Georgia: COVID restrictions on public events, gatherings to be eased in March

In Georgia, the authorities have decided to ease up the COVID related restrictions on public events and gatherings from March onwards, including club venues being allowed to operate at reduced capacity, to weddings, conferences and other gatherings permitted.

The move was revealed on Monday by the Interagency Coordination Council, which oversees pandemic-related regulations and limits in Georgia.

A discussion chaired by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili noted that the country had reached the peak of Omicron strain cases, allowing for a gradual lifting of restrictions.

As per the decision made by the Council, funerals and weddings will be allowed to be held from 1 March onwards.

However, the clubs in Georgia will be permitted to operate at a maximum of 60 per cent capacity.

Moreover, the Chief of the Operational Staff of the Council, Giorgi Gibradze, said the easing of limitations would also impact food services and travel restrictions. 

Starting 15 March, conferences, training, and seminars will be permitted without restriction, removing the current cap of 70 attendees for the gatherings.

Besides this, Gibradze also stated that the Council would further ease restrictions next month, adding “everything depends on the epidemiological situation.”

The Latest decisions of the Council include the following: 

• The Russia-Georgia rugby match, scheduled for 27 February, will host a 50 per cent capacity of spectators;

• Beginning 1 March, all fully vaccinated foreigners/residents will be free to enter the nation by air, land and sea; non-vaccinated people will need to submit a PCR test valid for 72 hours; 

• In the case of Georgian citizens entering the country with PCR test results, the requirement of presenting the proof on the third day is lifted. In case of an absence of PCR test outcomes, the 8-day self-isolation requirement is reduced to five days;

• Due to the easing of COVID regulations, the Remotely from Georgia state programme will be cancelled;

• The limitation of 10 persons allowed at each table in the open space in food spots will be raised to 15;

• Instead of the limit of 6 people, 10 people will be allowed in the same closed space;

• Social events such as birthdays, parties, weddings will be allowed with tables of no more than ten people in closed spaces and 15 individuals in open spaces;

• Quarantine hotels will be abolished starting 1 March;

• The requirement for establishments and venues to use temperature screening and disinfection barriers will be removed; 

• Restrictions on buffet services are lifted;

• Clubs are allowed to operate from 4 March at a maximum capacity of 60 per cent;

• Seminars, conferences, and training are allowed from 15 March without restrictions;

• Meetings of the Interagency Coordination Council will be held every 2 weeks instead of every week.

During the pandemic, social events were banned throughout Georgia, with venues that infringed the rules fined 10,000 GEL ($3,300/€2,900) for hosting such events.