Wednesday,
Armenian Nursing Home Hit By Coronavirus Outbreak
• Susan Badalian
Armenia -- The closed entrance to a nursing home in Yerevan where at least 45
elderly residents and personnel were infected with coronavirus, .
Dozens of residents and employees of a nursing home in Yerevan were hospitalized
or isolated at the weekend after testing positive for coronavirus.
According to the Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, three of its 17
hospitalized residents remained in a critical condition on Monday.
The 28 other persons infected with the virus are care home personnel. A
spokeswoman for the ministry, Sona Martirosian, said they are kept in isolated
hotels because of showing no symptoms of the disease.
Some 200 elderly people lived in the nursing home located in Yerevan’s Nork
district until the outbreak. Martirosian said that they all underwent
coronavirus tests immediately after the health authorities detected the first
infections there late last week.
Martirosian told Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that those residents whose test
results were negative will be tested again later this month. She said the
authorities have deployed additional medical workers to monitor their condition
around the clock.
Armenia has only three nursing homes where a total of 580 retirees live and
receive care and, if necessary, medical assistance. All of them were placed in
strict lockdown in late February even before the authorities registered the
first coronavirus case in the country.
So far COVID-19 infections have been reported only at the Nork home. The primary
source of those infections is not yet known.
Vahan Zurabian, the director of another Yerevan-based care home, confirmed that
there have been no coronavirus cases among its 210 residents. He said that his
employees looking after them have strictly observed the confinement rules.
“The personnel also don’t go home [after finishing their daily work,]” said
Zurabian. “There have been no visits or physical contacts [with outsiders.]”
All over the world care homes have been particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of
the virus because of the old age of their residents and close physical contact
among them.
End Of Lockdown Blamed For Rising COVID-19 Cases In Armenia
• Artak Khulian
• Susan Badalian
Armenia -- A masked commuter rides a bus in Yerevan, .
The lifting of government restrictions on people’s movements and business
activity has helped to accelerate the spread of coronavirus in Armenia, the
Ministry of Health said after reporting another daily high of new COVID-19 cases
on Monday.
The ministry said that 351 more people tested positive for the virus in the past
day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,823. The latest number of
new cases is sharply up from the previous record high of 259 cases reported on
Saturday.
Also, the 7.8 percent increase represents the highest rate of daily infections
recorded since the beginning of April.
With one more fatality registered in the last 24 hours, the official death toll
from the virus reached 61. The number does not include the deaths of 25 other
people infected with the respiratory disease. The ministry claims that they died
primarily as a result of other, pre-existing conditions.
Alina Nikoghosian, the Ministry of Health spokeswoman, said that one of the
reasons for the increased number of new cases is that in recent days more
isolated people have had coronavirus tests at the end of their two-week
confinement.
“Those who have been in contact with the confirmed cases are also tested en
masse,” Nikoghosian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “We are talking about whole
families and other large entourages. This is the second reason.”
Nikoghosian admitted that the end of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown also
contributed to the faster spread of the disease.
The Armenian government issued stay-at-home orders, banned public transport and
shut down most nonessential businesses in late March. It began gradually easing
these restrictions already in mid-April.
The number of new coronavirus cases has been steadily growing since then.
Despite that, the government decided last week to scrap the last remaining
lockdown restrictions, lifting the ban on public transport and allowing
kindergartens, shopping malls, indoor restaurants and cafes and gyms to reopen
on Monday.
Armenia -- A COVID-19 patient is brought to the Surp Grigor Lusavorich hospital
in Yerevan, April 8, 2020.
In Yerevan, 800 minibuses and 300 buses resumed their work in the morning.
Police officers were deployed at bus stops across the city to ensure that
drivers and commuters comply with social distancing and hygiene rules set by the
government.
The rules require them to wear face masks and gloves and disinfect their hands
with sanitizers that must be available inside all buses, minibuses and even
taxis. They also limit the number of people who will be allowed to ride them.
Most commuters interviewed by RFE/RL’s Armenian service backed these
requirements even if some of them claimed to be having trouble breathing through
masks. “For the sake of our health, we must stick to them as much as possible,”
said one woman.
