Countermeasures in Preventing the Spreadof COVID-19 in Armenia(Tentative as of 5 May 2020)
1. Introduction
In order make informed decisions as well as manage the implementation of COVID-19
countermeasures, the Government of Armenia created a Special Group of Commandants
headed by the Vice Prime Minister. This group came up with policies to mitigate the spread ofthe virus (Table 1).

Mitigation

Table 1 Policy to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in Armenia
Policy in Armenia

Staying Home

Social/Physical
DistancingWearing Mask

Washing Hands



Lockdown is imposed. Police is mobilized to enforce travel
restrictions (See Annex 1 Guidelines on Travel Restrictions)
Staying at Home is mandatory
Cancelation of Group Events (e.g., church worship, cultural, andsport events)
Limiting Number People in Gatherings (e.g., gathering for
funeral is allowed but limited to 20 people with social distance)
Wearing face masks in public places is encouraged but notprovided for free (it’s personal responsibility)
Frequent washing of hands is encouraged (on your own)

2. Some Practices Based on DRRM Experiences
Practices in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in Armenia are modified andapplied in mitigating the spread of the virus, such as the use of mobile apps and automatic fundtransfer system to vulnerable groups.
2.1 Mobile App: Covid-19 Armenia
To ensure fact-based and official information about COVID-19, the government developed amobile app, Covid-19 Armenia (Figure 1)1. This app offers guidance on assessing the symptoms
and whether the individual need to visit medicalfacility. Additionally, the app offers thefollowing features:

Statistics on the number of cases, updated
daily
Information of all hospitals of Armenia,
emphasizing those treating covid-19 cases
Guidance on testing, including diagnosis
and testing centers
Online self-diagnosis based on answers toquestions about the symptoms
Updates on government policies anddecisions made by commandants

Figure 1 Covid-19 Armenia App

1 Covid-19 Armenia, https://apps.apple.com/am/app/covid-19-armenia/id1505830061



Online issuance of ‘electronic pass’ from the commandant in case residents want toleave home
Guidance from World Health Organization (WHO) and other trusted sources

2.2 Automatic Fund Transfer
As part of social protection program following disasters, the Government of Armenia has anexisting automatic fund transfer system to most vulnerable groups. This fund transfer system
is also utilized in the response to covid-19.
Using the database from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MLSA), retired pensioners
and families who are beneficiaries of government subsidies due to poverty will automaticallyreceive the social aid package in relation to covid-19. The aid is sent together with theirmonthly pensions or monthly subsidies. Therefore, in Armenia, these groups of beneficiarieswill automatically receive the social aid without submitting an application. Assistance toother groups of people is based on agreed criteria (e.g., loss of job due to pandemic,
households with children, and others) established by the commandants. In this case, qualified
beneficiaries need to apply (See Annex 2 Social Support Programs to Alleviate Impacts ofCovid-19). Note that most beneficiaries to social support programs do not need to apply, as
money will be automatically transfer using an existing system.
3. Challenges
Flattening the covid-19 curve in Armenia is a major challenge, as the government lacksufficient capacity to administer mass testing. Although many activities are implemented torestrict people’s movement, absence of mass testing can compromise these efforts. Moreover,the following challenges are also observed:

While the commandants encouraged “work from home” arrangement, the support ofprivate sector (businesses and companies) is essential in allowing their employees totelework during the specified period of time.
Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as other businesses stopped
operating since March 2020. Most of them badly need economic aid packages to restart
after easing the lockdown.
Schools and universities temporarily stopped students from going to school. The online
learning system is new to most teachers and students, and so there are issues concerning
access and methodologies of teaching.

4. Insights
The Government of Armenia, particularly the Ministry of Emergency Situations, has put inplace systems to manage disaster risks, and these systems are activated through theDeclaration of State of Emergency. Hence, in preventing the spread of covid-19, thegovernment has activated DRRM system. Unlike other countries (e.g., Japan and Korea),
Armenia strictly enforced “stay at home” orders by mobilizing the police and otherenforcement agencies. One of the reasons strictly restricting people’s movement is that
Armenia does not have strong health system. It has limited hospital beds, ventilators, andeven health care insurance of citizens.
5. References
Government of Armenia, https://www.gov.am/am/covid-travel-restrictions/
NCDC Armenia, https://ncdc.am/coronavirus/
Covid-19 Armenia App, https://apps.apple.com/am/app/covid-19-armenia/id1505830061
Ministry of Emergency Situations Armenia, http://mes.am/en/news/item/2020/03/18/covid19/

Annex1
Guidelines on Travel Restrictions
Background
On March 16, 2020, Armenia declared a state of emergency, allowing the government to takesteps to minimize risk of infection during the outbreak of COVID-19. This State of Emergency
was extended until May 14, 2020. Actions include closure of schools and universities,
prohibition of events with more than 20 persons in attendance, restrictions on movement within
the country, screening and quarantine measures, and restriction of entry into Armenia.


Individuals must always carry passports and self-declaration forms. Violations ofmovement restrictions of quarantine are punishable by law.
Mandatory closure of non-essential establishments.

