Category: 2020

120 coronavirus tests carried out in Armenia, 1 is positive

Andranik Taslakhchian
News.am, Armenia
March 2 2020

March 2, 2020  17:59

Work on fighting new coronavirus continues in Armenia, the country’s health ministry reported.

And 120 studies have already been conducted with one positive result.

The new coronavirus infection treatment algorithm and standard case definitions have been updated, according to WHO’s new approaches. Medical staff preparedness measures are being implemented to ensure the fight against the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Armenian medical organizations.

Specialists from ministry are in constant contact with WTO and regional partners to discuss the capabilities to combat infection.

Armenians quarantined in 5-star hotel will have access to Internet

Anna Tamamian
PanArmenian, Armenia
March 2 2020
March 2, 2020 – 11:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The water heating system at a five star hotel where 32 Armenians are kept in quarantine has been renovated, according to Health Minister Arsen Torosyan.

Three dozen people were isolated in the hotel in the town of Tsaghkadzor after a man was confirmed to have contracted coronavirus after arriving in the country from Iran.

Those in quarantine will also have access to the Internet, Torosyan revealed.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had earlier said that all of them will be provided with everything they need, including food.

Armenia reported its first case of coronavirus on Sunday, March 1 morning, in a citizen returning from Iran. The 29-year-old man went to a doctor because he was not feeling well, just days after arriving in the country on February 28.

Authorities have thus isolated those who had been in close contact with the man, including his wife.

Armenian PM urges citizens to reconsider travel to Italy, Turkey

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
March 2 2020

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan summed up the outcomes of an extended meeting of Armenia’s coronavirus task force on Monday.

First, he urged Armenian citizens to reduce travel to Italy and Turkey as much as possible.

“In general, the Ministry of Health and the government are taking all necessary and available measures, but the most important conclusion of both experts and our discussion today is that the most reliable way to prevent the spread of coronavirus is every person’s self-responsibility,” the premier said.

Pashinyan urges all citizens to follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, to observe the rules of personal hygiene and seek medical care in the event of experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

“Naturally, the number of people raising alarms has increased in recent days, but, fortunately, no new cases of coronavirus infection has been confirmed,” he said.

Commenting on the possible restrictions on air travel with other countries, the prime minister said that communication in all directions cannot be stopped. 

“We are doing more intensive work concerning the most affected places,” Pashinyan said.

Italy reported a 50% increase in coronavirus cases Sunday. Italy’s Civil Protection Authority reported the country now has 1,694 confirmed coronavirus cases, up from 1,128 confirmed cases on Saturday. 34 people have died.

Reporter sues Armenian politician for offensive remarks

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia
March 2 2020

Reporter Taguhi Aslanyan has filed a lawsuit against Chairman of the Armenian Public Council Styopa Safaryan for offensive remarks.

The journalist demands that the politician make an apology and provide compensation for non-pecuniary damage.

The case has been assigned to judge Zaruhi Nakhshkaryan.

The initial court hearing in the case is scheduled for March 1.

The journalist’s legal representative in court is lawyer Lusine Virabyan.

The move comes after the Public Council chairman restricted the access of some reporters to an event.

When the reporters of the media outlets not invited to the meeting did show up to the event, started asking him questions and invited him to their editorial offices for an interview, Safaryan responded angrily: “Work hard to improve yourself. We have invited only the professional [reporters]. Don’t send me invitations neither to saunas nor to your places or homes. You are not my wife to invite me to a place, only my wife can invite me to somewhere.”

Armenia official: Amount of sugar is so high that it will last more than a year

Chakhmakhchian Vatche
News.am, Armenia
March 2 2020

14:08, 02.03.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – After the report on the case of coronavirus infection in Armenia, people in the country bought a lot of disinfectants, and yesterday there was a problem in that regard; but today the problem is already eliminated. Gegham Gevorgyan, Chairman of the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC), said this at a press conference today.

