‘Stay home for us’, asks Armenian doctor

Panorama, Armenia
Health 16:01 23/03/2020Armenia

Ashot Papikyan, a doctor from Nork Infectious Clinical Hospital in Yerevan treating coronavirus patients, took to Facebook on Monday to urge people to stay home.

“It's been 13 days since I and almost all of our personnel have been isolated. I can’t see my kids and wife just because we work around the clock and have contact with both confirmed and suspected coronavirus cases.

“Being a doctor and infectious disease specialist, my conscience, professional discipline and the oath I have taken does not allow me to refuse to treat patients,” the doctor wrote.

“But I am amazed by what is happening along the streets of Yerevan now; everyone behaves as if nothing has happened.

“Why don’t you stay home? If you don’t stay home doctors will stay home and not only…” Papikyan said, stressing no one is guarded against the risk of coronavirus, especially medical workers who are in close contact with patients all the time.

“Doctors want to go home too, and when we stay home, it will be late for you! Then don't ask us to come to work just because you feel sick.

"Just think a little… we stayed at work for you, you stay home for us,” he wrote.