After today’s regular meeting of the Commandant’s Office, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a briefing with Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan and cardiopulmonary rescue team member Tigran Gevorgyan.

The Premier first advised that the Government will discuss the possibility of extending the state of emergency at the June 12 extraordinary Cabinet meeting, followed by a parliamentary debate to be held at the special session of the National Assembly. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the 566 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Armenia on June 10 were a reflection of people’s poor compliance with the anti-epidemic rules 7-14 days before that.

“We are convinced that adherence to the prescribed rules will lead to zero cases. Today’s compliance with the rules will give results in 7-14 days, which is the incubation period of the disease. Thus, 7-14 days ago, we did not properly comply with the anti-epidemic rules,” Nikol Pashinyan said. The Premier noted that at its special session the National Assembly will review the measures implemented during this period and the steps to take ahead.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan singled out the crowded gatherings, birthday celebrations, weddings, funerals and mourning functions, as a serious impediment on the way to curbing the disease. “Most people see this problem from an emotional point of view. Local governments have been instructed to be responsible for preventing such ceremonies in their communities in violation of the rules established by the Commandant. But, unfortunately, this is rather a difficult task, because when people lose their close relatives, it is difficult to explain the importance of the problem. I urge you to listen to the calls voiced by the heads of communities, governors, police officers. This is not just someone’s whim,” the Minister said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Armenia lost the fight against coronavirus just as much as the whole world did, including the USA, France, Belgium, Great Britain, Russia, Sweden, Germany and many other developed and super-developed countries.

“Assuming that the Armenian government has lost the fight against the virus, we should admit that mankind and human civilization as a whole was defeated in the fight against COVID-19. Yes, the Armenian government has been facing some bottlenecks in fighting the pandemic like many other countries, but we failed no more than the rest of mankind,” Nikol Pashinyan concluded.