“Moreover, there is a manufacturing (…) company in Armenia that is now upgrading its equipment, and they will be able to enter it to the local market within the next two days,” Gevorgyan added. “We also have a (…) local production of disinfectants; no one has raised the price in this market either.”

He also referred to the fact that people in Armenia had made panicky shopping in some stores. “There is no need for it,” the SCPEC chief assured. “For example, the amount of sugar is so high [in Armenia] that it will last more than a year; there are stored, too. The same can be said about flour. There is no need for such amount of unnecessary purchases.”

Chances of postponing Armenia constitutional referendum campaign depends on situation, MP says

Nahapetian Zhanna
News.am, Armenia
March 2 2020

15:17, 02.03.2020

YEREVAN. – There are no masks in Armenia’s pharmacies because of some panic. Narek Zeynalyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health Care and Social Affairs, stated this in a conversation with journalists today in parliament.

According to him, the situation in Armenia regarding the coronavirus should be taken quite seriously, but the resultant panic in the country is more serious and may have wrong consequences.

Asked if the possibility of postponing the constitutional referendum campaign is being discussed, as this campaign envisages mass events, Zeynalyan responded: “It depends on a change in the situation as what changes we will have within this week.”

He added that now steps are being taken in connection with the campaign. “The situation is under control with regard to the coronavirus,” he added, in particular.

Protest staged outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
March 2 2020

13:42, 02.03.2020

YEREVAN. – A group of citizens are protesting outside the Russian Embassy in Armenia, and they are demanding a fair trial in last year’s murder of Russian former special detachment member Nikita Belyankin, in Moscow region. Nine Armenians are charged in this case.

According to preliminary investigation, on the evening of June 1, 2019, Belyankin, while walking with his girlfriend, saw two groups of people fighting with each other near a beer pub, and he decided to intervene. He fired several warning shots from a gas pistol, but he was stabbed in the heart.

Russian citizens of Armenian origin Sergey Khojoyan and Suren Markosyan, as well as Armenian citizens Narek Stepanyan and Sahak Sahakyan were arrested along the lines of the criminal case that was opened into this incident. Khojoyan is charged with murder, while the other three—with hooliganism. But none of them pleads guilty.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, for his part, had said the death of Nikita Belyakin was a great tragedy. But at the same time, he had emphasized that criminals have no nationality, and this case should not affect Armenian-Russian relations.

People isolated in Tsakhkadzor ensured with everything including food: Armenia’s PM

Emil Lazarian
Aysor, Armenia
March 2 2020

The Armenians isolated in Tsakhkadzor’s Golden Palace hotel are ensured with everything, including the food, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on Facebook.

“Their contact with the world outside is excluded. The security of the staff contacting with them is ensured. There are no other people in the hotel,” he wrote.

“The most important thing is that they have no symptoms,” Pashinyan wrote.

Armenia temporally restores visa regime with Iran to prevent spread of coronavirus in Armenia

Hovhannisian John
Aysor, Armenia
March 2 2020

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced today about extending restrictions on communication with Iran.

At the session of the commission set to prevent spread of coronavirus in Armenia, the head of the government said that taking into account the epidemiological situation in the region a decision has been made to prolong and heighten the restrictions in the direction of the Armenian-Iranian border communication.

“We will begin a process on temporarily restoring visa regime with Iran which will enter into force within five days. We are in permanent contact with our Iranian colleagues, offering our support to the people and government of Iran in overcoming this difficult situation. We will support the friendly government of Iran as much as we can,” the PM said.

Sports: Youth football tournaments in Armenia suspended due to coronavirus

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
March 2 2020

YEREVAN. – The Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) reports that all youth football tournaments under the auspices of the FFA have been suspended until March 10 to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

There will be additional information on the dates of the resumption of these tournaments.

The matches of the Armenian Premier League and the First Division, however, will be held on the scheduled days.