Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan and Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan touched upon the measures to prevent the entry of coronavirus into Armenia.
The first outbreak of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV was recorded in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Mr. Torosyan, can you update us on our situation in the field of protection against coronavirus and preventing the penetration of coronavirus in the Republic of Armenia? What is the situation in our region?
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan – Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. According to yesterday’s data, there have been cases of coronavirus infection in 37 countries around the world. A total of 81191 confirmed cases were registered, 78191 of which were in China and 2718 of which resulted in death.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Sorry, Mr. Torosyan, that is, others are being healed.
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan – Most of them are definitely cured, healed and most of them independently, that is, they do not even need medical help. The point here is that if we observe any respiratory symptom, such as a cough or sneeze and put that test, it is possible that this is not about Armenia at this time, as we have no confirmed cases yet. In China, for example, this sneezing person may have the usual seasonal flu or coronavirus infection, and that number is also increasing. Speaking of severe cases, roughly 5 percent are in severe cases requiring medical attention.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – That is, there is a case when a person can get infected with a coronavirus – drink tea, coffee, vodka, the next day.
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan – It is positive on the one hand, but negative on the other, when you cannot view it as a case in terms of discoverability.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Well, if a person has not found out that he has been infected with coronavirus, how should find it out?
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan – Yes, and the numbers for the region are as follows: According to the latest official data in the Islamic Republic of Iran, we have 139 cases, 19 of which resulted in death and the latest information was one in Georgia last night. I talked to my colleague in the morning. People in contact with him have tested negative and have been isolated so that within two weeks they will either become infected or be discharged. I believe that the epidemiological situation in Georgia will not change substantially in one case.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – At the same time, it should be noted that the patient, had traveled from Iran through Azerbaijan to Georgia and had actually only contacted border crossing personnel. The four people they contacted were border crossing employees, they were subjected to a test, and there were negative answers. In other words, we do not have a case of infection in Georgia.
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan – There is no case of local infection, it is a kind of case, which due to good measures may not spread. In any case, I think we do almost the same thing in Armenia and Georgia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – That’s what I wanted to ask, for example, their work in that episode was quite impressive. I hope we are at least at the same level.
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan – Yes, Mr. Prime Minister. And according to the latest government decision, when we restricted the flow of passengers from Iran, I can inform you that, of course, as you mentioned, it does not apply to our compatriots returning to Armenia. Yesterday, 52 people returned by plane, accompanied by our staff, to find out if there was a potential patient on the plane we would be ready to meet in Yerevan. There was no such citizen, everyone was healthy at that moment, and in Yerevan, the inspection was again carried out and I would like to specially mention that we have heard many times that the examination is not enough. I can say that there are simply no more effective measures in terms of epidemiology and disease prevention. That is, the thermometry and inspection that we perform at the border crossings is the maximum, which can be done in case of infection with such diseases. And therefore, we have not had a terrifying event at this time.
To date, 95 studies of all potentially suspicious cases have been performed, all of which have been negative. Currently we have 850 tests, that is, we have enough tests and we will get 3000 tests soon. That is to say, we are also equipped in this regard. I would also like to inform you that in the last two days, 69 trucks have crossed the border of Armenia, which have been accompanied by police and our forces, that is, epidemic forces, special points and customs warehouses where they will be emptied and returned. That is to say, practically speaking, everything is done to prevent the spread of the infection to Armenia, although I repeat, as a respiratory disease, it is very different from the H1N1 strain of seasonal influenza, which circulates freely around the world.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Well, at this moment we can state that all the necessary measures are being taken and the Republic of Armenia is living its normal daily life. Of course, the public must be convinced that if there is any disturbing information, that disturbing information will naturally be made public. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that very serious preventive measures have also been taken in the Army and in the Armed Forces. I ask that parents and relatives will approach with understanding. I hope that the measures taken by our partners in the Islamic Republic of Iran will be very effective soon and we will be able to resume our normal communication with Iran the day before. Mr. Avinyan heads the working committee on preventing the penetration of coronavirus, we do not weaken alertness, I say again, Citizens of Armenia should be convinced that such a case is found out and that the government of Armenia will have hide this information from the public, I know that in such cases lovers of panic spread become active. It just can’t be anything else, we can have an alert, not 100% sure at the moment, discuss it within a couple of hours, confirm it, and when anything is confirmed, I hope that we will not have anything confirmed, that is to say in this respect I urge everyone to lead a normal life, at this moment we have nothing to worry about except what is popular. Please Mr. Avinyan. I know that lovers of panic spread out in such cases. It just can’t be anything else, we can have an alert, not 100% sure at the moment, discuss it within a couple of hours, confirm it, and when anything is confirmed, I hope that we will not have anything confirmed, that is to say in this respect I urge everyone to live with a normal life, at this moment we have nothing to worry about except what is popular. Please Mr. Avinyan.
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan – Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Let me just add to what Mr. Torosyan said, that besides the research being carried out, special cards are filled in for those who enter the RA from high-risk countries, and the polyclinic staff are in daily contact with those people because there is some incubation period. Of course, I would also like to mention the quality work of the Ministry of Health, the high quality of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the high quality work of the Health and Labor Inspectorate, and I think our health care system is very competent at the moment, and we also have a plan if, however, coronavirus penetrate into Armenia. We have special areas where quarantine can be carried out, and where treatment can be provided,
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – It is very important, and of course the commission should continue to work until it is globally registered that the virus is overcome and defeated. Please Mr. Torosyan.
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan – Mr. Prime Minister, as a summary, if you will, let me address our compatriots, as I have mentioned, this is a respiratory infection, that is, a new respiratory infection, in any case the preventive measures that we always advise in this season is to avoid communicating with coughing, sneezing, sick people, maintaining personal hygiene rules, especially in terms of hand washing, they are the most effective means of prevention and I again urge you to follow them, especially given the circulation of this new type of virus worldwide. That is, wash your hands often, if possible with antiseptic materials, as you mentioned restrictive measures in the army, we work with our other partners and again offer restrictive measures in all types of closed facilities, ie in many congested institutions, until the danger is completely eliminated. Thank you.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Very well. You have talked about antiseptic means, alcohol-based gels are very common now, and I am paying attention, there are many alcohol-based products of Armenian origin and I urge you to use those means of Armenian production, especially since it does not smell very good to others, and the Armenian products do not smell at all.
Deputy Foreign Minister Avet Adonts – Thank you. Let me talk a little bit about the international context of all this. We are watching closely for Chinese developments regarding coronavirus, there is a marked decline in the dynamics of those already infected. The scale that already exists is already decreasing, but there are developments in the Asian region in Japan and Korea, and in Europe in Italy.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Well, we take the same measures; similar measures in other directions, that is, the passengers arriving in Armenia go through these procedures and are completely under control. This is very important and I think it is the most important statement the fact that the Republic of Armenia is living its normal life, if the government needs to move to another regime, the government will announce as soon as possible. I hope there will not be such a need.
