Author: Arsine Chaltikian

About 1 mln drams for one COVID-19 patient in intensive care unit: Minister presents treatment costs

Arsine Chaltikian

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 15:54, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Arsen Torosyan presented how much money is spent for one patient infected with COVID-19.

During today’s press conference in Armenpress, the minister said there is no answer to this question as the patients are being treated at various hospitals. These medical facilities are financed mainly by maintenance costs.

“And depending on the use of hospital beds, it’s difficult to say for sure how much is the average spending for one patient in this or that hospital. But there are also approved prices by us which we pay to those hospitals which are not completely engaged in coronavirus treatment, but have coronavirus departments. If I am not mistaken, nearly 1 million drams were required for one patient in intensive care unit with average hospitalization”, the minister said.

349 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been registered in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 29,285, the healthcare ministry said.

605 more patients have recovered. The total number of recoveries has reached 16,907.

12 people have died in one day, raising the death toll to 503.

The number of active cases stands at 11,711.

The number of people who had a coronavirus but died from other disease has reached 164 (5 new such cases).

So far, 125,088 people have passed COVID-19 testing.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

A total of 185.209 square meters of territory cleared by Armenian de-miners in Syria

Arsine Chaltikian

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 12:36, 1 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. The 5th group of Armenia’s humanitarian mission, consisting of de-miners, doctors and their security specialists, has departed for Syria on June 16, the Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise of Armenia told Armenpress.

On June 19 Armenia’s Consul General to Aleppo Armen Sargsyan met with the Armenian group and wished them success in their mission. A number of issues relating to the mission were discussed during the meeting.

So far, the Armenian de-miners have cleared 185,209 square meters of territory in Syria. The humanitarian group provided medical care to 646 local residents.

The Armenian humanitarian mission continues operations in Aleppo despite some difficulties and restrictions caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Prosperous Armenia Party leader: I will do everything possible to prevent creation of anti-Russian moods in country

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia
July 2 2020

21:35, 02.07.2020
                  

Asbarez: Artsakh to Send Medical Supplies to California as COVID-19 Assistance

Arsine Chaltikian
July 2, 2020

Artsakh Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan meets with Sen. Anthony Portantino, then Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan and current Glendale City Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian in 2018

Medical supplies produced in Artsakh will be sent to the State of California as symbolic assistance to the “friendly people of America” for its fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Member of Artsakh’s Parliament David Melkumyan said.

As a result of constructive discussions with the President of the National Assembly, the State Minister and the Foreign Minister, an agreement has been reached to medical supplies to California on behalf of the people of Artsakh, Melkumyan said.

The aid “to the friendly people of America and our compatriots” will be largely symbolic, but Artsakh will thus join the global fight against the pandemic.

“This is a wonderful humanitarian gesture. We are all in this together and the Government of Artsakh is showcasing for the world that it understands that what affects one of us affects all of us. I hope California can reciprocate in the future as needs arise,” California State Senator Anthony Portantino told Asbarez. Portantino has traveled to Artsakh three times and the chairs the Senate Committee which fosters cooperation between California Armenia and Artsakh.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in California has been increasing in recent days, with the state ordering restaurants, bars and other indoor businesses to shut down again.

The State of California is one of 9 states of the Union that has recognized Artsakh’s independence and its people’s right to self-determination. The City of Shushi enjoys a “Friendship City” status with the Los Angeles.

Turkey delays decision on turning Hagia Sophia into mosque

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia
July 2 2020

A Turkish court has delayed a decision on whether the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul can be converted into a mosque, BBC News reports. 

The Council of State – Turkey’s highest administrative body – said it would make a ruling within 15 days, after a hearing lasting just 17 minutes.

The 1,500 year old Unesco World Heritage site was originally a cathedral before becoming a mosque and then a museum in the 1930s.

It may become a mosque again if the court approves the move.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked his aides to conduct a comprehensive study on how to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque earlier in June. 

Islamists in Turkey have long called for it to be converted, but secular opposition members have opposed the move. The proposal has prompted international criticism, from religious and political leaders worldwide.

Armenia to expand use of Dexamethasone for COVID-19 treatment

Arsine Chaltikian

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 20:07,

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. From the first days of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Armenia has used Dexamethasone drug, but now it is planning to further expand the use of this drug for COVID-19 patients’ treatment, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at an online briefing, in addition to the statement of the French medical team head Alexandre Mignon, who are currently in Armenia.

The French doctor said in particular: “There is news, Dexamethasone maybe will already be used in Armenia as it is in Armenia and helps to treat this disease. But this disease has a history of long months, and this drug will not immediately help and get us free from this disease”.

Pashinyan in turn informed that this drug has been used in Armenia from the first days of the virus, and there is no shortage of this drug in Armenia. Moreover, it is quite an affordable medicine. The PM, however, stated that this drug can be used only if prescribed by a doctor.

The French doctor said he has been impressed with all the doctors he met in Armenia. “They are very tired, but nevertheless work day and night, within the solidarity context”, he said.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 20,588, out of which 9,131 have already recovered. At the moment the number of active cases is 10,980. The death toll has reached 360.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

We should do the best to make Artsakh a powerful state, Armenian president says

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia

18:10, 20.06.2020
                          

Armenian president Armen Sarkissian has met with My Step MP Tatevik Hayrapetyan and political scientist Edgar Elbakyan, president’s press service reported.

As Sarkissian noted: “We should do the best to make Artsakh a powerful state.”

According to him, Artsakh has pretty enough resources for a significant increase in human capital, and further development. Thus, practical steps should be taken in this regard.

As the president noted, Artsakh has every opportunity to actively engage in food production as well. 

Highlighting the importance of the economy, demography, and food security, Sarkissian touched upon the availability of a national and state program in these fields.

“This applies not only to Artsakh. Our attention should be paid to the whole territory of Armenia. We need conceptual changes, we need to change our attitude,” the president added.

Reuters: Armenian parliament backs arrest of opposition leader for fraud

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia

23:03, 16.06.2020
                  

President of Artsakh visits correctional facility in Shushi

Arsine Chaltikian

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 16:46,

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan visited today the correctional department of the Police in the town of Shushi, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The President was accompanied by Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan and Chief of Police Ashot Hakobjanyan.

President Harutyunyan toured the department’s correctional facility and the pre-trial detention place, got acquainted with the conditions and talked to the detainees and the staffers of the department. The President said cases of torture and ill-treatment should be ruled out in correctional facilities.

The Ombudsman and the Police Chief presented their observations and proposals relating to the prevention of torture, the problems caused by the state of emergency, as well as other issues.

The President of Artsakh assured that soon practical steps will be taken to solve some issues, including creation of an opportunity for a video call, improvement of building conditions, etc.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian Police, NSS must use enough force to silence some: Armenia’s PM

Arsine Chaltikian
Aysor, Armenia

Armenia’s Police have not used enough force against some, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at the NA special session today.

“I think during the past two years the Police and National Security Service have not applied enough force against some. Soon they will use so much force against some that they will not open their mouths in general,” Pashinyan said, stressing that today the Police must not be afraid to act.

“The Police must act with spirit, but legally. An impression is as if the police must walk under walls, hide. No, those who violate the rules, the criminals must walk under walls. It seems as if the police are our number one enemy, no, the permissiveness is our enemy and those who spread it must enter their holes,” Pashinyan said.