ArmInfo.The Armenian serviceman was injured as a result of provocation of the enemy.
According to press secretary of the Armenian Ministry of Defense Shushan Stepanyan, a contract serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces was injured as a result of a provocation undertaken by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the state border in the direction of Tavush. At the same time, she assured that the injury was slight and the soldier is in good condition.
ArmInfo.There are political forces in Artsakh that speculate even on an issue of the coronavirus pandemic. Presidential candidate from the ” Artsakh Conservative Party “, spokesperson of the NKR President David Babayan stated this in an interview with ArmInfo correspondent.
He noted that the politicization of this issue is unacceptable, since all this can lead to very serious consequences.
The NKR President spokesman said that speculation would otherwise be possible. ” If the authorities of the country decide to postpone the elections, then some political forces may declare that this decision was connected with the desire of the country’s leadership to stay in power longer. Fortunately, such forces in the country are not numerous, but they exist>, Babayan said
It should be noted that parliamentary and presidential elections will be held on March 31 in Artsakh. No cases of coronavirus infection have been detected in the NKR.
13:14, 19 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Cabinet members gave a round of applause today at the Cabinet meeting to all businesses and healthcare workers who are carrying on with their work and service during the novel coronavirus crisis.
“I’d like to once more emphasize the exclusive talent of our businessmen,” PM Pashinyan said, adding that businesses are carrying on with importing goods despite the border shutdowns. “And I would like to thank everyone”, he said.
Pashinyan noted that the healthcare workers are the leading heroes on these days. The PM and ministers gave a round of applause for the businesses and healthcare workers.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Fri 20 Mar 2020 06:53 GMT | 10:53 Local Time
By order of the Minister of Defense, preventive and anti-epidemiological measures against infectious diseases are carried out to prevent diseases and preserve the health of servicemen.
Periodic instructing of medical personnel is held in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
The Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Defense and its subordinate structures are working in an accelerated regime and carrying out activities in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and its relevant structures. Transportable mobile hospitals with a medical team, equipped with the most modern medical equipment are ready for specialized medical aid.
Additional medicaments, prophylactic and disinfectants, including protective masks, have been delivered to military units, and there is also a reserve of them. Antiseptic solutions with alcohol content for individual disinfection were placed at the entrances to the buildings.
The relevant educational work is carried out among the military personnel. Daily thermometry of the servicemen is conducted.
In military units, the process of receiving, storing and food products manufacturing, as well as the technology of cooking, are strictly observed. All military personnel are provided with high-calorie food ration and multivitamins.
In connection with the strengthening of preventive measures at checkpoints, servicemen equipped with protective clothing use a special thermometric device to measure the temperature of incoming people. Disinfection of vehicles is also carried out.
The sixth case of coronavirus infection has been officially confirmed in Armenia already. It is unclear whether the disease will soon be contained or, on the contrary, it will take a new turn. While a more serious issue is whether the Armenian healthcare facilities will be ready to admit coronavirus patients and provide the necessary medical care to them if the disease further spreads.
The Armenian Ministry of Health says that the citizens infected with coronavirus are being treated only at Nork Infection Clinical Hospital. However, if the virus starts to spread, coronavirus patients will be isolated and treated in all hospitals with infectious diseases departments in the country.
Panorama.am tried to find out whether the Armenian provinces have the opportunity to handle possible coronavirus infections.
Shirak Province has an infectious diseases hospital, and at the moment it can house and isolate 75 patients at a time.
Leyli Aslanyan, Head of the Health Division of the Health and Social Security Department at the Shirak Regional Administration, told Panorama.am that the hospital has some of the necessary resources to treat coronavirus patients, adding the hospital the resources are always replenished.
“There is an infectious anti-tuberculosis hospital in Gyumri, and it is now ready to admit, isolate and treat patients. At the moment we are trying to equip this hospital in every possible,” Aslanyan said.
Asked if there are any trained doctors who will be able to serve citizens infected with coronavirus, she said they have received guidelines from the ministry and have submitted them to medical facilities. “We are also holding trainings of doctors based on these guidelines. That is, we are following the instructions of the ministry,” she said.