Nikoghosian agreed that the end of the lockdown could facilitate further spread
of the virus. “At this rate, we will have about 6,500 cases by May 24 and more
than 12,000 cases by June 8,” said the official.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian downplayed the rapidly rising number of cases
when he spoke at a news conference on Saturday. Pashinian argued that more than
70 percent of the infected people are showing no symptoms and only a fraction of
about 700 COVID-19 patients suffering from pneumonia are in a critical or
serious condition. Armenia will face a serious health crisis only “if the number
of seriously ill people exceeds 1,400,” he said.
Nikoghosian said that the health authorities still have enough capacity to
hospitalize or isolate all infected citizens. But echoing statements by Health
Minister Arsen Torosian, she cautioned that they may soon have to tell
asymptomatic patients to stay at home.
Pashinian stated on May 4 that the onus is now not only on his government but
also on ordinary Armenians to contain the virus. He again defended last week
this “decentralized tactic of fighting against coronavirus.”
Critics accuse the prime minister of trying to dodge responsibility for his
administration’s failure to contain the epidemic. They say the authorities never
properly enforced the lockdown, ended it too soon and are now paying the
consequences.
Armenian Constitutional Referendum Delayed Indefinitely
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- Campaign banners urging Armenians to vote for constitutional changes
sought by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Yerevan, March 5, 2020.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has confirmed that due to the coronavirus
pandemic his administration will not hold anytime soon a planned referendum on
its controversial bid to oust most members of Armenia’s Constitutional Court.
Pashinian said over the weekend that they might be replaced instead by the
Armenian parliament dominated by his loyalists.
Armenians were scheduled to vote on April 5 on draft constitutional amendments
ending the powers of seven of the nine Constitutional Court judges who had for
months been under strong government pressure to resign. Pashinian has repeatedly
accused them -- and Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian in particular
-- of maintaining ties to the “corrupt former regime” and impeding judicial
reforms.
Tovmasian and opposition figures have dismissed these claims, saying that
Pashinian is simply seeking to gain control over Armenia’s highest court. They
also believe that the proposed amendments run counter to other articles of the
Armenian constitution.
The referendum was postponed on March 16 when the Armenian government declared a
state of emergency to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The
government last week extended it by another month, until June 14. Under Armenian
law, no elections or referendums can held during emergency rule.
In a relevant development, Justice Minister Rustam Badasian on May 14 asked the
Venice Commission of the Council of Europe to advise the government the
“resolution of the ongoing crisis over the Armenian Constitutional Court.”
The government had previously declined to send its constitutional changes to the
Strasbourg-based commission for examination. Badasian’s move was a further
indication that the referendum has been postponed indefinitely.
Pashinian said that the vote cannot be held at least before May 2021, implying
that it has been effectively cancelled.
“We were thinking that we will hold this referendum this year and hold another
referendum [on amending the constitution] during the next parliamentary
elections in 2023,” he told a weekend news conference. “But this timetable is
not quite working out because of this epidemic.”
“We therefore appealed to the Venice Commission, and are now discussing ways of
partly or fully resolving the Constitutional Court issue in the parliament,” he
said.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Author: Eduard Nalbandian
CIVILNET.Coronavirus Pandemic Presents Distinct Problems for Nagorno-Karabakh, Underscores Dependence on Neighbors
CIVILNET.AM
8 May, 2020 18:48
By Mark Dovich
As a new report by the International Crisis Group highlights, Eurasia’s six unrecognized political entities—Abkhazia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Transnistria—small territories in the post-Soviet space which function as de facto independent polities but enjoy little to no international recognition—are uniquely vulnerable to the challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Despite key differences among them, these entities share striking similarities on several important measures that affect pandemic vulnerability.
All these territories have large elderly and impoverished populations, who disproportionately suffer from chronic illnesses; weak healthcare systems that struggle to overcome shortages of personal protective and testing equipment and outdated medical infrastructure; and health workers with limited qualifications and training.
In light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, these longstanding issues have been compounded by the inaction of the de facto authorities, who have been reluctant to introduce coronavirus-related restrictions, and the entities’ contested statuses, which complicate international actors’ attempts to provide aid and assistance.
So far, none of these self-declared states have reported large coronavirus outbreaks—but just as their geopolitical isolation is much the cause of their resistance to the pandemic, that same isolation also raises serious concerns about their vulnerability.
