The Georgian government has announced a temporary, two-week closure of its borders for all foreign citizens, with exceptions, to avoid the further spread of the Covid-19 virus.

The ban will come into effect starting March 18, at 00:00.

The government says that Georgian citizens [and their family members] who want to come back to the country will be able to use the flights of Georgian Airways or Turkish Airlines.

Georgia and Turkey will maintain flights through March 20.

The ban came into effect today for Russian citizens.

Georgians who are in Russia for now will be able to come back via the flights of the Georgian Airways, as well as those ones who are the family members of Georgian citizens.

The first case of Covid-19 emerged in Georgia on February 26, 2020. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the ban will not concern with:

foreign diplomats in Georgia and their family members.

mixed families [when either a husband or a wife is a Georgian citizen and their children].

humanitarian missions if their arrival is needed.

individuals with neutral or refugee status.

the issue of official delegations will be settled individually.

As of now Georgia has 33 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with three new cases added yesterday.

Most of the cases are connected with Italy.

637 people are under quarantine in Georgia and 54 others remain in hospitals under the observation of doctors.

There are 169,924 confirmed cases of Covid-19 worldwide as of now, with 6,521 deaths and 77,776 recovered.