An emergency worker in Yerevan // credit: Yerevan city government
Latest headlines:
>> ARMENIA EXTENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR ANOTHER MONTH UNTIL JULY 13 (JUNE 12)
>> PM PASHINYAN SAYS HE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS BUT HAS HAD NO SYMPTOMS (JUNE 1)
>> PM PASHINYAN EASES LOCKDOWN RULES BUT ALSO SAID THAT THEY MAY BE REINTRODUCED AFTER A SURGE IN CASES (MAY 13/JUNE 4)
>> IMF AGREES $280M AID FOR ARMENIA TO SUPPORT IT THROUGH IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS (MAY 19)
The numbers:
– 28,936 people in Armenia have been infected with the coronavirus and 491 people have died, the Armenian authorities said on June 16. This is the highest infection rate in the Central Asia and South Caucasus region and it has surged since restrictions were relaxed.
– Officials have said that the source of the coronavirus outbreak in Armenia was a sewing factory in Yerevan and people coming over the border from Iran, one of the first countries to suffer a coronavirus epidemic.
— Analysts have said that the number of cases of people confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus has risen in the past couple of weeks since some lockdown rules were relaxed.
Lockdown details:
– A state of emergency was imposed from March 16 until April 14. This was extended until mid-May, then again until June 13 and now until July 13.
– Although the state-of-emergency has been extended, some of the key rules of the lockdown have been lifted. Schools, manufacturing businesses, shopping centres and gyms have been told that they can reopen. Public transport and cafes and restaurants have been allowed to reopen.
– PM Nikol Pashinyan said that although lockdown rules have been eased now, they will be reimposed if the infection rate starts to climb again. He reiterated this on June 3 when he said that the number of cases was rising.
– Armenia’s government said that from May 25 it will be compulsory for people to wear facemasks.
– The state of emergency means that a referendum that had been due to be held on April 5 to decide on the suspension of the country’s top judges has been postponed.
Economic impact:
– Armenia is likely to tip into a recession in 2020, PM Nikol Pashinyan said confirming data from the Central Bank that the coronavirus has hit the economy hard (April 10).
– The IMF said at a briefing that Armenia’s GDP would shrink by 1.5% this year because of the impact of the coronavirus (April 9). It has also said that the government current account deficit will grow to 5% of GDP from 1%.
– The EBRD said that the Armenian economy will shrink y 3.5% this year (May 14).
– The IMF agreed to lend Armenia an extra $280m to help it deal with the impact of the coronavirus (May 19).
– The EU will give 92m euros to Armenia to help it deal with the coronavirus (April 9). This number includes a 51m aid package announced earlier. The EU has said the funds should be used towards medical supplies, training and supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
— Armenia has started large-scale face mask production. PM Nikol Pashinyan said that the aim was to produce 150,000 face masks per day (May 4).
Other news:
– PM Pashinyan said that he and his family had tested positive for the coronavirus, although they had not displayed any of the symptoms.
– Armenia-administered Nagorno-Karabakh, which is still disputed by Azerbaijan, held a presidential election on March 31 and April 14 despite the spread of the coronavirus.