Georgia cancels Covid-19 passports due to their inefficiency

TBILISI. Feb 1 (Interfax) - The Georgian Interagency Coordination Council for coronavirus response has decided to cancel Covid-19 passports issued to vaccinated people or those who recovered from the infection in the past six months.

"The green passports have lost their initial significance amid massive transmissions of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus. The new strain infects both vaccinated people and those with earlier infections, this is why the decision has been made," Georgian Deputy Health Minister Tamara Gabunia said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Green passports were supposed to promote vaccination "but the measure failed to ensure a growth in the number of vaccinated people," Gabunia said. According to the Georgian Health Ministry, 42% of Georgians have been vaccinated for Covid-19.

Georgia introduced green passports on December 1, 2021. These documents issued to citizens older than 18 provided access to public catering establishments, cultural and sport events, fitness clubs, hotels and alpine resorts.