Quarantine Measures Extended Until 15 June

SUKHUM -- At the meeting of the Coordination Headquarters for the Protection of the Population from Coronavirus was held in the Cabinet of Ministers of Abkhazia on Thursday, May 28, a decision was taken to extend the restrictive measures in the republic.

According to the decision, the following quarantine measures are extended until June 15, 2020, in Abkhazia:

• Food, agricultural and clothing markets will continue to operate in the manner determined by the heads of administrations in coordination with the sanitary-epidemiological service, with the mandatory use of personal protective equipment by sellers and employees. Sanitary and epidemiological services are tasked to systematically organize preventive disinfection of market territories.
• Any mass events remain banned.
• "To prohibit the holding of mass, cultural, physical education, sports, entertainment and exhibition events. To prohibit the holding of the wedding, ceremonial and other events in the Republic of Abkhazia. To suspend the activity of wedding and other ceremonial halls, including restaurants and other catering facilities for [these] purposes," the text of the Order says.
• Tourist and sightseeing activities are still prohibited. Reception and accommodation of citizens in hotels, sanatoriums, rest houses, guest houses and other places of accommodation are not allowed. Cultural institutions will not work too: theatres, museums, concert halls etc.
• Entrance to the Republic of Abkhazia through checkpoints on the Abkhaz-Russian state border of foreign citizens and stateless persons, with the exception of employees of diplomatic institutions of foreign states, accredited in the Republic of Abkhazia or military personnel; drivers of vehicles dealing with international freight transport, freight train drivers will continue to be restricted.
• The Ministry of Emergency of the Republic of Abkhazia, together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been instructed to organize round-the-clock duty of the medical team at checkpoints across the Abkhaz-Russian state border. The competent authorities were also instructed to ensure the isolation of citizens for a period of 14 days from the day of arrival in the Republic of Abkhazia from countries where cases of coronavirus infection COVID-19 were recorded.
• The leadership of Abkhazia also prohibits the operation of duty-free shops on the Abkhaz-Russian state border.
• Under the ban remains the work of gyms, spas, saunas, massage parlours. Even some medical services, namely dental, will not be provided so far, with the exception of emergency cases.
• The heads of central and local government bodies, state institutions, enterprises and organizations were instructed to release workers over 60 years old and workers with children of preschool age from fulfilling their labour duties while maintaining wages.
• The activity of all educational institutions, sports schools, and circles is still banned. The exception is the upcoming final exams in 11 grades and the defence of diploma or qualification works in higher and secondary professional institutions "in accordance with the schedule established by these institutions, in compliance with the relevant sanitary and epidemiological requirements."

Starting from the second of June, the Ministry of Education plans to re-open schools for graduates to provide an opportunity for study for two weeks in preparation for final exams.

As of May 28, 12 patients with coronavirus infection remain in Abkhazia. The total number of COVID-19 cases detected in Abkhazia during the pandemic is 28 people. Of these, 15 recovered, one patient died.