Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has ordered all schools and universities in the country closed until March 23 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision was taken at a high-level government meeting today to discuss how the country should cope with the virus that already has infected six people.

Armenian Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that of the six who have tested positive for the virus, five have no serious symptoms and one has pneumonia but is in stable condition.

Torosyan said that the government has adequate medical supplies to deal with virus and advised people not to hoard masks since only those showing symptoms of the virus and those who interact with these people need to wear them.

Pashinyan said the government will review the situation on March 18 or 19 to see whether the school ban should be extended.

The government has also set up a Coronavirus Prevention Committee they will meet later today.

Pashinyan urges citizens to follow official instructions and not to heed unverified information disseminated on the social media.