Coronavirus Comes to Nagorno-Karabakh Mid-Election Season
April 7 saw the first confirmed coronavirus case in Nagorno-Karabakh, just a week after the first round of parliamentary and presidential elections were held there on March 31. Dismissing numerous calls from civil society activists and medical professionals to postpone the vote, the Nagorno Karabakh authorities conducted the polls with few precautions. Turnout was reported to be high, with voters standing close to each other in long lines, and many lacking personal protective equipment.
As no single presidential candidate received more than 50 percent of the votes, a second-round presidential election was scheduled to be held two weeks later. Despite the fact that a state of emergency had been declared on April 12, the runoff election was held as scheduled on April 14, with the authorities again ignoring calls to postpone the polls. At the time of the runoff election, Nagorno-Karabakh had reported six infections. It was only after this round of voting that significant movement restrictions were implemented in Karabakh.
As of May 7, Nagorno-Karabakh has confirmed a total of ten coronavirus infections, with no deaths reported so far. The reported cases are nearly all located in the districts of Kashatagh and Shahumyan. Nagorno-Karabakh’s total population is estimated at around 150,000.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s Epidemic Vulnerability in Comparative Context
In economic terms, Nagorno-Karabakh appears to be better prepared to withstand the economic ramifications of the pandemic than many other unrecognized entities. For one, Nagorno-Karabakh’s economy relies heavily on the agricultural sector, an industry that is expected to be far less impacted by the coronavirus than others.
In contrast, territories like Donetsk and Luhansk, whose economies are largely based on the service sector, and Abkhazia, which relies heavily on Russian trade and tourism, are far more vulnerable to the consequences of the coronavirus crisis. For instance, the GDP of Transnistria, whose robust industrial sector is expected to suffer heavily as a result of the pandemic, is projected to contract by an astonishing 16 percent this year.
Nonetheless, Nagorno-Karabakh also faces some distinct challenges in responding to the coronavirus outbreak. Perhaps most importantly, a vast majority of international aid organizations have been so far unable to operate in Nagorno-Karabakh. All international organizations, including UN agencies, risk the ire of the Azerbaijani government if they enter Nagorno-Karabakh. So, most do not.
Due to these requirements, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is currently the only international organization that operates in Nagorno-Karabakh. Though the ICRC is certainly conducting important work in the region, the organization lacks the specialists and know-how that other bodies, like the World Health Organization (WHO), can offer. In contrast, the WHO has been active in Donetsk and Abkhazia, delivering much-needed medical supplies.
Moreover, even if the WHO or another organization received Baku’s go-ahead to enter Nagorno-Karabakh, it could legally operate only in the territory that corresponds to the Soviet-era Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO). At present, the authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh control seven districts that lie outside the boundaries of the former NKAO and are home to nearly 17,000 people. These people will have no access to assistance even if the Azerbaijani government permits aid organizations to operate in the rest of the territory. Troublingly, seven of Nagorno-Karabakh’s ten reported coronavirus cases are located in these districts.
What Is the Impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process?
In an ironic twist, the coronavirus pandemic may help advance the long-stalled Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. On April 21, the OSCE Minsk Group, a diplomatic effort to mediate peace talks co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States, facilitated a videoconference between Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
The International Crisis Group has expressed hopes that increased contacts between the Armenian and Azerbaijani governments—with the immediate goal of organizing humanitarian support for Nagorno-Karabakh in fighting the coronavirus—could boost trust between the two sides, possibly laying the groundwork for peace negotiations in the future by demonstrating real-time collaboration for the first time since the conflict erupted more than 30 years ago.
What Comes Next for Nagorno-Karabakh in Fighting Coronavirus?
For their part, the Azerbaijani authorities have so far shown no inclination to permit humanitarian organizations access to Nagorno-Karabakh, despite a joint statement issued last month by the OSCE Minsk Group expressing both sides’ willingness to provide the territory support “without regard to political boundaries”.
On the other side, the Armenian government is struggling to control the pandemic in its own territory. Reflecting the economic ramifications of the crisis, the World Bank last month revised Armenia’s predicted GDP growth this year down to 1.7 percent, one-quarter of the country’s average growth rate in the period 2017-2019.
