Infectious Disease Doctor Calls on People to Follow Advice and Stay Home

The Minister of Health of Armenia, Arsen Torosyan, has shared a post by doctor Ashot Papikyans, noting, 'Ashot Papikyan is the head of one of our infectious disease hospital departments. He has been living and working at the hospital continuously during these days. As for the rest, he said it himself.'

Papikyan wrote on his Facebook page, 'It has been 13 days since I and almost our entire staff have self-isolated. I do not see my children, nor my wife, only because we work and interact 24/7 with patients exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus, both confirmed and suspected. As an infectious disease doctor, my conscience, professional discipline, and the oath I took do not allow me to refuse to treat patients.'

'But I am shocked at what is happening in the streets of Yerevan right now; everyone is living as if nothing has happened. Why aren’t you staying home? If you don’t stay home, then doctors will have to stay at home too—and not just at home… Believe me, no one is immune, especially healthcare workers, as we are in close contact with patients at every moment. DOCTORS WANT TO GO HOME TOO!! And when WE stay home, it will already be too LATE for YOU!!! Don’t say later, let’s get to work, we are struggling… Think, think a little… WE HAVE STAYED TO WORK FOR YOUR SAKE, YOU STAY HOME FOR US,'

he concluded.