Tbilisi. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), within the framework of the USAID/Georgia Good Governance Initiative (GGI Georgia), has conducted a study: COVID-19 epidemic - Is response adequate to danger? Is lockdown a solution?.. Did restrictive measures protect countries from the epidemic? What were the consequences of the strict lockdown policy in the areas of healthcare and economy? The answers to these questions can be found in the publication... Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post: Do face masks protect us against coronavirus infection? An article, published by News Front Georgia, refers to a FB user post and contains such conspiracies and disinformation as: COVID-19 is a flu type virus and the global pandemic is an artificial process designed to reduce population. “In reality: 1) wearing face masks significantly reduces the risk of virus transmission; 2) COVID-19 is not a flu type virus and it is a much more acute infection; 3) assertion that the pandemic serves to reduce population lacks evidences and is a conspiracy theory”. Read more… Source: www.mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, European governments urged their citizens to stay at home by reviewing material prepared under the Women’s Information Center project. European governments urged their citizens to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Isolation was a necessity to prevent the spread of the virus. It is important to know what this decision meant for many women and children. People experiencing domestic violence paid the highest fees for public health care. European countries responded differently while fighting against the virus, however, most of them decided to impose isolation in March 2020. From that moment on, there have started talks not only about the COVID-19 pandemic but also about the domestic violence pandemic”... Read more…  Source: ginsc.net

Adjara. During the #COVID19 outbreak the #volunteers of the Georgia Red Cross Society #Batumi branch continue to distribute food and hygiene parcels to the specific group of the community in Batumi: • The socially vulnerable, single older people aged 70 and above; • The vulnerable people who are in self-isolation; Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims - GCRT will provide free services to those citizens who have been affected during the November 8-9 rally. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. As the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) considers, there are significant questions regarding constitutionality of fines to be applied in case of violation of COVID-19 related restrictions, however, the recent amendment to the rule of wearing a face mask has entailed a completely different problem of constitutionality and legality of punishment of a person. “In particular, the Parliament of Georgia has determined breach of the rule of wearing a face mask to be a separate violation, however, it is quite clear that Article 4211 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia does not require wearing a face mask in the open space and neither it grants the Government of Georgia the authority to broaden content of the restricted action”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. On November 1, 2020, within the “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” project and with the support of the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC), Caucasus Cycling Network held a cycling competition “Zhinvali XC Adventure 2020” in Dusheti Municipality. The competition aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage volunteering. “Zhinvali XC Adventure 2020” is one of the winning initiatives of the Contest for Volunteering Initiatives announced by the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The Contest for Volunteering Initiatives is implemented within the ”Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” project. The contest aims to support the promotion of volunteering, raise awareness of civil society, and increase their participation in civic activities through volunteering.  ”Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” was developed and is implemented by the consortium lead by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes an evaluation: Drug policy in pre-election visions of parties - 2020. “In general, it should be mentioned that in the pre-election context, the issue of drug policy is in fact ignored and public discussions about it take place rather in exceptional cases. While in pre-election programs and visions this topic is presented in a very fragmentary way”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On October 26, Economic Policy Research Center hosted a meeting with the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia - Ekaterine Tikaradze. The meeting discussed the new challenges facing the Georgian healthcare system as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, possible ways to solve them and the recommendations prepared by the healthcare task force. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Adjara. During the #COVID19 outbreak the volunteers of the #GRCS Batumi branch continue to distribute parcels of basic necessities to the vulnerable community in Batumi: The socially vulnerable, single older people aged 70 and over; The older people, who live only with persons with the special needs (people with disabilities); The retirees, who live alone and need home care assistance; The retirees, who are socially vulnerable and have special needs (people with disabilities). Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) publishes an article about “Strategic vision for developing the healthcare system - Reconciled provisions”. “This is the first time when there are developed compromised, reconciled documents, related to the healthcare system, and signed by people from different political parties as well as with different political views”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The President of the Georgia Red Cross Society Natia Loladze and the Secretary General Nino Osepaishvili had a meeting with the Director General of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze. The parties discussed the COVID-19 response activities of the GRCS, also reviewed the various actions taken by the National Society during the pandemic. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations are responding to the extremely complicated epidemiological situation in the country. The organizations evaluate the existing situation and call on the state to make decisions related to combating COVID-19 as transparently as possible. CSOs consider that it is necessary to inform population about plans the state has in case the situation develops at different scenarios. “We would like to express our heartfelt sorrow in regard to significant increase in the number of infections and deaths caused by COVID-19 in Georgia. It seems the state finds it further more difficult to deal with the crisis along with the increasing number of infected people”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations respond to the aggravated epidemic situation in the Tskhinvali region and call on the Government of Georgia to intensify negotiations with the de facto Tskhinvali regime immediately, as well as to use international political mechanisms in order to restore freedom of movement in a timely manner and increase access to medical services. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. In September 2020 in the frames of COVID-19 response activities GRCS with the USAID support GRCS H&C staff members conducted online training on “Home Based Care for person with COVID-19 or its symptoms COVID-19” for staff and volunteers of 33 GRCS branches. Aim of the training was to introduce the new module developed on the basis of country protocols and international recommendations by the GRCS H&C team to and to raise knowledge on Home Based Care in case of COVID-19 of the GRCS staff and volunteers. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. In September 2020 in the frames of COVID-19 response activities GRCS with the USAID support refresher trainings, jointly elaborated with NCDC on COVID-19 for local staff and volunteers were conducted in 33 GRCS branches. The trainings aimed at refreshing knowledge of GRCS local staff and volunteers on COVID-19, ways of transmission and personal safety, including usage of personal safety equipment, social stigma, and risk communication in 33 GRCS branches. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. Mariam Topchishvili, a member of the regional network of the Myth Detector Laboratory, gathered the coronavirus related lies and manipulations disseminated in the “Stop 5G Georgia” group. Read more… Source:www.mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. On Behalf of CDD Deputy Head of the Election Observation mission - Paata Kvavadze participated in a special working group - the initiative of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to discuss the voting of Georgian citizens who are in quarantine, as well as the voting of Covid-19 infected people who are in special facilities. Read more… Source: the organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. As Myth Detector informs, on October 3, 2020, Tvalsazrisi ge published an interview with Nona Agdgomelashvili, a therapist and astropsychologist, titled: “You must know that face mask has categorical contraindications! Alarm of Doctor Nona Agdgomelashvili”. In the material, the respondent talks about the disadvantages of using a face mask and notes that face masks can intoxicate humans with carbon dioxide. According to her, face masks maintain their effectiveness only in a sterile environment and not, for example, in public transport. “The statement, as if a face mask can intoxicate humans with carbon dioxide or its use is effective only in a sterile environment, is not true. As the World Health Organization instructs, the face mask is one of the effective means in terms of self-protection against the virus and plays an important role in preventing the spread of the disease if it is used with full adherence to recommendations and accuracy”, - is stated in the blog post. Read more…   Source: www.mythdetector.ge

Adjara. The Georgia Red Cross Society Batumi branch delivered food and hygiene parcels to the charity house “Savane”. The Georgia Red Cross Society provides the community with the support of the USAID - US Agency for International Development and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Adjara. On September, 30 within the joint project “Young Volunteer”, the Georgia Red Cross Society and the Youth Regional Center trained 15 volunteers. They will be involved in the project from October 1 and will be located at various places. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network

Today is the International Day of Older Persons. Support people who are older or isolated during COVID-19 by staying in touch through phone calls, social media and messaging. Stay socially connected while practicing physical distancing. Read more... Source: The organization's page in the social network