With neither Azerbaijani cooperation nor Armenian assistance assured, and the OSCE Minsk Group largely unable to effect real change on the ground, the coronavirus crisis serves as a stark reminder of Nagorno-Karabakh’s continued dependence on external actors.
https://www.civilnet.am/news/2020/05/08/Coronavirus-Pandemic-Presents-Distinct-Problems-for-Nagorno-Karabakh-Underscores-Dependence-on-Neighbors/384223
Pashinyan says Gazprom should change its approaches in the light of collapse of energy market
20:12, 6 May, 2020
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan thinks that Russian ”Gazprom” company should change its approaches in the light of the global crisis and collapse of the energy market, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said at the National Assembly, answering the question of an MP from ‘’My step” faction if there are any worries over teh possible fluctuations of gas price.
According to Pashinyan, the aspiration of the partners from Russian Gazprom to make their company economically more competitive is normal and acceptable. ”Gas reaches to the consumer through pipes and if these pipes are not serviced, they will go wrong in 1-2 years and gas will not reach its destination. The company has to have adequate income to be able to ensure the maintenance of this infrastructure. But we think that the company from our strategically partner country should change its approaches in the light of this global crisis and collapse of energy market. And we will try to talk with our partners about this”, he said.
Pashinyan noted that the establishment of a common energy market is one of the key issues on the agenda of the EAEU. ”And we think that starting from now we should move forward with that logic”, he said.
Reporting by Anna Grigoryan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
Erik Grigoryan relieved of post of Minister of Environment
18:46, 5 May, 2020
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Erik Grigoryan has been relieved of post of Minister of Environment of Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports President Armen Sarkissian signed the decree.
Erik Grigoryan was appointed Minister of Environment o June 1, 2019. Before that he was the Minister of Nature Protection from May 12, 2018. The Ministry of Nature Protection was renamed into Ministry of Environment following the structural changes in the Government in 2019.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/04/2020
Monday, May 4, 2020
Sarkisian’s Son-In-Law Claims Deal Offer From Pashinian
• Tatevik Lazarian
Armenia -- Former Armenian Ambassador to the Vatican Mikael Minasian.
Mikael Minasian, former President Serzh Sarkisian’s fugitive son-in-law, has
claimed that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian offered last year to guarantee his
immunity from prosecution if he pays cash and stops challenging the Armenian
government.
In a weekend video message posted on Facebook, Minasian said that the offer was
personally communicated to him in February 2019 by Artur Vanetsian, the then
director of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS), at a meeting held in Rome.
“He said that ‘we have an offer to your and that offer is as follows: you pay a
symbolic amount [of money] and then you never come to Armenia, at least in the
coming years; all those people who are linked to you in one way or another and
listen to you stop fighting against Nikol Pashinian; you become an apolitical
person … but as soon as we reach agreement all criminal proceedings will be
immediately discontinued,” he alleged, referring to pending corruption cases
against his fugitive father, prominent surgeon Ara Minasian, and friends.
Minasian said that he rejected the offer because he believes Pashinian is
leading Armenia to a “great disaster.” “I can never make deals with people whom
I considered and consider … irresponsible liars, traitors of the people and
enemies of the state,” he charged.
Pashinian did not react to the allegations. His spokeswoman, Mane Gevorgian,
told Factor.am that the prime minister’s office will comment “when necessary.”
The parliamentary leader of Pashinian’s My Step bloc, Lilit Makunts, also
declined a comment, saying that it is up to law-enforcement authorities to “deal
with” Minasian’s claims.
Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General told RFE/RL’s Armenian service on
Monday that it has assigned another law-enforcement agency to look into the
claims and decide whether they warrant a criminal inquiry.
For his part, Vanetsian only said through a spokeswoman that he stands by
comments on Minasian which he made shortly after resigning as NSS director in
September 2019. He said at the time that Sarkisian’s son-in-law is someone who
“must still answer many questions.”
Vanetsian, who is now a harsh critic of Pashinian, subsequently claimed that he
met with Minasian once while in office and that the prime minister knew about
their conversation beforehand. But he never gave any details.
Minasian enjoyed considerable political and economic influence throughout
Sarkisian’s decade-long rule. The 42-year-old served as Armenia’s ambassador to
the Vatican from 2013 to 2018. He was sacked in November 2018 six months after
his father-in-law was toppled in the “Velvet Revolution” led by Pashinian.
