Monday, March 2 2020 12:44

ArmInfo. Within five days, a temporary visa regime will be reintroduced between Armenia and Iran in connection with the situation with the coronavirus. This was  announced on March 2 by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia  Nikol Pashinyan, summing up the results of the meeting of the  commission coordinating the work to prevent the spread of  coronavirus.

 The Prime Minister noted that Armenia is monitoring the  situation in the region and is ready, within the framework of its  capabilities, to help the Iranian government and the friendly Iranian  people. Pashinyan also informed that control over cargo  transportation will be tightened. In the case of certain goods, he  said, exceptions could be made. The prime minister also called on  Armenian citizens to refrain from cargo transportation to Iran.

In addition, taking into account the global situation with the spread  of coronavirus, Pashinyan appealed to citizens to limit travel to  Italy and Turkey. He drew attention to the fact that such decisions  are made exclusively in relation to the most risky areas, and the  closure of all borders and directions would mean complete isolation  of Armenia.

As for the situation in the republic, according to the prime  minister, the results of 9 more tests for coronavirus will be  obtained today. Even if a positive result is obtained, the prime  minister urged the population not to panic, especially considering  that the first and at the moment - the only patient with a new type  of coronavirus feels good and does not have alarming symptoms. On the  eve, as it was reported, 3-4 tests for coronavirus were conducted in  the republic, and all of them gave a negative result. As for the  quarantined in the five-star Golden Peles Hotel in Tsaghkadzor,  Armenian citizens, they did not reveal an increase in temperature or  other symptoms.

Pashinyan said that during the meeting the situation on the Armenian  market was discussed. The prime minister called on the country's  population not to make panic purchases of products in stores. As for  the shortage of medical masks, it is taking place all over the world,  which has already affected the increase in their value on a global  scale. According to him, a number of Armenian businessmen expressed  their readiness to import protective masks into Armenia, however, due  to rising world prices for these products, they fear that they will  be accused of speculative pricing. <Meanwhile, the Commission for the  Protection of Economic Competition is working with them to ensure  objective prices. However, taking into account the world price  increase for protective masks, their cost will still be higher than  usual>, Pashinyan emphasized.

As for antiseptics, the corresponding production in Armenia takes  place, and manufacturers promised to cover the existing demand in the  market.

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the prime minister  urged citizens to strictly follow the recommendations of the Ministry  of Health and, in case of alarming symptoms, consult a doctor  immediately. <The main danger of coronavirus is panic. There should  be no panic and calls, and to ensure this, the concealment of  information from the public is excluded>, the Prime Minister  emphasized, adding that coronavirus is a managed disease, and the flu  annually takes about ten lives in the republic on average.  Pashinyan  also pointed out that the news about the alleged panic in Tsaghkadzor  was greatly exaggerated, as he was personally convinced the day  before, visiting the city with his family.

Earlier it became known that the first case of a new type of  coronavirus was detected in Armenia. The patient, a 29-year-old man,  arrived by plane from Tehran to Yerevan on February 28. At the time  of flight arrival, no objective symptoms of coronavirus were detected  in the passengers by the epidemiologist. The patient already from the  house turned to the doctors, and was taken to the hospital in an  ambulance. Tests confirmed coronavirus. Meanwhile, the condition of  the newcomer is assessed as good, and already on the eve he had no  temperature.  According to current recommendations, some of the  passengers on this flight were isolated - those who sat in the first  two rows in front of the patient, and in one row behind him. In  addition, the doctors who transported him to the hospital were  isolated. In total, 32 citizens are isolated at the Golden Palace  Hotel in Tsaghkadzor. The remaining passengers will be constantly  monitored.

We add that the hotline service is available at the RA Ministry of  Health round the clock - 8003. For epidemiological issues, you can  contact the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention by  calling 010 55 06 01, 010 55 03 06, 010 55 03 07.