“New Year's festive events gave a corresponding picture, namely, an increase in morbidity. Russian doctors helped us in Gudauta hospital before the New Year holidays, now we have to cope on our own. Russian colleagues have already left for us to continue helping. Our doctors are very exhausted, they worked on weekends and holidays. They practically do not have a change because all medical institutions of the republic are involved, ” said Lyudmila Skorik.

According to Skorik, the incidence is growing throughout the republic.

“It is impossible to single out any separate area. Children are involved in epidemiological process now. For example, there were 12 children infected per day. The volume of people applying to medical institutions for testing has increased. If earlier only 10-15 percent of those tested had a coronavirus, now this figure is already reaching 30 percent.Therefore, the Ministry of Health and the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service were forced to recommend President to keep restrictive measures  introduced earlier, as well as toughen requirements for catering facilities. Catering facilities were negligent in our recommendations and warnings, especially on holidays, ” she said.

She also stressed that the residents of the republic should receive appropriate medical care. “Abkhazia cannot cope on its own when there are a lot of appeals,” she said.

The chief sanitary doctor believes that it is necessary to close public catering facilities, allowing only those who can cook and deliver products.

Also, according to Skorik, route taxi drivers are required to transport people exclusively in medical masks. “This is not a recommendation, but a mandatory requirement,” she said.

The coordination headquarters also recommends limiting the operation of clothing and central grocery markets.

“Administrations of districts and towns will draw up a timetable for operation of these facilities so that there is time to disinfect them,” Skorik said.

There was also discussed an issue of primary schools and kindergartens work.

“It was possible to talk about their work earlier, when the situation was relatively stable. But now it is too early to talk about the resumption of kindergartens and schools' work, ” explained Skorik.

According to chief sanitary doctor, more than two thousand people are sick with coronavirus in Abkhazia, 400 of them are severe or of moderate health.

“I raised the issue of fines for administrative offenses. I proposed to impose a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles for managers of facilities who violate restrictive measures. Other sizes of fines were also announced. But this is not the case today. We recommend the legislative branch of government consider this proposal and make a decision, ” Skorik said.