Late last month, Armenian tax authorities charged Minasian with illegal
enrichment, false asset disclosure and money laundering. The latter’s lawyers
rejected the charges as baseless and politically motivated.
Minasian apparently left Armenia shortly after his sacking. He did not disclose
his current place of residence in his video statement.
Over the past year Minasian has increasingly attacked Pashinian with articles
posted on his Facebook page and disseminated by Armenian media outlets believed
to be controlled by him.
For his part, Pashinian has repeatedly accused Minasian of illegally making a
huge fortune during Sarkisian’s rule.
Also, the prime minister’s spokeswoman claimed last week that “according to the
government’s information” Vanetsian abused his NSS position to buy Minasian’s
minority stake in Armenia’s largest mining company. Vanetsian strongly denied
that.
Armenian Health Minister Fears Surge In COVID-19 Cases
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- Health Minister Arsen Torosian speaks at a meeting of a task force
coordinating the Armenian government's response to coronavirus outbreak,
Yerevan, April 27, 2020.
The number of coronavirus cases in Armenia could quadruple by the end of this
month, Health Minister Arsen Torosian said on Monday.
Torosian also warned of the possibility of a prolonged and much deadlier
epidemic as he met with Armenian lawmakers and answered their questions.
“If we follow [safety and hygiene] rules then we will manage to make progress,”
he told members of the parliament committee on healthcare. “If we don’t we will
have explosive outbreaks which will result, for example, in 500,000 infected
citizens and thousands of deaths. This scenario is not implausible.”
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Torosian clarified that the staggering numbers
cited by him are based on the World Health Organization’s projections for the
spread of the virus in Armenia made one month ago.
“Fortunately, that hasn’t happened because we have managed to contain the spread
of infections,” he said. “Whether there will be 500,000, 100,000 or 50,000 cases
is hard to tell now … but it’s our behavior that will determine their number.”
A “plausible scenario” now, he went on, is that Armenia will have 10,000 cases
at the end of this month. “This number is large in the sense that it’s more than
[the number of infected people] we can keep under control and we will probably
send some of them home. But it’s not large in the sense that we will be able to
treat severe and critical cases.”
The Ministry of Health reported on Monday morning 121 new cases of the disease
which raised Armenia’s COVID-19 total to 2,507.
The ministry also said that four more Armenians have died from the virus, the
largest daily increase in fatalities reported so far. The country’s death toll
from COVID-19 thus reached 39.
Torosian issued the stark warnings as the Armenian government largely ended on
Monday a nationwide lockdown imposed in late March. Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian said on Sunday that Armenians must now share with the government
“responsibility” for tackling the epidemic and minimizing its consequences.
Pashinian urged them to abide by social distancing and hygiene rules set by the
health authorities.
The government had already gradually reopened some sectors of the Armenian
economy and eased restrictions on people’s movements since April 13.
The Ministry of Health has reported growing daily numbers of new COVID-19
infections for the last two weeks. Torosian told Pashinian on Sunday that the
increased “mobility” of the population is one of the reasons for that rise.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Jailed Ex-Minister’s Son
• Artak Khulian
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Gurgen Khachatrian, the chairman of Ucom company's board of directors.
A court in Yerevan allowed law-enforcement bodies on Sunday to arrest a wealthy
businessman and son of Armenia’s arrested former Finance Minister Gagik
Khachatrian who has accused the government of seeking to illegally dispossess
his family.
However, Gurgen Khachatrian was not immediately arrested and his whereabouts
remained unknown as of Monday evening.
The Khachatrian family has extensive business interests. The most important of
its assets is Ucom, one of the country’s three mobile phone operators and
largest Internet and cable TV provider.
The ex-minister’s two sons and a nephew own a combined 77 percent of the Ucom
stock. Gurgen Khachatrian is also the chairman of the company’s board of
directors.
In an April 28 statement, he claimed that “high-ranking” Armenian officials have
threatened to arrest him if he and his brother refuse to cede control of Ucom
and another major IT firm at a knockdown price. “Ucom is not for sale, neither
is our dignity,” he said.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian was quick to respond to the claim, saying through
a spokeswoman that Khachatrian and his relatives must return hundreds of
millions dollars “stolen from the people.”She said relevant authorities will
allow the Khachatrians to sell their Ucom stake only if they agree to transfer
all proceeds from such a deal to the government.
Khachatrian’s lawyers said afterwards that the National Security Service (NSS)
has brought new criminal charges against him. In particular, they said, he now
stands accused of assisting in bribery.
The lawyers confirmed that the accusation is connected to the arrest late last
month of Sedrak Arustamian, the top manager of companies belonging to another
wealthy businessman, Gagik Tsarukian.
The NSS claims that Arustamian had paid Gagik Khachatrian a $22.4 million bribe
to ensure privileged treatment of those companies by tax authorities. It says
that the payment took the form of two bogus loans provided to the former
minister who was arrested on corruption charges last August.
Both Arustamian and the Khachatrian family insist that the massive cash transfer
was a commercial transaction, not a bribe. One of the lawyers representing the
family, Yerem Sargsian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service at the weekend that the
ex-minister’s sons had borrowed the hefty sum to buy real estate abroad. He did
not go into details.
Armenia -- National Security Service officers are seen outside the home of Ucom
CEO Ara Khachatrian, Yerevan, May 2, 2020.
In what appeared to a related development, NSS officers raided the Ucom
headquarters in Yerevan on Saturday. They also searched the home and the car of
the company’s new executive and confiscated his laptop computer.
The security service did not comment on the searches. Aram Orbelian, a lawyer
for the Ucom CEO, alleged that they are part of broader government efforts to
nationalize the company employing 1,800 people or “hand it over to another
person” in gross violation of property rights guaranteed by Armenian law.
The NSS also summoned Gurgen Khachatrian’s wife and mother for questioning. Both
women reportedly refused to testify as witnesses.
Meanwhile, Khachatrian issued a written statement shortly before the court
allowed the NSS to hold him in detention pending investigation. The Ucom
chairman decried the “illegal” criminal proceedings and said he has no intention
to “get involved in these processes as a prisoner” and thereby contribute to
further “illegalities.”
Sargsian confirmed on Monday afternoon that Khachatrian has not been arrested
yet. But he declined to clarify whether his client has fled Armenia or gone into
hiding inside the country. Khachatrian was banned from travelling abroad after
being first indicted in January.
“Gurgen Khachatrian is prepared to present himself before the investigating body
at any moment if its actions are brought back to the legal field,” said the
lawyer.
Armenia Reopens Economy As Coronavirus Deaths Rise
Armenia -- Customers at a restaurant in Yerevan, May 4, 2020.
Armenian authorities reported the largest daily number of coronavirus deaths to
date on Monday as the vast majority of Armenia’s businesses, including many
cafes and restaurants, resumed their work following the end of a nationwide
lockdown imposed in late March.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian defended on Sunday his government’s decision to
lift remaining restrictions on people’s movements and reopen virtually all
sectors of the Armenian economy despite the continuing spread of coronavirus in
the country. He declared that the onus is now not only on his government but
also on ordinary Armenians to contain the virus.
“We are announcing a new, decentralized phase of the fight against the novel
coronavirus,” Pashinian said during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tigran
Avinian and Health Minister Arsen Torosian.
“The main reason why we are opting for such a solution is that it’s now obvious
that we will have new coronavirus cases at least until March or April next year,
until a vaccine is developed,” he said. “Therefore, our challenge starting from
tomorrow is to do everything … so that we can live with coronavirus, rather than
be locked down, because we cannot stay shut down for one year.”
“The most important nuance of the decentralized struggle is that every citizen
of Armenia will shoulder responsibility for the fight against the epidemic,”
added Pashinian.
The premier renewed his calls for citizens to strictly follow social distancing
rules and avoid touching their faces with unwashed hands.
He admitted that the decision to essentially end the lockdown is “creating the
risk” of a faster spread of the virus.
The Armenian Ministry of Health has already reported increased daily numbers of
coronavirus cases for the last two weeks. It said on Monday morning that 121
people have tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, taking the
country’s COVID-19 total to 2,507.
The ministry also said that four more Armenians have died from the virus, the
largest daily increase in fatalities reported so far. The country’s death toll
from COVID-19 thus reached 39.
