Public Radio of Armenia

March 31 2020

 

 

 

Siranush Ghazanchyan April 1, 2020, 01:16

1 minute read

 

Armenia’s Health Minister Arsen Torosyan has presented an analysis of the pace of spread of coronavirus in different countries.

 

The Minister has shared pictures of curves showing the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases. In different countries the cases have doubled within two to ten days. Armenia is currently at a 7-day rate, which is similar to the scenario observed in Japan.

 

“Now, assuming this rate is maintained, we will have about 1,000 cases on April 7 and 2,000 cases on April 14, and so on. And the task for all of us is to slow that pace so that we first level the number of new cases and recoveries, and then register less new cases than recoveries,” Minister Torosyan explained.  

 

“If the pace is maintained and not set as smooth as in South Korea, we will have to treat patients with little or no symptoms at home, as many countries do, with just no choice. I do not think this is a desirable scenario for us, as the healthcare system will not be able to carry that burden. No health system in any country can bear this burden,” he added.

 

Therefore, he emphasized the importance of staying home and strictly adhering to self-isolation guidelines, at least because of the risk of administrative liability.

 

Arsen Torosyan said that what’s being done by Armenia’s healthcare system is a result of dedicated service of health workers and other agencies.

 

“But ‘we’ cannot break this pace alone, we should do it ‘all together’,” the Minister stated.