COVID-19 Daily Briefing (May 5)

Safety Rules for Wholesale and Retail Outlets

Employers are responsible for ensuring that health and safety precautions at wholesale outlets and retail outlets are in place, in accordance with the following rules and regulations:

Rules For Disinfection of Wholesale and Retail Outlets
Disinfect the centers at least twice during the day, and disinfect doors, handrails, elevator buttons and escalators every two hours. Employers are encouraged to ensure that employees in a high-risk group, who are more likely to suffer severe consequences if infected with the virus, do not work and are compensated in accordance with Article 186 of the Labor Code. People in a high-risk group are those who have pre-existing chronic health conditions, are 65-years-old or above, or are immuno-compromised. Employers are also required to ensure that the center is regularly ventilated, by opening the windows and doors or using air conditioners. The center needs to have trash bins that close and garbage needs to be taken out regularly.
Rules For Staff
Place informative posters in visible locations to ensure that employees and the people doing shopping at the center are properly informed about the sanitary and safety standards. The temperature of each employee should be measured at least twice during the day, one of which should be when employees arrive at work. The temperature of each employee should be recorded in a designated journal. Employers are also required to ensure that all the necessary conditions are in place for employees to regularly wash their hands (for at least 20 seconds). The workplace should have water, soap and hand sanitizer.
Customer Service Rules 

Customers should not be allowed to enter trade centers without wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves. Employees of the center who are in direct contact with customers should wear gloves and face masks, which need to be changed every three to four hours. Employers are required to prevent crowding in centers by restricting peoples’ entrance until others leave. In stores that are 20 square meters or more, it is necessary to maintain social distance and provide an area of not less than 8 square meters for each person. To ensure social distancing, employers are also required to mark the areas near the cashier desk at a distance of at least one meter from each other to space out queues. Between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. everyday, shops should only serve those over 65.

Safety Rules for Hairdressers and Beauty Salons 

Organization of the Work

Management at hairdressers and beauty salons should designate a person who is in charge of coronavirus prevention efforts. That person should keep a record of the health condition of each employee and visitor. Employers are required to provide employees with hand sanitizer, tissues and single-use face masks and gloves, which should be changed every three to four hours. Employers are also required to ensure that all the necessary conditions are in place for employees to regularly wash their hands (for at least 20 seconds). The workplace should have water, soap and hand sanitizer. A separate room should be provided for breaks, which should also have cold and hot water, as well as hand sanitizer.
Disinfection of the Working Area
At the beginning and end of each working day, the working area should be disinfected using 60-80% alcohol-based disinfectant. All surfaces and other frequently used items should also be thoroughly disinfected. It is required to ensure the availability and use of hand sanitizer at the entrance to the workplace. The area should be ventilated every two hours or after each customer. After each customer, all the frequently touched areas and items, as well as all the tools used, should be disinfected. It is also recommended to disinfect the air by using permitted bactericidal lamps.
Rules For Staff
The temperature of each employee should be measured at least twice during the day, one of which should be when employees arrive at work. The temperature of each employee should be recorded in a designated journal. A social distance of at least 1.5 meters should be maintained between employees. Employees should also frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Employees should try to avoid close contact with one another, avoid handshakes, hugs, and keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters. Employees should not be allowed to leave the workplace during breaks.
Customer Service Rules
Only customers who have reserved a time online or by phone should be served. Salons should maintain at least 20-minute breaks between customers. Before customers enter the salon, their temperature should be measured. It is not allowed to serve customers with symptoms of acute respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, flu or shortness of breath. In the event customers with symptoms visit the salon, it is necessary to immediately inform the Ministry of Health by calling the 8003 hotline. During work, employees should wear gloves and face masks, which should be changed every three to four hours. Customers should be kept at least 1.5 meters away from each other.

Safety Rules for Restaurants, Cafes and Pubs

The responsibility to provide a healthy work environment falls entirely on the employer.

