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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has declared a nationwide state of emergency effective until April 21 in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus, Civil.ge reported.

The President stated she had made the decision in response to the Prime Minister’s appeal to declare national emergency in order to enforce measures necessary for limiting the community transmission of the disease.

President Zurabishvili underlined that the state of emergency did not apply to the freedoms of expression and free media so that “the media outlets would inform the public unhindered.” President’s decree does not include enacting nationwide quarantine or curfews.

Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia earlier said at a news briefing today that no more than ten people will be allowed to gather during this time. Gakharia said that after a number of restrictions that Georgia had imposed at earlier stages, including the closure of borders, the country is now moving on the stage of internal transmission of the virus, which needs “additional and special measures”.