Author: Kanayan Tamar

CIVILNET.COVID-19: What is the Situation in Europe and Armenia?

Kanayan Tamar
CIVILNET.AM

April 9, 2020 12:07 p.m 

By Ani Paitjan

In a statement to the press on April 8, Dr. Hans P. Kluge, World Health Organization (WHO) Director for Europe, said that Europe remains at the center of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Dr. Kluge, overall new cases continue to increase in Europe. 

“The total number of laboratory confirmed cases was 687,236, including 52,824 people who have sadly passed away as of April 8,” he said. 

These data are from 53 countries and seven territories, including Armenia.

The concerning fact for the WHO director is that, worldwide, seven of the top ten countries most affected are located in the European continent, including Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Switzerland. 

According to WHO, Armenia is ranked 32 out of 53 in terms of total number of infected cases, while Spain and Italy are in the first and second place with 140,510 and 135,586 cases respectively.

In terms of restrictions imposed by European governments to limit the spread of the virus, Dr. Kluge notes two main trends. 

  1. Following the combination of public health and clinical interventions put in place, some of the countries with community transmission are starting to show signs of a decline in the rate of increase of new cases.
  2. Other countries are experiencing a rapid increase in cases or fresh surges. 

Dr. Kluge stated that they were alarmed for Armenia’s neighbour, Turkey. The country has seen a dramatic increase in virus spread over the last week with 60 percent of cases coming from Istanbul.

Profile of people infected by COVID-19

“We now know that the virus behaves in the same way in Europe and in China – so we are also learning more about how it can be controlled”, noted Dr. P. Kluge. 

Infection occurs across all ages, although proportionally less in children under the age of 15. But the burden of severe disease is greater in older people, particularly men, and those with underlying chronic conditions.

“Among those who have sadly lost their lives, two thirds are male, and 95% are over the age of 60. Most of these individuals had one or a combination of underlying conditions: cardiovascular disease (66%), diabetes (29%) and renal disease (21%), ” said Dr. P. Kluge

In Armenia, 10 people have died from COVID-19 as of April 9, most of them over 60 years old with pre-existing conditions.
 

Newspaper: Armenia authorities seeking ways out of "deadlock" on Constitutional Court

Kanayan Tamar
News.am, Armenia
April 8 2020

09:27, 08.04.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – Past daily of Armenia writes. According to Past’s sources, the issue of dismissal of 7 judges of the CC [Constitutional Court] remains on the political agenda of the authorities; it is even more priority than overcoming the current and expected crises.

In particular, it is envisaged to make decisions in that direction based on the situation, using the mechanisms that do not prevent the Constitution. According to the newspaper’s information, the most preliminary option for the settlement of the issue is currently being discussed; namely, resolving the issue in the parliament by voting because it is not clear how long this situation will continue.

By the way, an attempt is already being gradually made to put forward the thesis that “the people have given a mandate to the ruling force,” and [therefore] the ruling [parliamentary] faction, as if, has to solve the issue in the parliament very quickly.

Aurora donates $120,000 to Armenia’s Covid-19 efforts

Kanayan Tamar
PanArmenian, Armenia
April 7 2020

April 7, 2020 – 14:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The #AraratChallenge movement launched by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has made a $120,000 donation to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia to buy lung ventilation devices.

“This is truly an outstanding act of support and humanity on behalf of Aurora. As soon as the pandemic broke out, all healthcare systems in the world including Armenia were forced to mobilize quickly and use whatever resources they had to make sure people get access to treatment in a timely manner,” said Arsen Torosyan, Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia.

“Our nation’s response to the health crisis has been adequate. However, the importance of proper equipment could not be overemphasized, and we are very grateful to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative””

Earlier, the Initiative has released a statement reflecting its concern with the current outbreak of COVID-19 and detailing Aurora’s intention to help fight the pandemic and assist the world in dealing with this crisis. To that end, the Initiative has pledged to direct part of the funds raised with the #AraratChallenge campaign to support Armenian health professionals on the front lines with ten lung ventilation devices. Based on the donation agreement, at least one of the acquired devices will be transferred to one of the hospitals in Artsakh.

Armenia COVID-19: More positive tests bring active cases to 499

Kanayan Tamar

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 13:33, 31 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. 50 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Armenia in one day, bringing the total cumulative number to 532, healthcare ministry spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan said on social media.

She said that 23 of the cases were quarantined, and 24 are direct contacts of earlier cases. The contacts of the remaining three cases are being traced, she said.

As of 13:00 GMT+4, March 31, the total cumulative number of the novel coronavirus infections in Armenia is 532. With 30 recoveries and 3 fatalities, the number of active cases is 499.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Serzh Sargsyan visits Yerablur pantheon

Kanayan Tamar
Panorama, Armenia
April 2 2020

Politics 20:14 02/04/2020Armenia

On the fourth anniversary of the April War of 2016, Armenia’s former president Serzh Sargsyan visited Yerablur Military Pantheon on Thursday and paid tribute to the memory of those who fell during the April military aggression launched by Azerbaijan as well as the heroes of the Artsakh liberation war.

The press office of the third president reports that Sargsyan also laid flowers at the tomb of Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan, Commander Andranik Ozanyan and at the Memorial to Perished Freedom-Fighters.

Armenpress: Armenian government wants to use location data to manage coronavirus

Kanayan Tamar

Armenian government wants to use location data to manage coronavirus

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 11:53,

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliament is debating a government-backed bill envisaging amendments to the law on personal information that would give the authorities tools for surveillance and tracking of direct contacts of confirmed coronavirus cases using cellphone location data.

Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan told lawmakers that this surveillance method will only be used during a pandemic-related state of emergency and will be enforced exclusively as long as the state of emergency is imposed.

He said the interference into the personal data will be “limited”.

Badasyan said the new surveillance method will give the authorities tactical means to rapidly trace direct contacts of coronavirus patients.

He emphasized that the content of phone calls or messages will not be accessible to the authorities. As a precaution, the law also envisages criminal liability for hypothetical illegal use of the PI.

The law also envisages introducing electronic communication means and applications for monitoring information on a person’s health, self-quarantine and to implement certain supervision.

He said they have studied international experience in developing the law.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




COVID-19: All suspected cases among Armenia’s prisoners test negative

Kanayan Tamar

COVID-19: All suspected cases among Armenia’s prisoners test negative

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 13:24,

YEREVAN, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS. No coronavirus case has been detected among prisoners in Armenia’s correctional facilities, all test results were negative, Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan said in the Parliament on March 25.

“All tests conducted in correctional facilities were negative. Up to now, no coronavirus case has been confirmed among prisoners, all suspected cases were tested”, the Minister said.

Number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Armenia has reached 265.

On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight the spread of COVID-19. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, 17:00.

Starting March 24, 23:59, the free movement of people is also restricted across Armenia until March 31, 23:59.

So far, 16 patients have recovered.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Artsakh reports over 250 Azerbaijani ceasefire violations over past week

Kanayan Tamar
Panorama, Armenia

The Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire along the Artsakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact over 250 times in the past week.

In the period from March 15 to 21, the adversary fired around 1,900 shots towards the Armenian defense positions from firearms of different calibres, the Artsakh Defense Ministry told Panorama.am.

The Defense Army’s frontline troops fully control the situation on the frontline, and continue confidently fulfilling their combat tasks.

Travel: Start dreaming of and planning a trip to Armenia and Georgia – The Daily Mail

Kanayan Tamar
Public Radio of Armenia
 
 
Start dreaming of and planning a trip to Armenia and Georgia – The Daily Mail
 
Britons have been advised against all non-essential travel overseas for a period of 30 days, meaning it’s time to give up thinking about travelling abroad at all for a while.
 
However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t time to plan the perfect trip you’ve always dreamed of, T.D. Isacke writes in an article for The Daily Mail.
 
“These days of self-isolation and social distancing could turn out to be ideal for masterminding a big adventure. So why not put your feet up, start dreaming — and planning too,” the author writes
 
First, the article recommends planning a trip to Georgia and Armenia.  
 
“Georgia is hidden away in the high mountains of the Caucasus with remote villages, monasteries, ancient churches and the lively capital of Tbilisi. The tour continues to Yerevan, Armenia’s intriguing capital, moving onwards into rugged countryside with medieval castles before stopping at Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin,” the author notes.
 
Other options worth thinking about include a trip from Peru’s capital Lima to La Paz, a journey around Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, wildlife cruise along the northern coastlines of Norwegian island Spitsbergen, self-isolation on the Fanjove Private Island off the coast of Tanzania, a trip around the Dodecanese beginning in Bodrum and ending in Marmaris, a four-night stay in Jamaica, hiking in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains and a visit to Victoria Falls.

Asbarez: Glendale Declares Local State of Emergency

Kanayan Tamar

City of Glendale logo

City of Glendale Issues Emergency Order for Temporary Business Closures to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

GLENDALE—The City of Glendale issued a local emergency proclamation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to a number of measures already in place across the City to protect members of the public from risk of contracting the virus. Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a news release that confirms two cases of COVID-19 in the City of Glendale. Our precautions over the past weeks and what we do over the next few days and weeks will determine how well we weather this emergency.

Following the emergency proclamation, the City’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated. In addition to declaring a local emergency, effective March 17, the City of Glendale issued a supplement to the local emergency proclamation that orders temporary business closures to slow the spread of COVID-19. These include:

  • All bars, banquet halls, and nightclubs in the City of Glendale that do not serve food shall be closed to the public.
  • Any bars, banquet halls, or nightclubs in the City of Glendale that serve food may remain open only for purposes of continuing to prepare and offer food to customers via delivery service or to be picked up. Dine-in food service is prohibited.
  • All restaurants and retail food facilities in the City of Glendale shall be prohibited from serving food for consumption on premises. Restaurants and retail food facilities may continue to operate for purposes of preparing and offering food to customers via delivery service, to be picked up or for drive-thru. For those establishments offering food pick-up options, proprietors are directed to establish social distancing practices for those patrons in the queue for pick-up.
  • All movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys, arcades, and similar entertainment establishments shall be closed to the public.
  • All gyms and fitness centers shall be closed to the public.
  • The following are exempt from this Order:
    • Cafeterias, commissaries, and restaurants located within hospitals, nursing homes, or similar facilities;
    • Grocery stores;
    • Pharmacies;
    • Food banks; and
    • Farmer’s Markets that do not provide for sit down dining and don’t have spaces that are likely to confine 50 people or more in a single space.
  • Trucks and other vehicles engaged in the delivery of grocery items to grocery stores, when such items are to be made available for sale to the public, are hereby exempt from having to comply with any City rules and regulations that limit the hours for such deliveries.

These local orders follow the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health’s order today for all 88 cities and unincorporated communities throughout Los Angeles County, to include Glendale.