Individuals Who Can Enter Armenia
 All citizens of the Republic of Armenia
 Their family members who are not citizens of the Republic of Armenia
 Individuals who are not citizens of the Republic of Armenia but have the legal right toreside in the Republic of Armenia
 Individuals who are not citizens of the Republic of Armenia except those who havearrived from the list of countries with tense epidemic situation or have been in thosecountries within the previous 14 days
 Diplomatic representatives, representatives of consulates and international organizations
and their family members from the countries (territories) with tense epidemic situation
 A driver and one replacing driver for a cargo transportation from the Russian Federation,
Islamic Republic of Iran or Georgia, as well as entry and exit of personnel of cargo planes
who do not have detected symptoms of virus
 With the special permission of the Border Guard Commander of the Republic ofArmenia, individuals with justified health, economic or manufacturing emergency needs
to enter the Republic of Armenia Relatives (parents, spouse, children, sister and brother) of the deceased who are scheduled
to attend a memorial or a burial ceremony One driver and one substitute driver for a freight carrier coming from the RussianFederation, Iran or Georgia
 Aircraft personnel performing passenger or cargo transportations, as well as military or
sanitary flights
 In other special occasions, determined by the CommandantIndividuals Who Cannot Enter Armenia
 Non-citizens of the Republic of Armenia arriving from the Russian Federation or Georgia
 Non-citizens of the Republic of Armenia who have arrived from the list of countries withtense epidemic situation or have been in those countries during the previous 14 days

Annex 2
Social Support Programs to Alleviate Impacts of Covid-19
The following are qualified beneficiaries of the government’s economic support.
Families with Children Family with a child under 14 years of age, where the parents or one of the parents has lost
his/her registered work in the period from March 13 to 25 and none of the parents has ajob as of March 25
 Support type: one-time support for each minor child in the amount of AMD 100,000
 Basic terms and conditions: The average monthly salary did not exceed 500,000 drams
during the two months prior to dismissal
 There is no need to apply, the system automatically identifies beneficiaries and transfers
the money
Individuals who Lost Jobs
 Those who lost their job on March 13-30, 2020
 Support: lump-sum assistance in the amount of 68,000 AMD
 Basic terms and conditions:- Availability of a registered job in the period from January 1 to March 13, 2020
- Average monthly salary did not exceed 500,000 drams in the two months prior todismissal- The beneficiary did not work in financial organizations or in gambling establishments
 There is no need to apply, the system automatically identifies the beneficiaries andtransfers the money
Pregnant Women without Job
 Pregnant woman who does not have a job as of March 30, and whose husband lost his job
between March 13-30, or the pregnant woman who does not have a husband
 Support type: one-time assistance in the amount of AMD 100,000
 There is no need to apply, the system decides the beneficiaries on its own and transfers
the money
Individuals whose works relate to Tourism
 Those individuals who were employed in the spheres listed below or were self-employedon March 13-30, 2020
- Hotel services- Public catering services- Tourism services- Hairdressing and beauty salon services- Retail services (except for food and drug dealers)- Ground transport operations (route transport)- Preschool institutions (private kindergartens)- Sporting activities (sports clubs, swimming pools)- Entertainment and other leisure activities Support type: lump-sum assistance: 50% of the average salary of an employee in JanuaryFebruary, but not more than AMD 136,000, if the beneficiary worked full time, not lessthan 68,000 AMD
Individuals who are Self-Employed

Those self-employed shall be supported at the rate of 10% of the turnover posted in the4th quarter of 2019, but not more than 136,000 drams
Basic terms and conditions: Beneficiaries were employed in the affected sectors in theperiod from March 13-30, 2020
Where to apply: online at the following website www.ssa.am

Parents who don't have jobs
 Those families with a child aged 0-18, where both parents do not have a registered job
 Support type: lump-sum assistance for each child in the amount of AMD 26,500
 Basic terms and conditions: The children and at least one of the parents are residents of
the Republic of Armenia; the family is not eligible for a family benefit; in case one of theparents had a job before March 1, 2020, his or her monthly salary did not exceed 500,000
drams.
 Where to apply: online at the following website www.ssa.am
Subscribers to Natural Gas and Electricity
 Those who are subscribers to natural gas and electricity supply contracts whose consumer
bills did not exceed 10,000 drams for natural gas consumption, 5,000 drams for electricity
consumption in February 2020
 Support: lump-sum assistance to the amount of 50% of natural gas and electricity
consumed in February 2020, respectively
 Basic terms and conditions: Natural gas and electricity consumption in February 2020
did not exceed the amount specified in the decision There is no need to apply: the money is automatically transferred to the utility operator tosettle the overdue debt of customers eligible under this Action 11 or as an advancepayment in the absence of overdue payments.
Socially disadvantaged families
 Those considered socially disadvantaged families
 Form of assistance: one-time assistance at the rate of 50% of the amount of the social
benefit, of which:- 70% is provided in cash along with the benefit for April- 30% is available as a payment for the energy consumed by the subscriber Basic terms and conditions: eligible are those households entitled to family and social
benefits as of April 2020 There is no need to apply: 70% of the proceeds of assistance is available as a cash
payment in addition to the amount of the family allowance for April; the balance of 30%
is transferred to the utility operator on behalf of the subscriber of electricity.
 If the beneficiary has a debt, the funds will be used to settle the arrears.
 In the absence of overdue bills, they will come as a prepayment for services.
 If the beneficiary is not an electricity subscriber, this part of the funds shall be offered tothe beneficiary as a cash payment.

Disclaimer
This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC member countries
based on the personal observation.
The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADRC.