COVID-19: Armenia confirms 612 new cases in past 24 hours

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 11:07, 12 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. 612 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been registered in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 15,281, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

173 more patients have recovered and were discharged from hospital. The total number of recoveries has reached 5,639.

13 people have died in one day, raising the death toll to 258.

The number of active cases stands at 9,298.

The number of people who had a coronavirus but died from other disease has increased by 4. The total number of these cases has reached 86.

So far, 77,686 people have passed COVID-19 testing.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia holds working discussion on gas tariffs

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 15:31, 4 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia is discussing with the concerned sides the applications on revising the tariffs of gas.

Two companies – Gazprom Armenia CJSC and Transgaz LLC, conduct a licensed activity in Armenia’s gas supply system. Gazprom Armenia CJSC conducts the import of the natural gas, the operative technological regulation of the system, the distribution and sale of the natural gas to the consumers. Whereas, Trasngaz LLC carries out the natural gas transportation and operation of gas storage facilities.

The applications on revising the gas tariffs were submitted by these two companies on April 1 and were examined by the staff of the Public Services Regulatory Commission. The Commission proposed to keep unchanged the current gas tariffs both for the population and the socially needy families. In particular, Gazprom Armenia proposed to set the tariff both for the population and those families at 135,909.6 drams for thousand cubic meters. But this in case when currently the gas tariff for socially needy families is 100,000 AMD, and that for the population is 139,000 AMD. The Commission proposed to keep unchanged the current tariffs.

 

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

New Armenian school set to open in Valence, France, in September 2020

Public Radio of Armenia
June 6 2020

Coronavirus: Armenia reports 13-fold increase in cases in two months

Panorama, Armenia
June 2 2020

The epidemic situation in Armenian remains dire, the Head of Armenia’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention Artavazd Vanyan stated on Tuesday.

“We had threefold increase in coronavirus cases in April to compare with March, while in May the cases soar 13-fold in two months. That is to say after lifting the restrictions, large public gatherings followed,” Vanyan said at a briefing following the regular meeting at the Commandant’s Office.

The Head of the Center called once again on the public to maintain safety measures and avoid organizing and attending public events.

“If we fail to limit our interactions, the negative dynamics will continue. It is especially recommended to refrain from attending memorial ceremonies and funeral. Another problem remains people’s gatherings in the their yards in the evenings,” said Vanyan.

Vanyan also warned against pilgrimages which may result in uncontrolled spread of the virus. 

Armenpress: Anoush Pogossian of Glendale awarded 2020 US Presidential Scholars in the Arts

Anoush Pogossian of Glendale awarded 2020 US Presidential Scholars in the Arts

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 11:26,

YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenian-American clarinetist Anoush Pogossian, 17, of Glendale (Verdugo Academy) has been awarded the 2020 US Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

“National YoungArts Foundation congratulates the 56th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, with special acknowledgment to the 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts (full list below) who are YoungArts award winners and were nominated for the honor by YoungArts”, the National YoungArts Foundation said.

The United States Presidential Scholars Program is described as "one of the Nation's highest honors for students" in the United States of America.  

“It is my privilege to congratulate the Presidential Scholars Class of 2020 on their outstanding academic achievement, community service, and leadership,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “These exemplary young people have excelled inside the classroom and out. And, while they are facing unprecedented challenges as they graduate from high school into a world that looks much different than it did just a few months ago, their determination, resilience, and commitment to excellence will serve them well as they pursue their next steps.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Asbarez: AESA to Partner With Hero House Glendale, Winner of Glendale Start-Up Tech Accelerator


Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America

GLENDALE—On Tuesday, May 19, the Glendale City Council voted to contract with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (KidsX Digital Health Accelerator) and Hero House Glendale for the Start-Up Tech Accelerator in Glendale. The Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA) has partnered up with Hero House Glendale, a rising star in the tech accelerator scene, to implement various scientific and technical activities and programs for the local community.

“AESA has formed a strategic alliance with Hero House to transform Glendale into a STEM hub incorporating AESA’s resources and network. This alliance is in line with AESA’s mission of enabling the Armenian STEM community to address global challenges through innovative solutions,” said Richard Ohanian, president of AESA.