According to Torosian, 35 COVID-19 patients were in a critical condition as of
Sunday afternoon.
Armenia -- A COVID-19 patient is brought to the Surp Grigor Lusavorich hospital
in Yerevan, April 8, 2020.
“We can manage 3,000 to 4,000 cases,” the health minister told Pashinian. “Right
now we have 850 patients in hospitals and about 350 others [isolated] in hotels.
Our objective is … to not exceed the maximum [hospital capacity] and not have to
provide medical assistance in non-hospital conditions.”
Torosian repeatedly warned last week that the health authorities will soon be no
longer able to hospitalize or isolate all infected persons. He said this will
increase the risk of further growth in infections.
Avinian, who leads an ad hoc government body enforcing a coronavirus-related
state of emergency in Armenia, said on Sunday that the government could again
issue stay-at-home orders and shut down most businesses “in case of a
deterioration of the situation.”
Pashinian did not mention such a possibility when he met with Avinian and
Torosian later in the day. He claimed that the government has no choice but to
end the lockdown which it imposed on March 24.
“If we were sure that we could defeat the epidemic after another month of the
toughest lockdown we could opt for such a solution,” said the prime minister.
“But we have concluded that this is not realistic and possible. Our statistics
of the last two months shows that.”
Critics say that the authorities never strictly enforced the quarantine and
began easing restrictions on business activity already on April 13, just three
weeks after the start of the economic shutdown. The number of daily coronavirus
cases rose significantly later in April amid a gradual reopening of more sectors
of the Armenian economy.
With its latest measure which took effect on Monday, the government lifted its
ban on all remaining all types of manufacturing, services such as hairdressing
and cleaning, and wholesale trade carried out outside shopping malls. Those
cafes and restaurants that have outdoor areas were also allowed to reopen.
Other restaurants as well as bars, night clubs and shopping malls will remain
closed for the time being. The government is also in no rush to resume public
transport services in Yerevan and other cities.
All reopened businesses have to comply with safety requirements set by the
Ministry of Health. In particular, employers must ensure physical distancing
among their workers and customers, frequently disinfect premises, provide
employees with hand sanitizers and measure their temperature on a daily basis.
Those who have a fever must immediately leave their workplace and seek medical
aid.
Wearing face masks and gloves is obligatory for only some categories of
employees, notably waiters.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Armenia schools will not conduct final exams this year
News.am, Armenia
April 27 2020
15:39, 27.04.2020
Ex-advisor to Armenian PM sues ex-Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan
News.am, Armenia
May 1 2020
21:00, 01.05.2020
Analyst doesn’t rule out Turkey’s pressure on Armenian community due to Catholicos lawsuit
News.am, Armenia
May 1 2020
Analyst doesn’t rule out Turkey’s pressure on Armenian community due to Catholicos lawsuit Analyst doesn’t rule out Turkey’s pressure on Armenian community due to Catholicos lawsuit
17:18, 01.05.2020
Armenian President congratulates Israeli counterpart on national day
12:18,
YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory letter to President of Israel Reuven Rivlin on the national day – the Independence Day, the Armenian President’s Office told Armenpress.
“I warmly remember our meeting in the beginning of the year which was a wonderful opportunity to once again talk about the fates and historical commonalities of the Armenian and Jewish peoples. It was an amazing opportunity also to discuss the new prospects on expanding and strengthening the cooperation between our countries. I attach great importance to the direct dialogue and constant cooperation between Armenia and Israel also in the crisis situations, especially today when the whole humanity is trying to overcome the challenges of the pandemic with joint efforts. I am happy that during a recent phone talk with you we touched upon the exchange of experience and information, as well as mutual support on this issue.
I am convinced that the consistent implementation of the agreements reached will give a new quality to the Armenian-Israeli partnering relations for the benefit of our peoples”, the Armenian President said in his letter.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenia: residents may soon be able to go to hair salon, eat at outdoor cafes
JAM News
29.04.2020
Armenians may soon be able to visit beauty salons, outdoor cafes and more businesses will open up soon if the infection rate does not rise unexpectedly in the coming days, Armenian Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan announced earlier today.
A state of emergency was declared on March 16 in Armenia, and will remain into effect until May 14, but may be softened as the country gets more of a handle on containing the coronavirus.
