ArmInfo In Armenia, the state of emergency related with the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended for 30 days. The decision was made at the meeting of the RA government on August 12.
According to the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Rustam Badasyan, the state of emergency introduced from March 16 and extended for the last time from 5:00pm on August 12 will continue to operate until 5:00pm on September 11. Despite the downward trend in the incidence of coronavirus, nevertheless, in order to overcome its consequences, the government considered it expedient to extend the emergency regime for another 1 month. At the same time, as Rustam Badasyan noted, some relaxation of restrictions is envisaged. In particular, the ban on the entry into the country of persons who do not have Armenian citizenship, who, nevertheless, if not hospitalized, undertake to undergo a 14-day quarantine and self-isolate, is withdrawn. But if within 14 days these persons, having passed the relevant tests, received negative conclusions, the self-isolation regime will change. The ban on holding rallies and hunger strikes is also excluded, which is replaced by a permit with mandatory conditions for maintaining anti-epidemic standards. In particular, we are talking about wearing masks and maintaining social distance at a distance of at least 1.5 meters. The conditions for holding family and other events, both in open areas and in closed rooms, are facilitated, but no more than 40 people, while maintaining the requirements of the commandant of the state of emergency. The restrictions on the movement of goods across borders are lifted.
In turn, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that this decision allows to hold rallies, processions and other events, but it is not allowed to ignore the norms of anti-epidemiological safety. All participants in these events must wear masks and maintain a social distance of at least 1.5 meters. The prime minister also said that on the issue of extending the state of emergency today, on August 12, an extraordinary session of the parliament will be held, at which Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan will speak as the main speaker.