Who is Exempt from Presenting PCR Test or Vaccination Certificate Requirements

The Ministry of Health of Armenia, the Ministry of Justice, and the Coordination Office of the Prime Minister's staff have issued a statement regarding the new regulations that will come into effect starting October 1, aimed at ensuring public health safety.

“Unvaccinated employees are required to present a certificate confirming a negative PCR test result to their employer within 14 days, between October 1 and 14. In cases of lack of a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test result within 14 days, as well as violations of the requirements for maintaining relevant registries, administrative penalties will be applied by the inspection bodies starting from October 14.

Pregnant women are exempt from the requirement to present a PCR test or vaccination certificate. Employees with temporary contraindications to vaccination must present a PCR test. Those with absolute contraindications to vaccination are exempt from presenting a PCR test or vaccination certificate if they provide relevant medical documentation.

Some segments of the public express doubts that the Minister of Health's decree cannot impose such restrictions. However, it is either consciously or unconsciously overlooked that this decree stems from other higher legal acts such as the Constitution, the Law on Ensuring Sanitary and Epidemic Safety of the Population of the Republic of Armenia, and the Law on Population Protection in Emergency Situations. Based on these legal foundations, such rules are stipulated in the decree, aimed at protecting public health and preventing the spread of coronavirus disease.

Previous anti-epidemic rules remain in force, and strict monitoring of these rules continues,” the statement concludes.