More information about the expected changes and an evaluation of major achievements in the fight against coronavirus – by the government itself, as well as experts.
Restrictions soon to be lifted
The commandant stated that the low intensity of the spread of the virus means that “some restrictions can already be lifted.” In particular, this refers to the likelihood that restrictions on the service sector will be lifted starting May 4. Hairdressers will be permitted to go back to work in compliance with certain safety requirements.
Soon after that, as Tigran Avinyan noted, cafes with open-air patio sections will be able to resume operations, followed by indoor food establishments.
Within the next 10 days, many businesses and organizations will return to work.
As for public transport, the commandant is going to return to this issue only in mid-May, since epidemiologists say that this is where the risk of spreading infection is highest.
Easing restrictions
This announcement about further easing of quarantine restrictions comes following three prior announcements and consequent lifting of state of emergency restrictions in Armenia.
On April 14, restrictions on construction work and the processing industry were lifted. On April 23, even more businesses were given the opportunity to work, namely printing, stone processing, metal fabrication and machine repair, as well as service centers for mobile and internet operators. On April 28, restrictions on the movement of citizens were partially lifted.
While before, it was only possible to leave the house in case of emergency, now citizens are able to go for walks and ride bikes, although they must not travel more than a kilometer away from the house. Previously, family members were only permitted to leave the house together when accompanying an elderly person in need of support. Now they are able to go out for strolls in pairs.
What to expect from the commandant’s office
The commandant says that the fight against coronavirus will be a long process. In this regard, he urges people to continue adhering to social distance and hygiene recommendations, and to continue wearing masks and gloves in certain situations:
“This will lead to overall behavioral changes in society, which, yes, will become the new norms we adhere to during difficult times. I am certain that we will learn many lessons during this process.”
As for the economy, the Deputy Prime Minister says that Armenia is not the only country expected to face problems. Tourism is suffering losses, and the sector on the whole considering the possibility of modifying the current system. The commandant believes that “this is something the public administration system should also start thinking about.”
Online services
The state of emergency created urgent problems and forced the government to make several quick reforms. In particular, there has been a reform in the field of online services.
More specifically, the government has developed more than a dozen anti-crisis programs in which citizens can receive financial support from the state. And now people are able to check whether they have the right to use government aid without leaving their homes or standing in line at government buildings. To do so, just go to ssa.am and enter your data.
“Further development of digital services is on our list of priorities,” said Tigran Avinyan.
The government working in conjunction with scientists
This situation has also strengthened relations between the government and scientists.
“The scientific community has helped us quite a bit in modeling the spread of infection, and we made informed decisions based on the models and conclusions made by Armenian scientists,” said the commandant.
The Institute of Molecular Biology is starting to produce diagnostic tests using raw materials purchased by the state. In the near future, Armenia is expected to begin producing ventilators as well.
“The Ministry of High-Tech Industry has formed a proposal which we are using as a framework to allocate state funds. We expect to have five prototypes of mechanical ventilation devices manufactured in Armenia within the next four months, and then we will begin mass production of 40-60 devices per month,” stated the Deputy Prime Minister.
This, in his opinion, will help local companies enter the international market.
Commentary
Not all experts are impressed by the list of achievements made by the government in the fight against coronavirus.
In particular, political commentator Yervand Bozoyan believes that Armenia is one of the least effective countries in the region in terms of combating the virus and helping the population.
“The same issues that we are seeing all around the world will affect us as well. This virus has flipped the situation in Armenia on its head. Many of us are still not taking the situation in Armenia seriously, but this may happen in the span of 2-3 months,” believes the expert.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance Atom Janjugazyan assures people that not a single citizen affected by the coronavirus epidemic will be ignored. He states that even unregistered workers, who have so far been left out of assistance programs developed by the government, will be helped.
“The government is simply discussing the criteria for assessing a citizen as a victim and the type of support they will receive,” announced the minister said during a parliament meeting.
https://jam-news.net/armenia-coronavirus-lift-quarantine-measures/
At the same time, the commandant warns:
“We are a little cautious with our predictions. And if we see a strong outbreak, we can go back to stringent restrictions…Overall, we bought the time we needed to prepare the healthcare system and make it so that we are able to treat several thousand infected people simultaneously.”