COVID-19 Daily Briefing (May 16)

4:20 p.m.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, Alina Nikoghosyan, has confirmed that more than 40 elderly residents of the Nork Old Age Home and some members of the staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Nikoghosyan said doctors from the St. Grigor Lusavorich hospital have been deployed there for the last two days to assess and monitor the health of the residents, who are in a high-risk group considering their age and the prevalence of pre-existing health issues. Nikoghosyan said the residents will be moved to hospitals to continue their treatment.

11 a.m.

According to Armenia’s Health Ministry, 239 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country, along with 125 new recoveries, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,283, of which 2,415 are active cases; 1,791 patients have recovered.

Three additional patients, ages 71, 60 and 46, all of whom had pre-existing health conditions, have died, bringing the total number of deaths to 55. The Ministry also reported that one patient infected with COVID-19 also died, but the virus was not the cause of death. To date, 22 such cases have been reported. In total, 39,005 tests have been conducted.

11 a.m.

According to Armenia’s Health Ministry, 239 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country, along with 125 new recoveries, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,283, of which 2,415 are active cases; 1,791 patients have recovered.

Three additional patients, ages 71, 60 and 46, all of whom had pre-existing health conditions, have died, bringing the total number of deaths to 55. The Ministry also reported that one patient infected with COVID-19 also died, but the virus was not the cause of death. To date, 22 such cases have been reported. In total, 39,005 tests have been conducted.

Deputy Prime Minister and Warden of the Special Commission Tigran Avinyan said in a Facebook post that the third flight bringing medical supplies and equipment from China has arrived in Armenia. The flight was organized by Armenia’s Ministry of Defense through the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and carried:

• Protective masks, clothing, gloves and goggles
• Medicine and biochemical products needed for the preparation of COVID-19 tests
• Disinfecting equipment and supplies
• Oxygen purifying equipment
• Respirators

Most of the shipment was purchased through state funds.

Avinyan said medical supplies and equipment donated to Armenia by the UN World Food Programme, the EU, other international donors and the People’s Republic of China (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the munificlaities of Beijing and Xi’an) as well as Armenian and Chinese benefactors have also arrived in Armenia.

By the decision of the Special Commission, the following changes will come into force in Armenia starting May 18:

• Public transportation will resume operation
• All retail outlets (including malls) can reopen
• Restaurants and cafes will be able to serve customers in their indoor seating areas
• Gyms will reopen
• Open-air historical and cultural sites will reopen
• The work of cultural groups will resume but practices can take place in smaller groups.
• Kindergartens and preschools will reopen

People are required to wear masks even when in open air public areas.

The maximum number of people allowed to participate in a public event has been reduced to five people (from 20).

Special security rules have been set for each of the sectors mentioned above. Non-compliance will result in legal liability.

Regulations for Buses and Minibuses 

– Passengers may not be standing while the vehicle is driving, unless the vehicle is longer than 9 meters (in which case standing passengers must keep 1 meter distance between them).

– The total number of passengers in vehicles must not exceed the total number of seats. The addition of self-made seats is prohibited.

– Vehicles must be disinfected at least twice a day, one of which should be in the morning before daily operations begin.

– After completing each route, the vehicle must be ventilated, door handles and chairs must be disinfected.

– Passengers shall not be permitted to board unless they are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks and gloves.

– Passengers must disinfect their hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer before entering the vehicle.

Regulations for Taxis

– Passengers must sit in the back seat.

– All cars should have alcohol-based hand sanitizer or disposable wet wipes available for passengers.

Regulations for Subway and Trains

– All subway cars must have adequate alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

– Employees will be responsible for preventing crowding of passengers in each subway car.

– Each subway car is limited to a maximum of 70 passengers.

– After completing each route, subway cars must be ventilated, door handles and chairs must be disinfected.

– Turnstiles located in subway stations must be disinfected at least three times a day.

– At the end of the day, subway stations and subway cars must be disinfected by specialized organizations.