We have a decision: we will not resort to lockdowns at all – Pashinyan

It is clear that the coronavirus will be with us for a long time because when one wave passes, mutations occur, and so on. This was stated today, July 22, at a government meeting by acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan while addressing the necessity of vaccinations.

“In other words, it is unrealistic to expect that one day the coronavirus will simply disappear. But there is also good news. At least, according to the current data, the existing vaccines are effective against all strains, which means that if we translate your call for vigilance, it means two things: we must continue the vaccination efforts very intensively, and secondly, we must keep the practice of wearing masks in closed spaces at a rather high level. Therefore, this should be our direction. I want to remind that since May 2020, we have adopted the policy that we must learn to live with the coronavirus. We have that decision, and I hope we can implement that decision in practice, that we will not resort to lockdowns at all, but we must do this with joint efforts,” he announced.

According to Pashinyan, this process should be actively promoted among state agency employees: “Because, indeed, the coronavirus will constantly have new waves and new strains, and the means to protect against it are two: masks and vaccination. Therefore, we must also make efforts to ensure that the rules for wearing masks in closed spaces are maximally well maintained. Our call to our compatriots is to definitely adhere to that rule as much as possible so that we do not have to resort to administrative measures in this area. However, if the statistics force us to do so, we will have to tighten the mask-wearing rules. But I repeat, the most effective way is vaccination,” he declared.

Pashinyan added that we currently have a fairly good stock of vaccines and continue negotiations to reach the necessary targets: “So all agencies should support the Ministry of Health in ensuring that vaccinations take place at the necessary pace and quantity.”