“This Order Will Not Work”: Ashot Barseghyan

Restrictions implemented in public eateries since yesterday will have only negative effects on the sector. This was stated by Ashot Barseghyan, the President of the Restaurants Association and a public catering expert, during an interview with NEWS.am, referring to the order that has come into effect since January 22, which requires citizens to present proof of vaccination or a document certifying testing done within the last 72 hours when entering public places.

“This order will not work. No employer is their enemy. There is no clear mechanism for either verification or supervision. Both the order and the fines are unlawful and will be contested; no fines will be paid. What’s happening is absurd and disgraceful. There are many complaints; for example, the food court in Dalma Mall was empty, and the cafes that were inspected were also empty. This cannot continue for long,” he said.

According to him, there is also a significant issue with the protection of personal data. “It is unacceptable to provide such a vast amount of personal data to unclear places and unclear people.” He noted that these restrictions will have zero impact in terms of preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

“It is evident that the order is from the Minister of Health, has nothing to do with quarantine, and cannot have consequences in the form of harm or fines. This is yet another order that does not even correlate with logic. It cannot force people to avoid contact with each other, let alone get vaccinated,” he added.

It is reminded that, according to the order from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, customers in hotels, public catering establishments, gyms, visitors to libraries, museums, and audiences of organizations conducting cultural activities such as theaters, concerts, and cinemas must present either a testing or vaccination certificate when entering these places via a QR code through a mobile app or a printed version generated from the mobile app.