14:26,
YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan Zoo will be closed for visitors until March 23 due to safety concerns amid the coronavirus situation, the zoo’s administration told ARMENPRESS.
Author: Meline Chalian
Sports: Armenia’s football federation suspends all tournaments because of coronavirus
News.am, Armenia
Armenia's football federation decided to suspend all tournaments because of coronavirus outbreak.
Given new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Armenia and for the prevention of further spread of the virus, as well as taking into account the calls by the Armenian government, all tournaments held under the auspices of FFA, will be suspended until March 23, the federation said in a statement on Friday.
A press conference of newly appointed Armenia head coach Joaquin Caparros that had to take place on March 13 will be suspended as well.
Joaquín Caparrós appointed head coach of Armenian national football team
13:02,
YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. Former Sevilla, Deportivo la Coruna and Athletic Bilbao head coach Joaquín Caparrós, 64, has been appointed head coach of the Armenian national football team, the Football Federation of Armenia said in a statement.
The contract is in force until November 30, 2021.
Joaquín Caparrós was born in Spanish municipality Utreta on March 15, 1955.
Teams managed
San Jose Obrero (Spain) – 1981-1984
Campillo (Spain) – 1984-1986
Motilla (Spain) – 1986-1989
Castile-La Mancha (Spain) – 1989-1990
Gimnastico Alcazar (Spain) – 1990-1992
Conquense (Spain) – 1992-1993
Manzanares (Spain) – 1994-1995
Moralo (Spain) – 1995-1996
Recreativo (Spain) – 1996-1999
Andalusia (Spain) – 1998-2000
Villareal (Spain) – 1999
Sevilla (Spain) – 2000-2005
Deportivo La Coruna (Spain) – 2005-2007
Athletic Bilbao (Spain) – 2007-2011
Neuchatel Xamax (Switzerland) – 2011
Mallorca (Spain) – 2011-2013
Levante (Spain) – 2013-2014
Granada (Spain) – 2014-2015
Osasuna (Spain) – 2016-2017
Al Ahli (Qatar) – 2017
Sevilla (caretaker)(Spain)– 2018
Sevilla (caretaker)(Spain) – 2019
It is possible to control the speed at which coronavirus spreads: Interview with Japan’s Ambassador to Armenia
Panorama, Armenia
March 2 2020
Interview with Japan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Jun Yamada about the novel coronavirus and the Japanese experience of tackling the spread of the virus.
– How Japan is fighting against coronavirus, is there any practice that can be shared with Armenia.
– We have already requested elementary schools, junior high schools and senior high schools as well as schools for special needs education to close temporarily from Monday, March 2, 2020, until spring break. The government will do everything possible to support local government efforts including making the same arrangements at after-school care programs as during spring break. We intend to establish a new grant scheme to squarely address the reduction in income resulting from parents taking leaves of absence from work, for both permanent and non-permanent workers. We will also swiftly compile within roughly the next 10 days a second emergency policy package that utilizes this fiscal year’s contingency funds, which amount to more than 270 billion yen.
We will advance the use of remote work in every aspect of society, making full use of teleworking and other forms of IT, and all at once push forward with changes that go ahead of the times.
– How is the diagnosis made in Japan․ There was an information that a test was developed in Japan to diagnose COVID-19 within 30 minutes.
– It is possible to control the speed at which the outbreak spreads. We will be at a critical moment over the coming one to two weeks regarding whether the outbreak spreads rapidly or is controlled.
We are working to develop new simple test equipment that will make it possible to reduce the time needed to detect the virus, currently two to three hours, to around fifteen minutes. We have been working to develop the reagent and improve its accuracy, and we intend to start using this kit within March. Though nationwide we have the ability to conduct more than 4,000 screenings daily, we must implement all possible measures over the coming two weeks to prevent the outbreak further spreading.While there are more than 2,000 beds designated for infectious diseases nationwide, we intend to ensure a capacity of over 5,000 beds.
Among those who have tested positive in Japan, including cruise ship passengers, more than 140 have already recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
– What kind of advice does the government give to the population, that can also be useful for Armenians?
– Basically, the advice is the same for all countries. Throughout the world, preventing “group infection” is of extreme importance. In order to avoid the risk of large-scale infections, we should call for responses such as cancelling, postponing, or downsizing national-scale sports or cultural events where many people gather.
Physician, heal thyself: Armenian FM responds to Turkey’s Cavusoglu
Public Radio of Armenia
March 3 2020
Armenia supports Iran in fighting coronavirus outbreak
Tehran Times, Iran
March 4 2020
March 4, 2020 – 21:3
TEHRAN – Armenian Health Minister Arsen Torosyan in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Saeed Namaki on Tuesday voiced support for Iran against COVID-19 outbreak.
