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Grisha Balasanyan

Police Restrict Etchmiadzin Public Transport; Doctors Checking for Fever

Buses and mashrutkas (minivans) are running on a limited schedule today between Etchmadzin and Yerevan.

Etchmiadzin has seen a spike of suspected coronavirus infections of late.

The vehicles are to be seen parked at many of the local stations.

Yesterday, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, in a Facebook post, announced that only three of Etchmiadzin’s 27 departure points would be in service.

Several villages in the Etchmadzin area are thus deprived of public transportation.

The routes still operating are Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak (in the direction of Shahumyan), and Yerevan/Masis (in the direction of Voskehat)

Riders on these routes are being checked for fever.

Etchmiadzin Freight and Transport Director Vagharshak Sargsyan was somewhat taken aback when we asked why the buses weren’t running to the villages.

“Don’t you watch TV? Don’t you know why they aren’t running?” he responded, adding that taking on passengers didn’t make sense if there was no place to discharge them.

When we asked why the police had parked buses along the roads to halt traffic, Sargsyan told us to “go ask the cops.”

“I let them have the buses, to safeguard my kids,” he said.

Many of the company’s buses are parked at the company’s parking lot.

Hetq reporters have been on the scene since early morning, watching the actions of police and doctors.

We’ve noticed that only passengers departing from Etchmiadzin are being tested for fever. Passengers departing for Etchmiadzin are not being tested.

Those with temperature of 37C and above are escorted off the buses and must fill out a form listing their personal data and contact information. They are then sent on their way.

A doctor manning a post along the Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak roadway since eleven last night told us she has no idea when her shift will end. No information has been forthcoming.

She said that as of 8:30 this morning 43 individuals had fevers of 37C or over and that their information was taken.

Many of those with elevated temperatures had to be told that they have nothing to worry about. They showed signs of panicking.

Some passengers told doctors that their elevated temperatures were caused by the heat inside the buses.

Regardless of the cause, their names and phone numbers are taken down.

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