On 17 November, a group of Georgian healthcare specialists stated that anti-epidemic measures taken by the state are insufficient to curb the spread of the pandemic and need significant changes. 

“In the last seven days, Georgia stands in 16th place in the world in terms of the average death toll per 100,000 inhabitants. The number of daily cases is increasing; however, the number of daily tests is not proportionally increasing. This makes us think that given the clinically detected cases of Covid-19, the actual number of cases is higher in the country than… is confirmed by laboratory research and… officially recorded,” the joint statement of the experts read. 

The Head of Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze said that the government is likely to impose further restrictions to curb the increase in new infections of coronavirus, adding that there are no plans to declare a complete lockdown. The country’s Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze stated that 5,313 of the 5,868 beds for Covid-19 were occupied in the country and that additional 800-1,000 beds would be ensured.  

In the past 24 hours, Georgia reported 3,117 new cases of the virus and 45 deaths, bringing the total tally to 85,952 cases and 778 deaths. Meanwhile, Armenia reported 549 new cases and 23 deaths of the virus, bringing the total tally to 118,870 and 1,811 deaths. Azerbaijan reported 2,075 new cases and 20 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total tally to 79,158 cases and 1005 deaths.