On 29 June, Georgia reported 7 new cases of the Covid-19 Delta strain.

“As various forecasts indicate, both by international institutions and our modelling, we think that the circulation of Delta strains in the country can vary from 10 to 20 percent. As you know, this was predictable, as this strain is gradually replacing the so-called [British] strain in Britain, European countries. The [Delta strain’s] … spread is becoming more and more intense. If I am not mistaken, as today’s data shows, it [has been observed] in 85 countries. We need to be more careful, we have to follow the regulations and take care of each other,” stated the head of Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze. 

Georgia’s Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia shared Gamkrelidze’s opinion, saying that the rise of Covid-19 cases in Georgia might be linked to the Delta strain. She also noted that the Ministry of Health has contracts for the import of 2.5 million doses of the vaccine. Gabunia also spoke about the expansion of the network of vaccination centres and said that consultations are underway with large malls to use their facilities. The goal is to vaccinate at least 1 million citizens a month.  

The country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili instructed all relevant agencies to ensure the vaccination centres’ complete readiness for an uninterrupted immunisation process. He highlighted the need to manage the mass immunisation process effectively to maintain a stable epidemiological situation in the country under the conditions of eased restrictions and open tourist season.

In the past 24 hours, Georgia reported 1,194 new cases of the virus and 22 deaths, bringing the total tally to 365,068 and 5297 deaths.

Meanwhile in Armenia, concerns over a fresh surge of Covid-19 had also been voiced. The deputy head of Armenia’s Ministry of Health Center for Disease Control and Prevention Gayane Sahakyan warned that Armenia might record 600 cases a day in the coming weeks. “While the rate of virus reproduction in the county varied from 0.3 to 0.5 three or four weeks ago, we can say now that it’s above 1,” Sahakyan said. She stressed that in June the daily number of cases in Armenia was below 100. Sahakyan also presented warnings over the Delta strain of the virus, saying that it would contribute to the rise of infections. She also said the continuing lack of a popular interest in Covid-19 vaccination also bodes ill for the epidemiological situation in the country, emphasising that only 2 percent of Armenia’s population has received a first dose of a vaccine so far.  

The country’s acting Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan said that by autumn Armenia’s Health Ministry will  purchase new Covid-19 vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and Novavax. According to her, some 70 thousand vaccinations have been administered across the country so far. She expressed hope that the vaccination pace will grow after last weekend's parliamentary elections. She urged citizens to get vaccinated before the holiday season and the start of the school year, adding that after 70,000 vaccinations there have been no cases of concern. “Vaccinations are important not only in terms of health care, but also in terms of economic development. In addition, according to our forecasts, there will be a certain increase in the number of new cases because of the election campaigning and, therefore, it is necessary to get vaccinated in order to prevent the growth of infection,” Avanesyan said.

In the past 24 hours, Armenia reported 116 new cases of the  virus and 4 deaths, bringing the total tally to 224,967 cases and 4,514 deaths.