Thursday, March 12 2020 14:24

ArmInfo. The April 5 referendum campaign may be interrupted due to the outbreak of the  coronavirus.

As Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia Arsen Torosyan  said in an interview with reporters after a meeting of the Government  of Armenia, decisions on coronavirus are taken on a daily basis. It  is possible, he continued, that the RA government will decide on  limiting public events. The minister called for a decision by the  Cabinet, which on March 12 is discussing in closed session an action  plan to counter the spread of the epidemic. "The health of citizens  is the most important thing for the current government of the  country, and no political reason will stop the cabinet of ministers  in achieving this goal," the minister said.

He also noted that according to the current situation, cases of  infection of 4 persons have been officially confirmed in Armenia, a  total of 41 people have been isolated. Torosyan noted that the virus  is spreading rapidly, and it is possible that by the end of the day  the number of isolated individuals will increase. In Etchmiadzin  alone, about 50 people contacted one of the infected people. But  contact does not mean catching an infection. The vast majority do not  have the corresponding symptoms. The Minister emphasized that there  are various scenarios and plans for the development of the situation.  In this regard, he again turned to citizens who had contact with  persons who had taken the coronavirus, to self-isolation, not to  self-medicate, and at the first symptoms immediately consult a  doctor.  Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan also touched on  the topic, who, in an interview with reporters in the Armenian resort  town of Jermuk, did not exclude the possibility of interrupting the  campaign. "If necessary, we will interrupt the campaign," the head of  government said, adding that at present there is no such need. In  response to the remark that in the city of Echmiadzin, on suspicion  of being infected with coronavirus, people are isolated, and possibly  more infected, Pashinyan noted that with such a development of  events, the government will report this . "Last night I reported on  the problem that exists at this moment. 

There will be more risks, I will certainly inform you," said Nikol  Pashinyan, adding that a circle of people who have been communicating  with patients is now being identified, all necessary measures are  being taken. "And there may be people who are isolated in the Golden  Palace Hotel, but there may be those who are asked not to leave the  house," he said.

In turn, mayor of Echmiadzin, Diana Gasparyan, on her Facebook  page noted that law enforcement officials and the health system are  actively involved in the self-isolation of people who came into  contact with a coronavirus infected citizen who came from Italy.  According to her, law enforcement officials and doctors are in  contact with people who came in contact with a person who came from  Italy in order to ensure their self-isolation and prevent the  possible spread of the disease. "There is no reason for panic.   Everything is under control," the mayor assured. According to her,  the issue of suspending the educational process in pre-school  educational institutions, kindergartens, a sports school, a music  school and all objects under the jurisdiction of the Etchmiadzin  Municipality is currently being considered. The mayor strongly  recommended that you follow the rules of hygiene, refrain from  participating in public events, and immediately contact a medical  institution with the first symptoms.  To note in Echmiadzin, parents  in a hurry began to pick up their children from kindergartens and  school institutions.