Obligation to present a green passport abolished in Georgia

The obligation to present a green passport has been abolished in Georgia. The decision was made by the Coordination Council.

"Due to the rapid spread of Omicron and the weak course of the virus, as well as based on world practice, the obligation to present a green passport is abolished, but all accounting systems remain in place and those who need a green passport to travel abroad will still be able to use this mechanism," said Giorgi Ghibradze, Chief of the Operational Staff at the Interagency Coordination Council, after the end of today's meeting.

As for the reasons for the abolition of the "green passport", Ghibradze said, the need for this is due to the fact that the number of cases has increased and "in fact, this system is less effective."

According to Ghibradze, the decision to abolish the "green passport" is not related to the low rate of vaccination, as vaccination is voluntary and not mandatory.

"From the very beginning, it was said that vaccination will not be mandatory in Georgia. It is therefore the choice of the population and the 42% figure is related not to the obligation for vaccination but to the desire to be vaccinated. This policy is still pursued by the country. The need to abolish the "green passport" is due to the fact that the number of cases has increased and, in fact, this system is less effective. Consequently, people who need a "green passport" to travel abroad can still use the system. Green passport will not be mandatory inside the country," Giorgi Ghibradze said.

In addition, Ghibradze said that despite the growing number of infections, the situation is fully manageable, the pressure on the hospital sector is not increasing significantly, the vast majority of patients are treated at home and their health is monitored by family doctors, whose number has increased even more in recent days.

The sitting chaired by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was held in the format of a video conference, as Irakli Gharibashvili tested positive for coronavirus yesterday.