Performance of the intensive testing program implemented within the scope of a 2-Month-Long Plan of COVID Restrictions designed by the Government of Georgia, has started on December 2 and will be continued through 2 months.
As of December 7, the nation-wide testing has exceeded the highest indicator so far and covered 17 000 people in the last 24 hours. It is planned to administer about 20 000 tests a day from the end of this week, which will supplement the private lab indicators. Application of antigen-based express test will be particularly extended within the initiative.
According to Amiran Gamkrelidze, Head of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the number of polyclinics is increasing that will get engaged in the management of the pandemic in the country and namely about 224 healthcare institutions have been designated to administer tests at their premises. He also added that every hospitalized individual will be checked through an antigen-based test irrespective of their symptoms.
Gamkrelidze urges citizens to undergo free rapid antigen-based COVID-19 tests. The rapid antigen-based tests are available in 42 outpatient facilities in Tbilisi and approximately 150 medical facilities throughout Georgia.
As part of the experiment, BM.GE called more than 10 clinics and received a positive response on a free antibody test only from Evex Hospitals and St. Joachim and Anna Medical Center, but due to overcrowding in both cinics, the citizens are urged to keep in queues.
After the experiment, BM.GE has contacted the NCDC. However, the Centre claims that "some clinics may be involved in the program but have not taken the anti-body tests yet."
On the question - how timely does the state supply the clinics with rapid antibody tests and when all 223 clinics will be involved in the intensive testing program, - the NCDC press service has responded that "the details are being clarified".
