On 21 March, Georgia declared a month-long state of emergency to counter the spread of the coronavirus. The new restrictions on businesses and freedom of movement have left the streets of Tbilisi eerily empty.
The measures include banning gatherings of 10 or more people and closing all non-essential places of trade, including bars, restaurants, and shops.
Shops that have been allowed to stay open, including grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks, are obliged to prevent more than 10 people from standing together in a closed environment.
All intercity public transport, including railway travel, has been halted; all flights except for emergency flights to evacuate people have been grounded.
A car park for minibuses at Station Square. The government shut down inner-city minibuses on 19 March. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.Car park near Station Square on 21 March. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
Most places of business closed on 19 March. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
Mobile phone stores near Station Square. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
Empty stalls near the Station Square market. Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
Empty stalls near the Station Square market. Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
The shopping area near the Station Square. Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
The shopping area near the Station Square. Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
Most shops near Station Square have closed down. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
A veteran journalist with over a decade of experience, Mariam is passionate about gender equality and workers’ rights. Though often managing from behind a desk, her instinct to report from the ground kicks in whenever news breaks.
