On 17 September, Georgia reported 179 new Covid-19 cases, a day prior an all-time high of 196 new cases was reported. This brings the total tally to 2937, but still reporting only 19 deaths from the virus.

Most of the new cases were reported in the Adjara region of the county and the government reacted by tightening the measures in Adjara. Georgia's Minister of Health Ekaterine Tikaradze explained that the restrictions in Adjara would be applied to social distancing and wearing face masks indoors as well as outdoors. Beside the tightened measures, mass thermal screenings were also introduced in Adjara’s capital of Batumi. However, the Georgian state officials emphasized that placing Adjara or its capital under lockdown isn't being considered at this point.

“We received cautious impulses from business and economic actors that they are worried about the current processes. I emphasize, there will be no strict restrictions. There may be local restrictions in the country, but no more strict, systematic closure. A key component of our adaptation policy is that at this stage, we must fight the spread of the virus in a targeted manner. As of today, the priority is the economic recovery of the country, its speed and our citizens' health. We have the opportunity to do so. According to all international assessments, Georgia will have one of the best starting conditions in the post-crisis period,” stressed Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.

The country’s medical experts also assessed the situation calmly. According to the director of the Tbilisi Infectious Diseases Hospital, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country was expected. He noted that no country can maintain a very low level of virus spread for eight months. Tsertsvadze also said that lifting restrictions, increasing mobility, activating domestic tourism and shrinking citizens’ attention as the reasons causing an increase in the number of infected. He also mentioned that the healthcare system was prepared to meet the growing number of infected people.

Meanwhile, the country’s Economy Minister Natia Turnava stated that the low-cost airlines Wizz Air and Ryanair are expected to resume flights to Georgia. In the same time period when the cases in the country were rising, Georgia became the first country to host the session of the World Tourism Organisation’s (WTO) Executive Council outside the borders of Spain.