The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air. They quickly fall on floors or surfaces, World Health Organization (WHO) reported.
You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within 1 meter of a person who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands.
To protect yourself, keep at least 1 meter distance from others and disinfect surfaces that are touched frequently. Regularly clean your hands thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
The message spreading on social media that “COVID-19 is airborne” is incorrect. Help stop misinformation. Verify the facts before sharing, the updated on the organization said.
Judges across Armenia will have access to video conferencing equipment to conduct court proceedings online amid the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s Supreme Judicial Council reported on Monday.
The Council, which is the state body overseeing Armenia's courts added that the move is part of measures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus and comes to ensure the normal operation of the courts. All courts of the Republic of Armenia have been supplied with necessary equipment and devices. The video conferencing will be rolled out in at least one courtroom of all courts of the republic in the coming days once the technical arrangements are finalized, said the source.
16:42, 9 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS. First Lady of Argentina Fabiola Yáñez held a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spouse Anna Hakobyan during the latter’s private visit to the Latin American country, the Embassy of Argentina in Armenia said.
“The Embassy of Argentina in Armenia welcomes the meeting of these two women who are devoted to their societies.
Yáñez said on her Instagram account: “Today I received Armenian Prime Minister’s spouse Anna Hakobyan, who is carrying out large-scale work for children, vulnerable areas and the protection of the environment. In addition to being the Editor-In-Chief of the Armenian Times newspaper, Anna is also heading the City of Smile Foundation dedicated to children suffering from cancer, the My Step Foundation dedicated to supporting at-risk children, as well as the Woman of Peace Foundation dealing with the protection of children’s and women’s rights. We were pleased to exchange ideas on the work we’ve done in social and vulnerable sectors, by sharing each other’s concerns,””the embassy said.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
TEHRAN, Mar. 15 (MNA) – Iranian Parliament Speaker’s Special Aide for International Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sun. that opening Armenian Embassy in Tel Aviv runs counter to the interests of Palestinian people.
He condemned the decision taken by Armenian government in opening its embassy in Tel Aviv and described this move in contradiction with the interests of Palestinian people.
Amir-Abdollahian called the decision adopted by Armenian government in opening its embassy in Tel Aviv ‘surprising’ and added, “undoubtedly, this move is in conflict with the interests of Palestinian people and will leave negative impacts on stability and security of the region.”
He referred to the positions of Islamic countries on the necessity of realization of the rights of Palestinian people and strongly condemned any normalization of ties between Arab and non-Arab countries with the racist Israeli regime.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Amir-Abdollahian pointed to the steps taken by the Israeli regime in annexing the West Bank and called it ‘an aggressive and unjustified act’ that could further exacerbate tension in the region.
He termed friendly relations between Tehran and Yerevan as an important factor in preserving stability and security in the region and added, “it is hoped that Armenian government will revise its decision and adopt necessary steps to help the oppressed people of Palestinian.”
MNA/4879435
By Emilio Luciano Cricchio
On March 9, a protest march opposing violence against women was held, starting from Gyumri’s Vardanants Square, after a brutal murder and beating took place against two women a few days prior.
Members of the "Violence Against Women" coalition and a group of activists from Gyumri, Yerevan, Spitak and Talin took part in the protest.
On Friday 6, a man was arrested in Gyumri under suspicion of beating a 13 year-old girl and murdering her 43 year-old mother.
The 28 year-old man called emergency services eight hours after the beating, by which time the mother was deceased, according to the prosecutor.
The 13-year old girl was taken to Gyumri Medical Center where she received urgent medical attention.
The protest was led and attended mostly by women. Moreover, the marchers protested outside the Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the house of the 43-year-old woman, called “Marine,” where the murder took place.
One of the activists and organizers, Anna Nikoghosyan, stated that the marchers had decided to take their protest to the Prosecutor’s Office to show that they are following the case.
Furthermore, Nikoghosyan said that often prosecutors, judges and other individuals have attempted in the past to justify the murder and not accept the gravity of the issue of femicide.
The girl has now been transported to the intensive care unit of the Surb Astvatsamayr Medical Center in Yerevan. She is still unconscious but according to the medial establishment’s Facebook page, she is able to speak a few words. Moreover, she is now breathing by herself and the ventilator she was using to breathe has been removed.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan visited the girl, identified as Nazeli Khachatryan, who had received surgery due to her injuries and numerous fractures.
Pashinyan said about the case, “We are saddened by the news, but let’s admit that this girl and her mother were also victims of the opinion that violence against women can be justified.”
Nikoghosyan told CivilNet that the protestors "Are sick and tired of the situation regarding femicide in Armenia.”
“Every month we hear about these cases, where women are killed by spouses, ex-husbands, relatives, or any other male. We will continue to fight to eliminate the culture of violence against women,” said Nikoghosyan.
11:16, 2 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Church is not planning to suspend masses yet after the first novel coronavirus (COVID-2019) infection case was confirmed on March 1 in Armenia, the Mother See of Holy Ejmiatsin told ARMENPRESS.
As a precautionary measure, authorities have shut down schools and universities for one week after the first case of the COVID-2019 was confirmed.
In an effort to prevent a possible outbreak, a scheduled commemoration rally for the 2008 unrest victims on March 1 was also cancelled to avoid the mass gathering as a precaution.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
A person voting during Dec. 9 2018 election
BY VICKEN SOSIKIAN
Last week the ruling party in Armenia, led by Nikol Pashinyan, held a fundraising event to benefit the “yes” campaign in support of the unconstitutional and illegal referendum set for April 5. An estimated half million dollars were raised in one night.
The very next day we saw the unveiling of the “yes” campaign logo. Pashinyan’s camp paid $6,000 for the logo that depicts the Armenian word for “yes” in a font that strikingly resembles the letters of the Russian alphabet. The graphic is a direct copy of the logo used to support the 1991 Armenian referendum – an irresponsibly high price paid to copy-paste a design.
Some of the half million dollars raised have also been apparently allocated to the production of a music video encouraging Armenian citizens to vote “yes” on April 5.
The production marks a new low in deceptive campaigning and arguably crosses into unethical electoral messaging.
The central point being made in the clip equates a “yes” vote to a “yes” to the revolution, a “yes” to justice and a “yes” to freedom. Other than the singer, the music video focuses exclusively on Pashinyan.
There is not a single mention of what the “yes” vote is really about – changing Article 213 of the Armenian Constitution, to oust seven of the sitting constitutional court justices and secure their replacement by Pashinyan’s camp.
The “yes” camp is framing the referendum as a vote for justice, freedom and the ideals of 2018 people’s movement, while in reality the situation is the exact opposite.
Should they secure the needed 648,000 “yes” votes on April 5, the Pashinyan camp will control all three branches of the Armenian state – yet another violation of the Armenian Constitution and a dangerous blow to the democratic progresses made in the country.
All this for a referendum bull-dozed through in violation of the Constitution (articles 168, 169), the Constitutional Law Regarding Referendums (Article 8, Part 2) and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly (Article 86).
To add insult to injury, the referendum will cost $7 million to taxpayers.
This is definitely not what Armenians the world over took to the street to accomplish in the spring of 2018.
Every Armenian who believes in the ideals of democracy, understands the importance of balancing power and wishes to see an Armenia where the rule of law prevails, must raise a red flag now.
This is a classic case of “speak up now or forever hold your peace…” or more accurately, “speak up now or forever pay the price.”