Category: 2020

 13:17, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. The third annual Armenia-Engineering Week 2020 event is being held online this year from July 6 to 10.

The event has been initiated by Armenia’s ministry of high technological industry, the Enterprise Incubator Foundation and the Engineering Association, the ministry told Armenpress.

Minister of High-tech industry Hakob Arshakyan delivered opening remarks at the event, stating that the Engineering Week has become an expected technological event, and major works are being done to organize and hold it at the highest level.

“I want to mention some indicators about Armenia’s high technology developments. 2019 was a special year as several important events were held in Armenia, the ministry of high-tech industry was established which was a priority for a country like Armenia having such a serious technological development. Nearly 30% growth in turnover was registered in the field which involves more than 1600 people. Companies providing services and numerous products, as well as successful startups are developing in Armenia”, the minister said.

He welcomed the event participants from Armenia, the Diaspora and different countries of the world, wishing an innovative week to all and expressing hope that next year the event will be held in an offline format.

Director of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation Bagrat Yengibaryan said in his remarks that this event is a unique international platform and this year will gather the representatives of various technological enterprises, engineers, scientists, leading experts, students, as well as the representatives of the government and the business.

Director of the Engineering Association Vardan Aleksanyan noted that during these series of events the Armenian engineers this year as well will have an opportunity to demonstrate the solutions created in Armenia. “This is a chance to once again talk about the scientific potential existing in Armenia”, he said.

Armenia-Engineering Week 2020 aims at demonstrating Armenia’s latest achievements in engineering and high technologies.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:44, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will carry out nearly 3000 coronavirus tests daily in three weeks. In addition, it’s also possible to reach the number of these tests 4000 in a day given the number of tests conducted by private laboratories, Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan said at a press conference in Armenpress.

“We already “easily” carry out 2500 tests in a day, which, of course, will increase in the nearest future. And we expect to reach the number of tests nearly 3000 at least in 1-2, or 3 weeks, in line with increasing the capacities, only in our laboratories. But it’s also possible to have 4000 tests daily given the number of tests conducted by private laboratories”, the minister said.

He reminded that testing is just a mean to detect citizens for two reasons: to isolate the mild cases and their direct contacts and treat them. “In terms of treatment I can assure that no one is left out. All citizens who need treatment are being tested. We have a gap more with detecting the asymptomatic cases, which, however, will be filled in line with increasing our capacities”, he said.

As for the difficulties, the minister of healthcare said they are different starting from human resources. PCR testing is a complex process, is a science, not just a mechanical action and requires highly-qualified specialists, at the moment there are just no free such specialists. The state is preparing most of these specialists from the so-called zero.

Torosyan informed that 4 new laboratories will also be added to the testing process in Ijevan, Martuni, the St. Gregory the Illuminator and the Arabkir hospitals.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:20, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. The trial of former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and other ex-officials over the 2008 March 1 case kicked off today.

The ex-President is attending the court hearing.

The previous hearing was postponed for technical reasons.

Earlier the court approved the appeal of Kocharyan’s attorneys, and the 2nd President was released from jail on a 2 billion AMD bail.

The case also includes former defense minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan, former chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov and former chief of staff of the Presidential administration Armen Gevorgyan.

Robert Kocharyan has been charged with overthrowing Constitutional order during 2008 March 1-2 events in Yerevan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:00, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government plans to extend the state of emergency, but it also thinks about having a legal regime on keeping the same rules after lifting it, Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan said at a press conference in Armenpress, asked whether he sees a necessity of extending the coronavirus-related state of emergency.

“I personally see its necessity. The Prime Minister has already announced that the state of emergency will be most likely extended. But we also think of having a legal regime to keep the same rules out of the state of emergency. In other words, if the state of emergency is lifted, we should have a chance to legally force our people to keep the rules, that is to wear a face mask, keep the social distance, as well as other regulations for economic entities and responsibility measures”, Torosyan said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:22, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. A Spanish study has cast doubt on the feasibility of herd immunity as a way of tackling the coronavirus pandemic, reports BBC.

The study of more than 60,000 people estimates that around just 5% of the Spanish population has developed antibodies, the medical journal the Lancet reported.

Herd immunity is achieved when enough people become infected with a virus to stop its spread.

Around 70% to 90% of a population needs to be immune to protect the uninfected.

 14:24, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan received today US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy, the ministry told Armenpress.

During the meeting the sides discussed issues relating to the Armenian-American bilateral cooperation in the defense field. The meeting participants also summed upon the measures taken in the past, as well as observed the opportunities of implementing cooperation projects under the coronavirus-related restrictions. They also discussed Armenia’s constant participation to the international peacekeeping and stability missions.

The defense minister introduced the preventive measures taken in the Armed Forces against COVID-19.

The US Ambassador said she is happy to meet with the defense minister and discuss issues relating to the mutual interests and concerns of the US and Armenia.

The meeting participants also exchanged views on the regional security and other issues of mutual interest.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:36, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. The Little Singers of Armenia joined the anti-coronavirus fight with the song “Sing and COVID will go”.

The video clip of the song is already available on YouTube.

The choir said on Facebook that the rehearsals are now prohibited, for that purpose the choir recorded the song “Sing” by the Pentatonics band individually, later combining it with sound equipment.

“The lyrics of the song were changed and renamed “Sing and COVID will go”, thus joining the fight against COVID-19. The video has been recorded and edited by kids”, the choir said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 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

 15:03, 7 July, 2020

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited today the Kalashnikov manufacturing plant in Yerevan.

Accompanied by the company representatives, the Armenian PM toured the manufacturing plant and got acquainted with the production. He also talked to the workers during the tour.

Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan accompanied the PM.

A company producing Russian AK-103 Kalashnikov assault rifles started operating in Armenia in early July.

The company has been formed based on the cooperation contract signed between Neytron GAM CJSC and the Russian Kalashnikov Concern on May 15, 2020 for a 10-year term.

At the initial stage, the military-industrial plant will assemble AK103 rifles. The details will be delivered from Russia.

At the second stage the production of simple details will launch, again with the Russian technologies.

The rifles will soon be supplied to the Armenian Armed Forces. In the future the products will also be exported.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:06, 7 July, 2020

STEPANAKERT, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan received today Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia Arthur Davtyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpres.

Issues relating to the mutual cooperation between the relevant structures of the two Armenian republics were on the discussion agenda.

The Prosecutor General of Armenia noted in his speech that they were impressed by the proper work of their Artsakh counterparts carried out in the direction of electoral violations registered during the recent national elections in Artsakh.

Artsakh Republic Prosecutor General Mher Aghajanyan attended the meeting.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan