file: RE US Embassy COVID Protocol for Short-Term Embassy Business Travelers-Georgia reply .msg

09-09-2020
Good morning!  I am writing on the recommendation of Maya Nikoleishvili to clarify the process of entry of United States diplomats into the country as short-term business travelers of the embassy.  We are currently following the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.  Our diplomatic travelers are transferred to the Holiday Inn hotel, where they undergo initial PCR testing and, after receiving a negative result, are released.  The Embassy's medical unit continues to monitor their symptoms and retest them every 72 hours for 12 days.  

I'm worried about what will happen if our business travelers get a positive PCR result.  I hope that we can refine the protocol to ensure a smooth process for everyone and maintain the high confidence of the Government of Georgia in our ability to follow the government's guidelines on COVID-related health care.  

Currently, the United States Embassy in Tbilisi has a fully equipped medical clinic.  I work there, along with two local doctors and a nurse.  We have a previous understanding with the NCDC and the Research Center for Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology that any diplomatic asymptotic or mild positive cases of COVID will not be isolated in a Georgian medical facility.  Instead, the Medical Unit takes responsibility for their medical care, and we will monitor, treat, and isolate these patients from the rest of the population. 

We would be grateful to extend this practice to our business diplomats so that they are not transported from the Holiday Inn hotel to an external medical facility without our knowledge.   As soon as a positive PCR result is obtained, we request the support of the Georgian COVID Ambulance Service to transport the patient to our small quarantine facility, where we will resume medical care and responsibility.  If the patient's symptoms progress to moderate or severe, we will work with public health officials to transfer them to a higher level of care within the Georgian health system.


answer:

We highly appreciate the efforts of the US Embassy aimed at properly managing the self-isolation of American diplomats.
On behalf of Dr. Tamar Gabunia, I would like to kindly inform you that the Government of Georgia has no objection to your proposal, which provides for the isolation and treatment of American business diplomats in the medical department of the Embassy in the case of asymptotic or mild cases of COVID-19.
We also express our willingness to coordinate/assist in transporting COVID-positive patients from Holliday Inn to a designated quarantine facility by the ambulance service in order to resume medical care and responsibility on your part, and in case of moderate or severe symptoms, we will do our best to provide high-quality medical care at the appropriate inpatient facility. 
If you have any additional questions, please let us know.
Thank you again for your continued and fruitful cooperation.