Two more COVID19 infected people died in Yerevan today. The Minister of Health of Armenia Arsen Torosyan wrote about the deaths of the two people at 3 A.M 29th March, saying one of the persons was a 55 years old woman and the other person was a 73 years old man. Both patients had chronic diseases which made it impossible for doctors to save their lives. The number of infected is increasing day by day and reached 407 as of late night 28th of March despite the strict and unprecedented measures conducted by the government to contain the spread of COVID19 in Armenia. Prime Minister Pashinyan spoke to the people late night 28th of March saying, that the number of infected people is rising but the situation is still manageable.
On March 23, the parliament of the country unanimously approved a new law criminalizing the violation of the regime of quarantine and other charges and penalties to contain the spread of the COVID 19 virus in Armenia.
The Armenian government announced a nationwide lockdown from March 25. Citizens can leave their homes only in case of vital necessity and must fill in a special form explaining why they have left home each time when going out. The police have strengthened control over the regime of the state of emergency in the country and is ordered to stop people in the streets to check their IDs and forms. If they do not have the filled form and ID, citizens will face a penalty of $200-400 and/or be taken to the police station. There are more and stricter charges in case of violating the quarantine regime by people positively tested for COVID-19, which can infect others.
The government task force enforcing a coronavirus-related state of emergency in Armenia announced a de facto partial closure of virtually all state agencies from March 25. It said only a limited number of their employees will be allowed to go to work.
Most of the institutions and offices in the country are closed or working remotely. Groceries, pharmacies, and banks remain open. The government has issued a list in which branches of economy or business can work. Others, such as bars, restaurants, malls and other businesses, are temporarily suspended. Restaurants, however, can deliver their food.
However, there is good news as 30 people have recovered already.
By Karen Tovmasyan