Each establishment should have a designated staff member who is tasked with overseeing that all the COVID-19 prevention requirements are met, including making sure disinfection is carried out as required, and keeping a log of the health of employees and customers, overseeing that other safety regulations are followed, identifying and making sure employees in high-risk groups are not working and making sure that employees and customers alike are informed of the regulations and the requirements, which should also be printed out and posted at a visible place.

Requirements

All restaurants, cafes and pubs should have cold and hot water, soap and hand sanitizer. There should be a garbage bin with a closed lid at the main entrance, the entrance to the bathroom and the kitchen. Employees should be provided with face masks (to be changed every 3-4 hours), gloves, hand sanitizer, other disinfectants and paper towels. Before and after the work day, each establishment should be entirely disinfected with 60-80% alcohol solution. Door knobs and the arms of chairs should be cleaned at least once every three hours. All contact spaces (door knobs, chairs) should be disinfected after each customer. Each table should have hand sanitizer.

Closed spaces should be aired every 2-3 hours, all contact spaces like faucets, sinks, toilets, the arms and backs of chairs, and tables should be cleaned. It is preferable to use single-use plates and cutlery; otherwise, plates and cutlery should be disinfected. It is not permitted to use dishes with cracks, bruised edges, deformed or damaged enamel.

Employees

The temperature of each employee should be checked at least twice a day, once at the beginning of their shifts, and registered in a log. Employees should be wearing medical masks and gloves at all times, to be changed every 3-4 hours. Employees are not allowed to leave their place of employment during breaks.

Customers

The temperature of the customer should be checked and registered. Customers with symptoms of any respiratory disease should not be served. In the event a customer has a cough, high temperature, flu or respiratory difficulty, the establishment is required to call the Ministry of Health’s 8003 hotline. There should be at least a 1.5 meter distance between tables. Groups no larger than a party of five will be served.

 

Safety Rules Rules for Office Work

A safe work environment is the right of every employee and the responsibility to provide one falls on the employer.

Whenever possible, work should be organized remotely. In cases where work cannot be organized remotely, organizations with large numbers of employees should have staff work in shifts. No more than a group of ten can take part in a meeting, provided there is space to maintain a 1.5 meter distance between each participant. Employers should especially avoid calling in employees who are in a high-risk group.

Offices should designate a person who will be in charge of implementing the required safety measures, including making sure that disinfection and cleaning is carried out properly, keeping a log of the health of employees, overseeing that other safety regulations are followed, making sure that employees are informed of the regulations and requirements, which should also be printed out and posted at a visible place.

There should be hand sanitizer and a garbage bin with a closed lid at the main entrance, the entrance to the bathroom and the kitchen. For every two employees, there should be a closed-lid bin. The desks should be a meter and a half apart. The space should be aired out every two hours. All door knobs, contact spaces, tables, light switches, office equipment, and landline telephones should be cleaned at least twice a day.

The temperature of the employees should be checked at least twice a day, with the first time being upon arriving at work, and registered in a log.

During work hours, employees should be wearing disposable medical face masks, to be changed every 3-4 hours. The employer should provide the masks and sanitizers. At least a one week’s supply should be in stock.

During work hours and during breaks, employees are not allowed to leave the workplace. Lunch breaks should be organized in a well-ventilated room and with a preorganized schedule. Only disposable cutlery and plates should be used.

11:30 a.m.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that, in a worst-case scenario, Armenia could have more than 500,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. In a Facebook post today, he provided more details regarding this scenario:
– 524,032 cases overall, 26,202 of which would leave patients in serious condition;
– 12,445 hospital beds required during the peak of the virus.
At the moment, 1,550 beds are allocated for COVID-19 patients, while the overall bed capacity in the country is 12,000.

11 a.m.

According to the Ministry of Health, 112 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed and 40 patients recovered within the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected patients to 2,619, of which 1,111 have recovered and 1,462 are active cases. A 64-year-old woman with pre-existing health conditions died, bringing the total number of deaths to 40. The Ministry also said that two patients infected with COVID-19 have died but the virus was not the cause of death. To date, 25,846 tests have been conducted.