Armenia is facing a hard time in handling the growing coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Presenting the fresh figures, the premier said 335 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country, with the national death toll reaching 70.

The PM referred to fake news suggesting the government is giving money to people so that they agree to become coronavirus patients in an effort to allegedly ensure a high number of cases and deaths to get international support.

Stressing that the government has never spread any manipulative information on the matter, Pashinyan stated the situation is “serious beyond imagination".

“We must take strict measures to keep the pandemic under control so that we don’t have to re-impose the most extreme restrictions,” the PM said.

He stressed the need to ensure quarantine conditions without declaring a quarantine. Highlighting the requirement to use face masks and practice social distancing for all citizens, including the government members, Pashinyan called for tighter supervision by police, the Commandant’s Office and relevant inspection bodies.