Category: 2020

 13:09,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Police Chief Arman Sargsyan had a video talk on April 27 with Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, the Police told Armenpress.

The EU Ambassador congratulated Arman Sargsyan on appointment as Police Chief of Armenia and highlighted the strategy of police reforms adopted recently by the Armenian government.

Mrs. Ambassador also talked about the key mission of Armenian doctors and police officers in fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, adding that she is impressed with their work.

Police Chief Arman Sargsyan thanked for the warm words and appreciation and stated that the police officers are fulfilling their main functions with an honor, such as preventing and revealing crimes, in line with the anti-coronavirus efforts. He touched upon the close cooperation between the Police and the EU.

Andrea Wiktorin wished success to the Police reforms and expressed readiness to assist.

In turn the Police Chief of Armenia also thanked for the productive cooperation.

The sides discussed also the future cooperation directions and issues of mutual interest.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:06,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The number of coronavirus cases in Russia has risen by 6,411 over the past 24 hours reaching 93,558 in all regions of the country, TASS reports citing the data provided by the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

“A total of 93,558 coronavirus cases (+7.4%) have been recorded in Russia’s 85 regions. Over the past day, 1,110 people have been discharged from hospitals, the total number of recoveries is 8,456. Seventy-two coronavirus patients have died over the past 24 hours, with the death toll climbing to 867”, the crisis center said.

It noted that 2,609 new patients (40.7%) had no symptoms.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19. 

According to the data of the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in more than 210 countries and territories.

 13:20,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan urges to get used to living a normal life under the conditions of the novel coronavirus.

Speaking live on Facebook, the PM said the coronavirus crisis may last long.

“Who now can say how long this state of emergency or the regime of this state of emergency may last. Our calculations show that we will be in this coronavirus crisis up to March of the next year. Everyone get prepared that coronavirus will still exist until next March. If we do not get used to living a normal life under the conditions of coronavirus, paying the utility bills, we will have a collapse”, he said.

He added that it is necessary to return to normal life step by step.

Earlier today Pashinyan stated that the current coronavirus-related restrictions across the country will be reduced in the next 10 days.

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Armenia’s government on March 16 declared a state of emergency which was effective until April 14. But the state of emergency was extended until May 14 to further tackle the disease.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:38,

Taking into account the fact that coronavirus infection is especially dangerous for the seniors, pensioners no longer have to visit the Bank to receive their pension cards.

The cards are delivered free of chargein the whole territory of Armenia and are handed over to the cardholders observing all the safety standards and the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

During the delivery, all the information security standards are observed as well: the cardsare delivered in sealed envelopes, with card activation guides. Our dear retired customers only need to have passports with them.

It should be reminded that the Bank, in line with the instructions of the Commandant, serves the elderly people over 60 out of turnthroughout the day, and especially from 10:00 to 12:00, in order not to endanger their health.

Taking care of all customers, the Bank advises to carry out banking transactions remotely through IDBanking.am (IDBankand Idram joint platform), Idram application, and to use IDBanking 24/7spots for cash transactions.

Let’s help the elderly to use remote banking service!

Download the Idram app here.

Preform a quick  to utilize all the benefits of the platform.

Be healthy!

 13:54,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian team of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019) got an international recognition thanks to the high organizational work and is planning to hold its second massive technological conference in Moscow, the WCIT 2019 Yerevan organizational team said in a statement.

“WCIT 2019 Yerevan – a special moment for Armenia, an opportunity that focused the world’s attention on the long and enduring tradition of innovation and achievement by Armenia and Armenians everywhere.

WCIT 2019 Yerevan was a genuinely consequential and memorable technology conference that made a statement with a scope of its intellectual ambition, the quality of its substance, and mastery of its execution. This became possible with a great team of professionals behind, a true spirit, and a conviction of the mission but most of all, with the enormous efforts and input of Alexander Yesayan, the Chairman of WCIT 2019 Yerevan organizing committee, president of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises of Armenia (UATE) and co-founder of UCom. As a result Armenia set a new standard for technology conferences worldwide”, the statement said.

The Armenian team of WCIT is now in the discussion stage with the city of Moscow to plan and execute its second massive technological conference. More updates will be available soon.

The WCIT 2019 was held in Yerevan, Armenian from October 7 to 9. More than 2500 people from 70 countries attend the Congress.

 14:58,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. According to the latest data, the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran has increased by 1,112, bringing the total number of cases to 92,584, the Armenian Embassy in Iran said.

71 more deaths have been registered in the past one day. The death toll has reached 5,877.

2,983 coronavirus infected patients are in serious condition.

The number of recovered people increased by 1,506, raising the total number of recoveries to 72,439.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:45,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Dental Clinics in Armenia can already resume operations based on the guideline approved by the January 31, 2020 decree of the ministry of healthcare, the ministry said in a statement.

On the sidelines of the anti-coronavirus measures Armenia’s healthcare ministry has developed a guideline for prevention of the novel coronavirus and organization of safe work in dental clinics in the form of a poster which will be provided to dentists and will be installed in dental clinics.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:05,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. During today’s session the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia made a decision to reduce the refinancing rate by 0.25%, setting it at 5.0%, the CBA told Armenpress.

In March 2020 0.5% inflation was registered in the Republic, compared to the 0.1% inflation in March 2019. In such circumstances the 12-month deflation was cut and comprised 0.1%.

The spread of the novel coronavirus and the healthcare measures for its prevention greatly and negatively affect the global economy, including the economic growth of Armenia’s partner countries, as well as have increased the fluctuation of raw material and food prices. Although the fluctuation of financial markets mitigated with the joint efforts of the central banks of leading countries, uncertainties and risks still remain at a high level. It’s estimated that this process will have a deflationary impact on Armenia’s economy.

Due to the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic, economic activity in almost all spheres of the economy was declined in March 2020 compared to March 2019. According to the Bank’s forecasts, the decline in economic activity will deepen in the second quarter conditioned by the decline in both the demand and the supply. It’s estimated that the gross demand will also remain weak in the future, but it will be somehow mitigated by the anti-crisis measures taken by the Government of Armenia. At the same time, the uncertainties over the timeframe of overcoming the disease and the restoration of the economy have also grown, and after their minimization only it would be possible to assess more long-term changes of the structure and prospects of the Armenian economy.

Taking into account the ongoing and predicted foreign and domestic developments, the weakening demand, the current low inflationary environment and the stabilization of financial markets, the CBA Board finds it appropriate to increase the amount of promoting the monetary-credit terms, by reducing the refinancing rate.

Currently, uncertainties over short-term and long-term economic developments are quite high, which the Bank is also trying to take into account in its actions. In case of any risks the Bank is ready to clarify its policy respectively by ensuring the price stability in the medium-run. 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 16:41,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. People’s Artist of Armenia, Composer Vladilen Balyan will be bestowed with the title of Honorary Citizen of Yerevan on his 96^th anniversary of birth for the great contribution and productive activity in the field of music art, development of culture in Yerevan.

The respective decision was approved unanimously today at the session of the Yerevan City Council.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 17:30,

YEREVAN, 28 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 28 April, USD exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 479.63 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.54 drams to 521.74 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 6.49 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.90 drams to 599.11 drams.

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

Gold price down by 11.89 drams to 26445.32 drams. Silver price down by 1.67 drams to 234.47 drams. Platinum price up by 16.64 drams to 11781.23 drams.