Inflow of Russian tourists creates threat of coronavirus outbreak in Abkhazia

The authorities of Abkhazia and Russia are preparing for a possible worsening of the epidemiological situation after the opening of the border for Russian tourists, the Ministry for Public Health of Abkhazia reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 1, the restrictions on crossing the border between Russia and Abkhazia were lifted. By August 4, more than 30,000 people crossed the Russian-Abkhaz border in both directions, the press service of the Sochi Customs Service reported.

Alkhas Kondjariya, Deputy Minister for Public Health of Abkhazia, expressed his concern that the opening of the border to all comers occurred amid an increase in the number of coronavirus-infected people in Abkhazia. According to Alkhas Kondjariya, Abkhazian hospitals are not ready for a sharp increase in the number of patients from Russia.

There is a fear that the opening of the border will result in an increase in the number of coronavirus-infected people, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been told by Izida Chaniya, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Nuzhnaya Gazeta". "Of course, there are fears that the opening of the border will cause a surge of the pandemic. Meanwhile, on the eve of the opening of the border, two cases of the coronavirus infection were detected, both imported from Russia. When local residents who came from Russia were treated in the Abkhazian republican hospital, they were diagnosed with COVID-19. As a result, a large number of doctors became infected," Izida Chaniya said.

According to her, the republic faces shortage of medical officers, and hospitals are equipped insufficiently.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 5, 2020 at 12:39 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.