Category: 2020

 17:30,

YEREVAN, 18 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 18 May, USD exchange rate down by 2.01 drams to 485.88 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.37 drams to 525.04 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 6.67 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 6.48 drams to 588.89 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 53.32 drams to 27108.6 drams. Silver price up by 10.25 drams to 253.85 drams. Platinum price up by 107.23 drams to 11997.24 drams.

 16:38,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan has called on Armenians not to believe conspiracy theories around the COVID-19 pandemic and warned that doing so may result in letting one’s guard down and losing vigilance as the numbers of confirmed cases grow.

“Parallel to the growth of coronavirus disease cases the number of those who believe in conspiracy theories is also growing. This is concerning in terms of people potentially letting down their guard towards the disease. And this in turn means that this can contribute to more cases happening soon,” Torosyan said on social media.

Torosyan said there are many phrases like “We are definitely going to get micro-chips”, “No such disease exists”, “It won’t get us”, “It is an international bluff”, “It is all a lie”, “It’s for getting foreign funding” on social media.

“Such opinions are also widely covered by the press. We don’t want our population to lose vigilance and if this trend continues we will have to report the details of social media users spreading such false and unsubstantiated claims to the law enforcement agencies, first of all to understand who stands behind this and what are their motives on endangering our citizens,” the minister said.

Given the growing number of COVID-19 cases, Torosyan once more asked citizens to be highly vigilant and maintain all safety precautions to slow down the transmission rate.

He also urged citizens to follow official information as a reliable source.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:55, 14 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan has entered self-quarantine after it was revealed that he has come into contact with a direct contact of a coronavirus case, his spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan told ARMENPRESS.

Torosyan has been tested and is awaiting the result.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:18, 14 May, 2020

GAVAR, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. An unknown person or persons have vandalized the home of a resident in Martuni, Armenia who has been tested positive for the coronavirus.

The perpetrators have damaged the outside front gate and sprayed the walls of the house with the words “carriers”, “coronavirus”, and insults.

Martuni Police Department Deputy Commissioner Edik Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS that a father and son who reside at the address are infected with coronavirus and are being treated at a hospital. The perpetrators committed the act of vandalism during the night, after the two residents were taken to a hospital.

Police have launched proceedings over the incident.

Reporting by Khosrov Khlghatyan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:43, 14 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko informed today that the upcoming summit of the leaders of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), scheduled on May 19 in Minsk, will be held in a video conference format.

“I have proposed that issue [the price of the Russian gas] during the EAEU video conference and soon a similar conference will take place”, he said.

The summit must have taken place in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, on May 19, but due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, several countries have closed their borders and applied a quarantine regime.

EAEU member states are Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:26, 14 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Supreme Certifying Committee of Armenia Smbat Gogyan has submitted a resignation letter, he told Armenpress.

“There were contradictions to the values”, Smbat Gogyan said, presenting the reason of his resignation.

He said he will continue his activity in the field of education and science.

Smbat Gogyan was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Certifying Committee on June 12, 2018.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:43, 14 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s minister of territorial administration and infrastructures Suren Papikyan has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, his spokesperson Armine Muradyan told Armenpress.

“The minister passed testing on May 13, and the result was negative. He feels well, just he and some staffers of the ministry are currently self-quarantined because they have contacted the infected people”, the spokesperson said.

Earlier today, at the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, State of Emergency Commandant Tigran Avinyan said that minister Papikyan has been self-quarantined. “Unfortunately, we have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructures, and today Mr. Papikyan is self-quarantined for that reason, therefore, I am reporting the issue”, the deputy PM said.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 3,860, out of which 1,572 patients have already recovered.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:05, 14 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is planning to resume the operation of public transport from May 18, Deputy Prime Minister, State of Emergency Commandant Tigran Avinyan said at a special session in the Parliament convened for discussing the issue of extending the coronavirus-related state of emergency.

“We are planning to completely resume the operation of public transport from May 18. Trade centers, public catering establishments will open and will be able to provide services also in closed spaces”, he said.

The sport clubs, outdoor historical-cultural places will also start operating. The pre-schools will also open.

Avinyan stressed that the mitigations in all restrictions will be accompanied with setting concrete rules of coexistence, and not following these rules will result in respective fines.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:08, 14 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova has returned to work after recovering from the coronavirus, she told TASS.

“Doctors released me and I have returned to work”, she said, adding: “I feel well”. “Fortunately, I had a mild form of the disease”, she noted.

The culture minister received treatment at home.

Media reports said on May 6 that Lyubimova had tested positive for the coronavirus. She began to work from home, holding video conferences and taking part in online meetings and talks.

 16:10, 14 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Wearing face masks outside will become compulsory in Armenia from May 25, Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan said.

“From May 25, it will be compulsory to wear face masks not only in enclosed public areas but also in outdoor public areas”, he said.

The Deputy PM, who is in charge of the Coronavirus Response Task Force, emphasized that people don’t necessarily have to wear 3-ply masks, but can wear homemade ones instead.

Armenia is planning to re-open public transport from May 18.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan