Daily Briefing
PM Nikol Pashinyan:
It is time to admit that, up to this moment, we have been unable to convince citizens to follow the most basic and effective safety rule: wearing a mask.
- Despite the decisions of the Special Commission, despite administrative measures, despite mass information drives, despite the transparency of the government, a large proportion of the population still do not wear masks.
- This is the number one reason for the spread of the virus in the Republic of Armenia.
- To back this claim, today, Forbes republished an article taken from the American National Academy of Sciences journal proving the effectiveness of masks in slowing down the spread of the virus. Despite what we said earlier, despite the fact that the WHO also changed its mind about the effectiveness of facemasks, now, we have scientific proof that they work.
- The article also confirmed that COVID-19 particles can stay in the air for more than 10 minutes, meaning you can still get infected ten minutes after a virus carrier has been in the same space. This is also where the mask is an effective means of protection.
- The article also showed that the lockdown and other restrictive measures in New York were not as effective in flattening the curve as wearing masks. This study confirmed the reasons for our reluctance to resort to yet another lockdown.
- The prestigious medical journal Lancet has come to the same conclusion after comparing 172 different studies from around 20 countries, yet again proving that the chances of infection are significantly reduced when wearing a mask. In effectiveness, social distancing comes right after wearing masks. This again shows that two of the three safety measures the government is suggesting citizens follow – wear masks, disinfect hands as often as possible, and maintaining physical distance – have proven to be the most effective.
- Studies by Cambridge and Greenwich universities have shown that a patient, on average, infects 2 or 3 other people, while if they wear a mask, that number can be one or less.
- We cannot say that, since May 25 we have been suggesting to use the most effective preventative measures, and our problem is that we have not been able to either persuade or force our citizens to follow these rules.
- We will expand the administrative methods used and their scope while still, as a government elected by the people, expecting the people’s collaboration.
- When I see images of people ignoring safety rules, I ask where have we gone wrong for people to have such a dismissive attitude towards the danger that faces them.
- I ask every citizen who diligently wears masks, please do not be indifferent toward a fellow citizen who is not wearing one, please make sure to approach them and ask them to wear masks, reprimand them if necessary.
- This pandemic will not be overcome unless we learn to follow these rules. The only other scenario is – and I apologize for the cruelty of what I’m about to say – all those who are vulnerable will have to die before we can see a decrease in the numbers. And today, with our behavior, we are condemning hundreds if not thousands of our compatriots to death.
Arsen Torosyan, the Minister of Health spoke next:
Health Minister Publishes Names of Neighborhoods With Most Infections
During his June 13th live briefing, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had announced that analysis of the data has shown that the virus is spreading primarily in clusters of the same or neighboring addresses, meaning communal courtyards and that accordingly, police have also been surveilling courtyards over the last several days and will continue to do so.
Starting June 14, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan wrote that he will occasionally be publishing the names of the neighborhoods where the virus is spread in clusters for citizens to reconsider the habit of hanging out with neighbors, or dropping by the neighborhood shop without a mask.
Since then, Torosyan has published the following addresses:
Yerevan, Avan district, Isahakyan St.
Aragatsotn, city of Ashtarak, Beknazaryan St.
Kotayk, Jrvezh village, St. N 12
Gegharkunik, Sevan City, Nairyan St.
Lori, Stepanavan City, Yeritasardakan St.
Syunik, Goris City, Vank St.
Ararat, Aygavan village, St. Hovhaness St.
Yerevan, Nork Marash, Nork St. N 7
Armavir, Vagharshapat City (Etchmiadzin), St. Movses Khorenatsi St.
Number of Violations Since the State of Emergency
Armenia’s Police has reported that 33,996 violations of safety protocols have been registered in the country since the establishment of the State of Emergency, 774 of which were registered on June 14.
Yerevan, Nork Marash, Nork St. N 7
Armavir, Vagharshapat City (Etchmiadzin), St. Movses Khorenatsi St.
Update on Number of Cases
The Ministry of Health reported 397 new cases of COVID-19 and 62 recoveries, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 17,064, of which 10,409 are active cases and 6,276 have already recovered. Sixteen COVID-19 patients (the youngest aged 41 and the oldest 88), who all had pre-existing health conditions, died bringing the total number of deaths to 285. Three other patients with COVID-19 also died, but the virus was not the cause of death; 94 such cases have been reported. To date, 83,600 tests have been conducted, of which 1,276 were in the last 24 hours.