Nune Gevorgyan, Head of the Health Division of the Health and Social Security Department at the Syunik Regional Administration, told us that all five medical facilities in the region have infectious disease departments.
“The region is fully prepared to isolate and treat patients with coronavirus if needed. Apart from the infectious diseases departments, we have separate buildings in 3 medical centers to serve these patients,” Gevorgyan said, adding that doctors are also properly trained to serve coronavirus patients.
Asked how many beds there are in the hospitals of the province, and how many patients the hospital will be able to house if necessary, Gevorgyan said she cannot not provide such data since there is no right to provide such information of medical importance over the phone. “I can only say that we are completely ready to admit patients should the need arises.”
There is no separate infectious diseases hospital in Kotayk Province, but all hospitals have wards or departments for infectious diseases.
“Four large medical centers have infectious diseases departments. There are 22 staffed beds in these hospitals, but more beds are added during the spread of acute respiratory infections. There has never been a case when a patient is denied treatment due to lack of a bed. Beds are regularly added up. The province has spare beds and can increase the number of beds by up to 50 percent in the infectious diseases department. If we follow this practice, up to 33 beds will be possible to be provided to sick citizens at the same time,” said Ani Chilingaryan, Head of the Health Division of the Health and Social Security Department at Kotayk Regional Administration.
Asked if there are any trained doctors in the province who will be able to provide the necessary medical care to possible coronavirus patients, Chilingaryan said they hold consultations with the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention via Skype every Friday, during which doctors exchange their experience and hold debates. “I don’t think we will face any problems in this regard,” she said.
Speaking to Panorama.am, a source from the Ararat Regional Administration only said that the local hospitals have infectious diseases departments, but refused to make any comments on the number of beds in hospitals, the preparedness of doctors and the available necessary medical supplies, asking us to submit a written inquiry.
Vasil Aslanyan, the acting head of the Health and Social Security Department of Vayots Dzor Province, said that they have a well-equipped regional infectious diseases department located in the town of Vayk.
“We held a Skype consultation with the chief epidemiologist chaired by the governor, presenting the demands and problems of the hospitals, after which we were provided with the appropriate medical clothing – face masks, scrubs, eyeglasses,” said Aslanyan, adding they expect to receive a new batch of clothing soon.
According to him, people arriving in Armenia from Iran who experience coronavirus symptoms are immediately sent to Nork Infection Clinical Hospital where they are tested.
“For example, a week ago an Indian tourist applied to us with symptoms of a virus. We immediately sent him to Nork Infection Clinical Hospital where he tested negative for coronavirus and was discharged from the hospital,” he said.
If a coronavirus epidemic emerges in the country, the infectious diseases department of Vayots Dzor Province will be able to accommodate 80 patients at once.
The regional administrations assure that they are able to treat patients in case of the further spread of coronavirus in the country, but there is no need to panic because the illness is not so serious, and if citizens follow the Health Ministry’s recommendations and the personal hygiene habits, it will be easier to avoid the disease.
The Multicultural Mosaic Foundation (MMF), a Colorado-based nonprofit organization which derives its inspiration from the Turkish Muslim religious leader Fethullah Gulen, voted to recognize the Armenian Genocide on March 7, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator reported.
MMF issued a statement on March 8 explaining the context, as follows: “MMF established a committee three years ago tasked with learning what happened in 1915 to the Armenian citizens of the Ottoman Empire. For the last three years members of this committee have been attending lectures and dialog sessions with scholars of Ottoman history, Armenian history and genocides. Further, committee members engaged in meetings with family members who survived the Armenian Genocide. The study of academic articles, watching documentaries, panel discussions, private discussions were also part of the three-year journey.
“At the end of the three years the committee decided to vote on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The committee of about 20 members voted unanimously in favor of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. This vote was presented to the board as a recommendation to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Mosaic’s board followed the recommendation of the committee and recognized the Armenian Genocide on March 7, 2020.”
MMF was careful to note in its statement that the decision was made by MMF alone and only reflects its own position, as no other affiliated organization or platform participated in its decision-making process. MMF also defined itself as an organization “dedicated to the promotion of understanding, dialog and peace among all cultures and faith traditions.”