AESA has established various programs for the local community and Armenia. These include an annual Science Olympiad aimed to attract youth to careers in science and technology, a Science and Tech Expo and STEM Conference, scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students, free monthly lectures, and networking and mentorship opportunities. With this partnership, AESA will work with Hero House Glendale to stimulate more interest in science and technology and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and STEM professionals to address problems of world-wide importance.

As part of Glendale Tech Strategy, the City of Glendale has worked diligently to develop the accelerator program to further help the city’s start-up culture grow, and to promote a science and technology ecosystem in a city that already has numerous successful tech start-ups such as ServiceTitan and DISQO. The efforts led by the Glendale City to grow and expand its tech culture has made a big, positive impact in the local community. Each year, Glendale Tech Week has outshined the previous year, attracting thousands of participants and companies, and further strengthening Glendale in its role as an emerging tech hub. Now, more start-ups, co-working companies like WeWork, as well as other top companies are expanding to Glendale. This has been a source of pride and excitement for the local community.

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) – KidsX Digital Health Accelerator will be the first health accelerator in the world to focus on Pediatric services and was awarded $500,000 over three years. Hero House Glendale was also awarded $500,000 over three years and will be focusing on companies from California, and globally, aiming to expand to Los Angeles.

Hero House Glendale will be established by SmartGateVC and backed by both Draper University of Heroes and Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America. Fall 2020 is the anticipated launch for the Hero House Accelerator. Learn more about this program at GlendaleTechWeek.com/accelerator.

The Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, and non-profit organization with a mission to enable and empower the Armenian STEM community worldwide to reach its fullest potential and facilitate global progress through STEM education, collaboration and humanitarian initiatives.

Anti-trust authority drops proceedings over Ucom-Veon Armenia merger bid

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 11:43,

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition has dropped the administrative proceedings which was launched on December 30, 2019 regarding the applications of Veon Armenia (Beeline) and Ucom’s potential merger.

The commission said that Veon Armenia itself retracted its application on May 6 and requested to cancel the proceedings.

Earlier in March, the commission had suspended the process due to the coronavirus-related state of emergency.

In December 2019, Ucom and Veon Armenia asked the commission to allow the merger.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

We hope we won’t have to return to lockdown, Armenian PM tells EEU leaders

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 14:28,

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan briefed EEU leaders on the coronavirus response of the Armenian government during a video-conference of the Supreme Eurasian Council.

Pashinyan said in his speech that although the growth of new cases wasn’t possible to be prevented, the government has practically ended the phase of strict restrictions and has been implementing a de-centralized strategy of fighting the coronavirus since May 4.

“Since yesterday, virtually all economic restrictions in Armenia have been lifted. However, restrictions in education, culture, entertainment, leisure and public events are maintained. The state sector is working on a hybrid method by combining office and remote work,” Pashinyan said.

He said that the lockdown has been fully lifted and it has led to a certain growth of new cases. “Instead, however, strict social and economic safety rules have been introduced, mandatory protocols and rules have been approved for all citizens, businesses and state institutions. The concept of strict restrictions has been transformed into a concept of maintaining strict norms and rules of behavior. Certainly, its effectiveness will depend from the level of responsibility of the entire society. During the time period of the strict lockdown we were able to take all necessary measures to increase the transitioning capacity of the country’s healthcare system. We will monitor the situation during the next two weeks. We hope that we won’t have to return to the implementation of strict lockdown measures and that conditions will develop for the full activities of the society during the continuous epidemic and namely for economic activities,” Pashinyan said.

The PM also told the EEU leaders about the Armenian government’s relief packages for mitigating the social-economic consequences of the lockdown. He said that these actions, aside from social significance, were aimed at the economy coming out of the shutdown quickly and creating conditions for its development in the post-crisis period.

“We also succeeded in organizing effective supervision in the retail sector, prevent a potential shortage of goods and not allowing inflation of consumer prices. Thanks to the tactical interference of the Central Bank, abrupt fluctuations of national currency exchange were prevented and its stability was ensured. Dear friends, I have mentioned on numerous occasions that we attach special importance to the development of our cooperation in conditions of the epidemic and the growing recession. I am more than convinced that we must strengthen our union and perfect the fundamental institutions of integration. We must prove their vitality in conditions of crisis and be ready to mutually utilize all economic possibilities which will obviously appear in the post-crisis period,” Pashinyan said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Gevorg Gorgisyan: The legend that "Bright Armenia" is coordinated by Mikael Minasyan was created by Pashinyan`s party

Arminfo, Armenia
May 15 2020

ArmInfo.Allegations of coordination of Bright Armenia by Mikael Minasyan are an absolute lie. And people who make such statements are simply insane. Secretary  of the Bright Armenia parliamentary faction Gevorg Gorgisyan  expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"I consider it a professional duty of journalists to demand  confirming facts from the authors of such scandalous news. It is  appropriate to recall that this lie did not prevent the same Nikol  Pashinyan from joining the Yelk bloc with us. First of all, because  this legend was invented by his own party in the Vanadzor election  2016, "the lawmaker said.

