What Changes Does the Minister Want to Implement for Public Catering Visits

Days ago, Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan announced that the Ministry of Health is developing a draft regulation requiring mandatory vaccination or testing for visiting entertainment venues. This announcement has received a very negative response from representatives of the sector, who warn that such restrictions could lead to the collapse of the entire industry, which is already among the hardest hit by the coronavirus, compounded now by seasonal inactivity.

ArmDaily.am has learned that the relevant draft decision is already prepared and is being circulated in several establishments. The current version of the document stipulates that access to the public catering sector will only be allowed with a certificate of a negative coronavirus test taken within the last 72 hours or proof of full vaccination. This means that unvaccinated citizens will have to undergo testing not every 14 days but every three days if they utilize public catering services or refrain from visiting any place altogether. The Ministry of Economy is well aware of the significant economic damage this will cause to the sector and the potential losses involved.

In fact, each subsequent step taken by the Ministry of Health in its fight against the coronavirus is a tougher restriction. They tighten the regulations as much as they can, and the reasons are clear: daily infection rates exceed 1000, and death tolls have long been in the dozens. 300 patients are waiting for hospitalization, and state resources are not unlimited. Additionally, vaccination may not prevent infection, but it at least allows individuals to have a milder course of the illness and avoid hospitalization.

All these restrictions are aimed at ensuring widespread vaccinations, while testing merely adds an additional burden and cost that 'punishes' the unvaccinated, providing no protection against infection and failing to prevent the spread of the virus.