Health minister: Asymptomatic coronavirus patients may soon not be hospitalized in Armenia

Panorama, Armenia
April 30 2020

Armenia saw its greatest single-day spike in coronavirus infections, with 134 new cases confirmed on Wednesday, Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan told a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

According to the minister, some of the new cases had close contact with each other. In one case, people were infected with COVID-19 during a funeral ceremony, he said, again urging people to hold small funeral ceremonies.

Presenting the fresh figures, Torosyan said a total of 2,066 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Armenia so far, with 29 new recoveries and 2 more fatalities.

In total, the coronavirus death toll stands at 32 people, he said.

Six coronavirus patients are hooked up to ventilators, 59 are in grave condition, while 17 others are in critical condition, he told the cabinet members.

"Under such a scenario, we will probably shift to a strategy of not hospitalizing asymptomatic patients soon," Torosyan said, adding they will try to delay the launch of the new strategy for 5-6 days.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said further decisions on easing coronavirus restrictions will be made based on the dynamics of the spread of infection.

“At this stage we are following the logic that a number of essential businesses will reopen from 4 May with strict observance of security rules,” he said.   

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS