Starting today Georgia will close borders with neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan for ten days to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Agenda.ge reports.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia discussed the temporary suspension of movement with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan PM Ali Asadov in telephone conversations yesterday.

The Georgian PM’s press office reported that the parties agreed to facilitate the return of their respective citizens through a humanitarian corridor.

Meanwhile, no restrictions will apply to cargo transportation as a transit corridor will also be ensured for freight. 

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has encouraged citizens to be more careful as 25 individuals have tested positive for the COVID-19 in the country. 

The Georgian government has moved into an emergency, round-the-clock regime after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of the China-born coronavirus a pandemic.