Torosyan also appreciated Iran's efforts against coronavirus outbreak, highlighting the role of health system, ISNA reported.
He also expressed his solidarity with the Iranian nation in the fight against the infectious disease and expressed hope that the country would soon overcome the problem.
The Iranian official, for his part, assured that Iran’s measures in containing the virus spread are in line with international approaches, saying that sufficient laboratory and therapeutic capacities have been developed in Iran.
The two ministers agreed to communicate in an organized manner in order to exchange information and experience.
Torosyan also held a meeting with Abbas Badakhshan-Zohouri, the ambassador of Iran to Armenia.
During the meeting, the two officials emphasized the need for bilateral cooperation in the fight against the disease, and the need to pay attention to credible information on the outbreak.
The exchange of information and experiences between the two countries in the field of health, and the cooperation between the Pasteur Institute of Iran and the Armenian research centers were other issues that have been discussed.
FB/MG
Armenia hails Iran’s efforts to contain COVID-19
Mehr News Agency, Iran
March 4 2020
TEHRAN, Mar. 04 (MNA) – In a phone conversation on Wednesday, Iranian and Armenia health ministers discussed the situation around the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Health Minister of Armenia Arsen Torosyan praised the measures adopted by Iran to contain the virus, wishing success for the Iranian health sector on defeating the outbreak.
Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki pointed to extensive measures implemented across the country to contain the virus, especially to increased controls in borders for crossing passengers and goods. He referred to the importance of boosting hygienic standards and protocols in shared borders.
The conversation comes as the virus has infected 2,336 people, claiming 77 lives in Iran as of Tuesday.
Armenia announced on Tuesday, a three-week closure of the joint border with Iran following concerns over the spread of the virus.
The Armenian minister also held a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
MAH/ 4869811
PM Pashinyan sends condolence message to Angela Merkel
20:39,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a condolence message to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the occasion of the tragic incident in Hanau town.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the message runs as follows,
“Honorable Mrs. Merkel,
It was with deep grief that I learned about the tragedy in Hanau town.
On behalf of the Armenian people and personally me I offer condolences and solidarity with you and the friendly people of Germany. I wish patience and spiritual strength to the relatives and friends of the victims, and speedy recovery to the injured”.
Nine people are dead following two shootings at shisha bars in the western German town of Hanau. Federal prosecutors are treating it as an act of terrorism. Turkish authorities say a number of those killed were of Turkish origin. Chancellor Angela Merkel said there are signs the shooter had racist motives.
Police launched an hours-long manhunt for the attacker – at first suspecting there was more than one shooter.
With the help of security cameras and witnesses, officers eventually identified the suspect and stormed his home near the Arena Cafe & Bar. They found him dead inside, near the body of his 72-year-old mother.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Actor, filmmaker Yervand Manaryan dead at 96
02:41,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Renowned Armenian actor Yervand Manaryan has passed away at the age of 96, the artist’s granddaughter Lilit Manaryan said on social media.
Manaryan was born in 1924 in Arak, Iran. He immigrated to Armenia in 1946 and enrolled in the Yerevan Theatrical Art Institute, graduating the filmmaking faculty in 1952. Besides acting, he was also directing and scriptwriting.
In 2003, he was awarded the title of Merited Artist.
In October 2018, PM Pashinyan awarded Manaryan the title of People’s Artist of Armenia. A year later Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan awarded the artist the title of Honorary Citizen of Yerevan.
Shortly after the news about Manaryan’s passing, Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan expressed condolences in a statement on social media. “It was with great pain that I learnt about the passing of one of the greatest Armenians of our times, Yervand Manaryan. One of the best Armenian citizens, the best artists, best scholars left us. Rest in peace, MASTER,” Mirzoyan said.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
12 people hospitalized from Armenia airport test negative for coronavirus
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 7 2020
February 7, 2020 – 13:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – 12 passengers who were hospitalized from Armenia's Zvartnots airport tested negative for the coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health revealed in a Facebook post on Friday, February 7.
Alina Nikoghosyan's comments came in response to media publications suggesting that "more than 10 citizens arrived from China with a high temperature and were immediately hospitalized."
"Twenty tests were performed overall, all with a negative result," Nikoghosyan said.
The death toll from the virus was at least 638 as of Thursday evening. All but two of the deaths were in mainland China, with one person succumbing in the Philippines and another in Hong Kong. More than 31,000 people have been infected with the virus worldwide, the vast majority of them in China.