Amiran Gamkrelidze: We need at least 20-25 thousand vaccines a day to reach the target and show a tendency of containing the epidemic
According to Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of the National Center for Disease Control, the epidemiological situation in Georgia is still difficult, but there are small signs of stabilization.
As he told Interpressnews, the rate of wearing a mask had dropped to 28% and if the population does not follow the regulations while the vaccination rate is activated, the situation may worsen again.
"The epidemic situation in the country is still difficult. Small signs of stabilization are observed, the first being that the situation is not deteriorating and the number of cases is not increasing. For the first time today, the positivity rate of the last 7 and 14 days has dropped to 9%, and the replication index is less than one for more than 2 weeks, which means that there is a tendency towards stabilization, but in high numbers. As you know, there are still 3333 cases of infection in the country and, unfortunately, 56 deaths. The vaccination rate is slightly increased, in recent days there were 10 thousand vaccinations daily, which we did not have for a long time, yesterday 6500 vaccinations were administered, this is also an increase compared to the previous weekend, but still a little. We need at least 20-25 thousand vaccines a day to reach the target rate and to show a tendency of containing the epidemic. So far, all calls for anti-epidemic measures remain in place. First of all, it is the expansion of vaccinations, the observance of regulations. Unfortunately, the mask-wearing rate dropped to 28%. If we do not do that, the increase in infections will be at certain intervals", - Gamkrelidze said.
He noted that large gatherings of people pose a certain risk in terms of the increase in cases, and it is possible that the so-called black Friday may also have a negative impact on epidemic development.
"Black Friday may have a negative impact on the epidemiological development in the next 2 weeks. Every such big gathering, be it Black Friday, a rally, a wedding or a party, all this has a negative effect on the epidemiological development", - Gamkrelidze said.
At the same time, he noted that the decision, according to which the person who recovered from COVID has a permanent green status, should be reconsidered.
"Most likely, this decision should be reconsidered. I support the position voiced by most experts. From the very beginning, the National Center for Disease Control voiced this position that it should be limited to at least one year, but it is better to be 6 months, which is accepted in most countries", - Gamkrelidze said.
