Armenia

On 9 July, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indicated that his government has no plans to change its strategy of tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that the government would sustain the emphasis on getting more Armenians to practice social distancing and wear face masks in all public spaces. The PM said that the government is ready to take the “strictest administrative measures” to ensure social distancing and wearing face masks. 

Pashinyan warned on 6 July that the government might have to impose another nationwide lockdown if the hospitals are no longer able to cope with the continuing influx of patients. He spoke of a possible “further toughening” of fines and other sanctions against people who refuse to wear masks.

Armenia’s Health Minister Arsen Torosyan also stated that the epidemic situation in the country has more or less been stable in the past days. “The situation remains stable but severe. That is, there is no negative trend but there is no substantial positive trend either,” he said.

He also announced that the health authorities in Armenia are planning to set up dozens more intensive care beds at Armenian hospitals treating Covid-19 patients. Torosyan said that they already helped to boost hospital capacity last month in the face of a rising number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations. 

The current tally of infected persons in Armenia stands at 30 903 with 546 reported deaths. 

Georgia

On 8 July, the spokesperson of Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Chikovani announced that the country is opening its borders for travellers from five countries, namely  Germany, France, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Additionally, the Georgian government is negotiating with international airlines airBaltic and Air France to resume air travel and regular flights with these five EU member states. So far, an agreement has been reached with Lufthansa to carry out two flights a week to Munich starting in August.

As for the business visitors to Georgia, they would be required to take a PCR test for coronavirus at their own expense every 72 hours, or to go through mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own expense. Georgia’s land borders will continue staying closed. The country’s government would also allow open air cultural events  to be held starting 13 July.

The current tally of infected persons in Georgia stands at 973 with 15 reported deaths.