Georgia and COVID-19: A Decisive Response
At this time, approximately 399 people in Georgia have tested positive for the coronavirus, around 100 have recovered, and 4 have died. This is a sobering record for a small country of 3.7 million, but it could have been much worse. We have unique challenges to address: Georgia is a tourist center; it lies at the heart of transit and transport routes from Europe to Asia and the Middle East; and it hosts businesses, government gatherings, and cultural events frequented by people from around the world. Given these realities, the possibility of COVID-19 creating a much more dire situation was present from the beginning.
The Government of Georgia’s aggressive response has so far been able to mitigate the worst aspects of a dramatic spread. The Government’s approach has been highlighted by recognizing the dangers early, assessing their possible impact effectively, and acting swiftly. Medical professionals, in particular, have praised Georgia’s well-coordinated strategy for fighting the infection.
The Government continues to take decisive action and has extended the state of emergency until May 10. Four cities—Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, and Rustavi—have been locked down for at least 10 days. It has also launched an English-language channel on Telegram to provide information about the infection and the measures the Government has taken to fight it.
Georgia’s Strong Partnership with the United States is Aiding the Response
The Richard G. Lugar Center for Public Health Research located in Tbilisi, a joint U.S. Government–Government of Georgia project launched in 2004 that specializes in scientific biomedical and biosafety research, has played a conspicuous role in Georgia’s response, especially in the development of COVID-19 testing. This despite the largely predictable disinformation campaign Russia has directed against this vital institution.
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly C. Degnan has announced assistance from a number of U.S. Government agencies, including the Department of Defense, as well as from U.S. companies in the American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia. Of particular note are the American-branded hotels in Georgia that have provided much-needed quarantine space at no cost.
Inside Georgia, the StopCov Fund has already accumulated more than $40 million, including a gift of more than $30 million from Georgian Dream Party chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili. The Government also announced measures to subsidize those who have lost jobs for six months.
Georgians thanked their friends in the United States and elsewhere by lighting up Tbilisi TV tower and the (empty) Batumi Stadium with their national colors and rousing music. See and hear it here.
Our Plan for a Vibrant Economic Recovery
While Georgia’s vibrant economy (see the Fact Sheet, below) is anticipated to contract significantly; we have a clear plan for a full recovery built on three years of sustained GDP growth of about 5 percent. The decline is expected to exceed that Georgia suffered during the 2008-2009 economic crisis, with all sectors of the economy being affected. Independent projections for 2020 are being revised downward. Georgia’s tourism industry, one of the economy’s main engines, is a particular victim of the virus, which has forced a vast reduction in movement to and from the country. That said, we will be ready to welcome tourists from around the world looking to recover from the trauma of the pandemic.
Planning for recovery is essential. Assistance has already begun to flow, from both external and internal sources. To date, international financial institutions and donors have agreed to provide $1.5 billion of support for Georgia, with an additional $1.5 billion for the private sector. Georgia enjoys a highly successful Extended Fund Facility Program with the IMF of $450 million. On March 26, the World Bank approved a €45 million “Economic Management and Competitiveness Development Policy Operation” for Georgia, which is intended to support economic growth by mitigating the impact of the pandemic. The European Union has allocated €183 million to Georgia to help fight the virus. NGO organizations in Eastern Europe and in the United States have extended generous assistance.
The Georgian Spirit Will Prevail
Georgian history is defined by overcoming obstacles and we will overcome this immediate setback with the characteristic Georgian resilience and determination. Not surprisingly, the crisis has shown a spotlight on Georgians’ creative instincts. Innovators of devices and techniques for treating the threat and the disease have emerged from many directions (See Georgian Diaries, below). Students and other Georgians abroad have been assisted to return home. Young entrepreneurs seek to extend distance learning via the Internet to remote parts of Georgia and to less advantaged families.
Georgians, ever mindful of their rich and varied past, are no strangers to pandemics. History is a constant reminder that they are a resourceful nation, and that they will persevere.