According to Gorgisyan, Bright Armenia always tried to be  constructive, represented in the parliament the projects created in  collaboration with other parties of the Yelk. However, becoming a  political majority, members of the Civil Treaty surprisingly quickly  forgot about these initiatives. And today they not only reject them,  but they also give their former partners in the bloc tough  characteristics, even calling them traitors to the nation.

"Even our attempts to introduce bills on constitutional amendments,  vetting, etc. are rejected. The manifestation of any criticism is  perceived as a manifestation of personal enmity. And by generating  aggression, colleagues from My Step brought the situation to a level  where opposition is seen as manifestation of moral and psychological  pressure, which should be resisted with fists, "he said.

In such a situation, the mere presence of the Bright Armenia  lawmakers in the parliament, according to Gorgisyan, creates tension.  And if the ruling majority des not realize their own guilt in the  brawl that has occurred, it will certainly be repeated. According to  him, the incident became evidence reigning in the minds of the  "stepping" majority, an atmosphere of universal impunity.

"The next step, apparently, will be an attempt to create a powerful  dictatorship. However, we have bad news for our colleagues – we will  not allow this. According to their logic, it turns out that they can  beat anyone with whose opinion they disagree and blame him for  provocations: if our colleagues think of politics in this way, then I  have a second bad news for them – they have nothing more to do in  politics. The public sees very well how the government up to the  prime minister refutes the obvious. And the authorities must, in the  end, realize this ", the parliamentarian summarized.

To recall, yesterday the information spread on social networks that  Edmon Marukyan is the <project> of the son-in- law of the third  President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, former Ambassador of Armenia to  the Vatican Mikael Minasyan. Allegedly, the MP is on Minasyan's  allowance, receiving from him $ 15,000 per month. Moreover, this  information also noted that Minasyan provided over $ 400,000 to the  party for the election campaign alone. 

Deputy Minister: It has become impossible to identify sources of the spread of COVID-19 in recent days

Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo. To date, 33 patients with  coronavirus are in critical condition, 6 are connected to a  ventilator.  Deputy Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia  Lena Nanushyan announced at a May 14 press conference.

According to her, at the moment, 660 patients with coronavirus have  been diagnosed with pneumonia, 66 patients are in serious condition.  Nanushyan informed that the growth rate of coronavirus in Armenia is  about 5%. The deputy minister also noted that today Armenia is at the  third, final, stage of circulation of the coronavirus. As Nanushyan  explained, in recent days it has become impossible to identify the  sources of distribution of coronavirus and identify an exact circle  of contacts of virus carriers. In March, at the first stage of the  circulation of coronavirus, isolated and imported cases of  coronavirus were recorded in the republic; further, at the second  stage, cluster outbreaks began to be recorded (among members of the  same family, at enterprises, and so on). Meanwhile, if earlier it was  possible to accurately identify the sources of spread of COVID-19,  then at the third stage of the circulation of the coronavirus, this  became a difficult task. Despite this, as Nanushyan emphasized, all  efforts are aimed at controlling the epidemiological situation in the  country, including by increasing the level of training of medical  staff.

The deputy minister also said that, taking into account the spread of  coronavirus, a strategy has been developed according to which the  treatment of mild cases can be carried out at home with the control  of primary care. In the meantime, asymptomatic patients are isolated  in hotels where appropriate medical supervision is provided.

Nanushyan informed that Armenia has purchased 100 ventilation  devices, and another 60 are at the purchase stage. Meanwhile, she  found it difficult to answer ArmInfo's question regarding whether the  Aventa-M brand IVL devices, which, presumably, caused fires in  hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg, are used in medical  institutions in Armenia.  In total, 3860 cases of coronavirus were  confirmed in the republic, 1572 people recovered, 49 died.   Currently, 2218 patients are receiving actual treatment.