I hope you are doing well. 

Coronavirus pandemic has arrived in Europe and in these days both Georgia and Hungary, among many other countries, are facing similar challenges of spreading infections across and between countries and regions. Governments and health authorities around the globe introduce various measures against the epidemic that may differ country to country, but all commonly address mitigation of risks of spreading the virus by limiting opportunities for meeting infected persons (i.e. quarantine, isolation, limited or restricted travel, etc.). 

Due to the lack of vaccination and specific treatment, at this stage social responsibility is crucial for eliminating this novel disease. Possibilities for preventing the virus infection are mainly limited to hygiene and reducing social contacts. Everyone needs to take good care of other people and behave responsibly when it comes to social contacts (distance) with people in their own or even other countries. Because of the nature of the infection, people not showing symptoms might also have been infected and might carry the virus. Thus, social contacts with ill or even asymptomatic carriers may result is new infections. 

Travelling is a major agent as well as risk for spreading the virus, and this is why travel bans and cancellation of flights are among the preventive decisions and measures recently. 

Considering the above mentioned and thinking responsibly, I kindly request you to agree on remote/home-based work in the PAR project in Georgia temporarily. The activities of my assignment on health policy and strategic planning, in particular drafting national health strategy, could sufficiently be done home-based until the situation is getting better. Technical inputs will follow regularly and I would also be available for discussions by phone/skype at any time. 

I think that my special request is aligned with the recent decision of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council headed by Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia. Accordingly, public institutions have been strictly recommended to keep away from overseas business trips except for an extreme necessity https://1tv.ge/en/news/inter-agency-coordination-council-takes-new-decisions-amid-covid-19-outbreak/. In case of the project it may apply the way around, and international experts should reconsider their missions to Georgia. 

Latter may bear two different undesired consequences. On the one hand, travelling to Georgia may be associated with bringing new infection to the country, while on the other, experts on mission to Georgia might be locked down in quarantine in the country by the sudden and binding decision of the Georgian authorities at any time. None of these are desired for social/personal reasons and have advantage for the project itself.

Thank you for your consideration. Your understanding would be appreciated very much.

Best wishes,

Lajos