On the Approval of the Rule for Wearing Face Masks

Government of Georgia

Ordinance No 368

15 June 2020

   Tbilisi

On the Approval of the Rule for Wearing Face Masks

Article 1

The Rule for Wearing Face Masks shall be approved in accordance with Article 42¹¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia.

Article 2

The Ordinance shall enter into force on 15 June 2020.

Prime Minister                                                    Giorgi Gakharia

The Rule for Wearing Face Masks

Article 1 – General provisions

This rule shall establish the procedure and conditions for wearing face masks during the pandemic and/or epidemic in closed public spaces, as well as in public transport (including the metro) and taxis (category M1).

Article 2 – Face masks and the rule for using them

1. Face masks ensure respiratory protection by means of preventing droplets and particles from entering the respiratory system. A face mask may be medical or non-medical.

2. A medical face mask is designed for healthcare workers. The initial filtration indicator of a disposable medical face mask is the ability to block 95% of droplets. A medical face mask consists of the following parts:

a) a fluid-resistant fabric (which is effective in blocking dust and other microparticles);

b) an adjustable nose plate (which is used to fill the empty space between the nose and the face);

c) a filter layer;

d) a skin contact layer;

e) elastic ear loops.

3. Non-medical face masks are made of various fabrics. Non-medical face masks may be used only to control the source of infection (i.e. in order to prevent the spread of disease from a sick person) and may be used as a means of self-protection in the community.

4. The characteristics of a non-medical face mask are:

a) the fabric of a face mask: the filtration effectiveness of a face mask made of various fabrics differs from 0.6% to 70%; the material must not be stretchy;

b) the number of layers: it is recommended that the face mask has at least 3 layers in order to increase filtration ability. The inner layer must be hydrophilic and ensure the prevention of the spread of the particles produced by a person, and the outer layer must be hydrophobic, in order to retain the particles on its surface;

c) the design of face mask: a face mask must cover the nose and mouth completely, and must be fitted around the chin and nose.

5. When using a face mask, the observance of hand hygiene is essential.

6. One and the same face mask must be used by one and the same person.

Article 3 – The necessity of using face masks

1. The use of face masks is essential:

a) in closed public spaces, in particular:

a.a) in the entrances of public and private institutions; as well as during meetings/gatherings when two metres of social distance may not be observed;

a.b) in public elevators;

a.c) in retail facilities;

a.d) (deleted – 12.8.2020, No 496);

b) in public transport (including the metro) and taxis (category M1);

c) in general educational institutions, vocational education institutions and higher educational institutions, as well as in cases provided for by the Order No 01-227/n of 29 May 2020 of the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia on Determining the Procedures for Monitoring and Control of the Implementation of the Recommendations for Avoiding the Spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Workplace.

2. For the purposes of this rule, public transport means the transportation of passengers by vehicles (motor vehicles (categories M2, M3), railway, metro and ropeway), including local regular city passenger transportation, as well as the intercity transportation of passengers between two or more municipalities and/or cities.

3. In cases provided for by this article, the use of medical, as well as non-medical face masks, shall be allowed.

Ordinance No 496 of 12 August 2020 of the Government of Georgia – website, 12.8.2020

Article 4 – Exceptional cases

1. The use of face masks is essential in cases established by Article 3 of this rule.

2. In cases established by Article 3 of this rule the following persons shall not be required to wear a face mask:

a) a person enrolled in the Defence Forces, an employee of a penitentiary facility or a law enforcement officer when carrying our his/her duties, if it is impossible to use a face mask and/or the said person has no direct communication with an outsider;

b) a person when carrying out professional activities, where it is impossible to wear a face mask (including speech therapists, sign language translators);

c) a child under 6;

d) a person who cannot wear a face mask because of a health condition (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, cardiovascular disease accompanied by shortness of breath, mental disorder, autistic spectrum disorder and/or deficiency) which is confirmed by a medical/doctor’s certificate;

e) a locomotive driver when driving a metro train/overground train;

f) a person in a closed public space if it is impossible to wear a face mask when receiving/enjoying services;

g) upon the decision of the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, entrants during the Unified National Examinations, candidates for master's degree during the unified postgraduate examinations, students during the grant competition for students, applicants during the exams in their specialty for the purpose of determining their professional competence, in the process of working on the tests in the examination sector (except for the case, when the examination space is cooled using an air conditioner).

3. In the cases determined by paragraph 2(d) of this article, it is not necessary to obtain a new doctor’s certificate for the purposes of this Ordinance if there is any type of document confirming the existing disease (including an extract from a medical and social examination act, a certificate on health status Form No IV-100, etc.).

4. During meetings/gatherings in public and private institutions, a speaker is allowed not to use a face mask while speaking if he/she observes a social distance of two metres.

Ordinance No 401 of 2 July 2020 of the Government of Georgia – website, 2.7.2020

Article 5 – Responsibility for violation of this rule

For the violation of this rule responsibility shall be determined in accordance with Article 42¹¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia.

Article 6 – Agencies responsible for the execution of the Ordinance

The supervision of the execution of this Ordinance shall be carried out by the relevant divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Participation in the execution shall also be requested from municipalities.