Georgia quarantines two cities due to unknown source of local transmissionMarch 23, 2020 - 10:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgian authorities quarantined the cities of Marneuli and Bolnisi and put them on lockdown after a woman tested positive for the novel coronavirus, OC Media reports. Health officials have so far been unsuccessful in identifying the source of the woman’s infection. Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced that no one was to be allowed in or out of the two neighbouring municipalities in southern Georgia until further notice. "This is a situation we have been discussing for several days — that a domestic spread starts." "We should all understand that today, our epidemiology experts identified 90 people the woman came into contact with and this is not all of them." He said that the municipalities would be under lockdown, with everything closed except for grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals, and critical infrastructure. Public transport will be banned, and people will be prohibited from moving within the municipalities except to buy food or medicine or to get medical assistance. Gakharia said the woman contracted the virus at a memorial service to mark the first anniversary of a death. Georgia has so far reported 54 cases of the coronavirus. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |