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| Courtesy: Armenian Unified Info Center |
On March 16th, 2020, Armenia had approximately 30 cases of COVID-19 with hundreds suspected of having the virus. While this number may seem low, keep in mind the population of Armenia hovers around 3 million people.
The first case, registered on March 3rd, 2020, was an Armenian citizen, returning from Iran, on a plane mainly populated by Armenian citizens. Upon arrival the government ordered the citizens to “self-isolate” in their residence, seemingly ignoring the fact these people must travel from the airport to their homes, almost all of whom were in close contract with others. To be clear, these citizens were released directly into the public, with the infected citizen taking a taxi to reach his final destination, making a few stops along the way. The other citizens were also released directly into the public, FROM IRAN – a well-known high-risk area for COVID-19. I cannot emphasize this point enough. In a reactionary process, the government started gathering potentially infected people to quarantine them, at the Golden Palace Hotel, in the ski resort town of Tsakhadzor.
The first case, registered on March 3rd, 2020, was an Armenian citizen, returning from Iran, on a plane mainly populated by Armenian citizens. Upon arrival the government ordered the citizens to “self-isolate” in their residence, seemingly ignoring the fact these people must travel from the airport to their homes, almost all of whom were in close contract with others. To be clear, these citizens were released directly into the public, with the infected citizen taking a taxi to reach his final destination, making a few stops along the way. The other citizens were also released directly into the public, FROM IRAN – a well-known high-risk area for COVID-19. I cannot emphasize this point enough. In a reactionary process, the government started gathering potentially infected people to quarantine them, at the Golden Palace Hotel, in the ski resort town of Tsakhadzor.
Logic tells us the government would have learned from their mistake and enacted mandatory quarantine for all arrivals into Armenia; sadly, this was not the case. Two Armenian citizens and an Italian citizen working in Armenia, returned from Italy, another high-risk area, and were again told to “self-isolate”. One of the citizens, a middle-aged woman from Etchmiadzin, or by its proper name Vagharshapat, was indeed infected with COVID-19. Instead of self-isolating herself as instructed, the woman lied to officials, went to a salon, and then to her son’s engagement party where she spread the virus to potentially hundreds of people, with many confirmed cases including 40 children. When questioned by officials the woman replied, “it was my son’s engagement party, I was right to go”. This woman belongs in jail as soon as she is found to be free of the virus if it doesn’t kill her.
While we need to hold individuals responsible for their personal actions, this could have been prevented by proper government action. Before these events occurred, we knew the incubation period and the current and emerging “hot zones”. Why didn’t the government act? Why weren’t mandatory quarantines imposed on arriving passengers for the incubation period of the virus, knowing the lacking conditions of the republic’s health care system?
The minister of health, Arsen Torosyan, has shown a complete lack of competency. As an example, when there were calls to close schools his response was, “children are not affected by the virus, so there is no need to close the schools.” For the sake of argument let’s say the first part of his statement was correct (which it isn't), where is the concern for adults who run the schools, Mr. Torosyan? Even though a low percentage of children
show symptoms of the virus they are still carriers of the virus - who will run the schools when the teachers and administration fall ill? Who will tend to their children?
Unfortunately, there are other areas where the government is failing; particularly, the personal protection of police and health care workers. Why are they working with improper equipment and/or training? In multiple videos and reports, we see health care workers wearing standard surgical masks, not the required N95 type masks? And even when masks are available, the male workers are not shaven and many times do not have their masks on. In addition, why are police wearing absolutely no protection and spraying people with household cleaners as if they are a window (see the video below)?
While we need to hold individuals responsible for their personal actions, this could have been prevented by proper government action. Before these events occurred, we knew the incubation period and the current and emerging “hot zones”. Why didn’t the government act? Why weren’t mandatory quarantines imposed on arriving passengers for the incubation period of the virus, knowing the lacking conditions of the republic’s health care system?
The minister of health, Arsen Torosyan, has shown a complete lack of competency. As an example, when there were calls to close schools his response was, “children are not affected by the virus, so there is no need to close the schools.” For the sake of argument let’s say the first part of his statement was correct (which it isn't), where is the concern for adults who run the schools, Mr. Torosyan? Even though a low percentage of children
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| Arsen Torosyan |
Unfortunately, there are other areas where the government is failing; particularly, the personal protection of police and health care workers. Why are they working with improper equipment and/or training? In multiple videos and reports, we see health care workers wearing standard surgical masks, not the required N95 type masks? And even when masks are available, the male workers are not shaven and many times do not have their masks on. In addition, why are police wearing absolutely no protection and spraying people with household cleaners as if they are a window (see the video below)?
The late reaction of the government to close borders with our neighboring countries and suspend flights is unacceptable. The government failed miserably in the containment of COVID-19 spreading in Armenia. Armenia had a special opportunity considering the nation has a low number of travelers during this season and a relatively small population - Armenia missed the opportunity. Furthermore, the government has failed in training the very people we depend on to keep us safe. Arsen Torosyan must resign or be removed from his post as the Minister of Health.
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