Georgia bans weddings and birthday parties as virus cases rise

Georgia has banned weddings and other types of public ceremony from Sept. 10 and postponed theatre and cinema openings to contain the spread of the new coronavirus as the number of daily infections has risen, the government announced.

Georgia’s total coronavirus cases is over  1,773. The ex-Soviet republic of 3.7 million people has reported 19 deaths, far fewer than other countries in the South Caucasus region.

But as case numbers have risen it has banned weddings, birthdays and other parties as well as funeral dinners, both indoors and in open-air spaces, Natia Mezvrishvili, the government administration head, told a briefing.

She said the planned re-opening of theaters, cinemas and entertainment centers had been postponed for a month to Nov. 1.

“We urge citizens to observe the rules as much as possible, show high civic responsibility, wear masks and maintain social distancing,” Mezvrishvili said.

Georgia has lifted most restrictions it imposed to contain COVID-19, reopening shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes, and it revived public and inter-city transport in June.