384, among them, 214,690 people recovered and 4774 died.
The situation is vastly more difficult in Turkey, where 5000-6000 new cases are being reported daily, with 6,454 new cases and 87 new deaths reported on June 9. Its total number of confirmed cases has reached 5,306,690, among them, 5,179,833 people recovered and 48,428 died.
By Team GT