Following the declaration of a “state of emergency” in Armenia, the country’s parliament has convened a special session to discuss the specifics of the decision.

Taking the podium at the National Assembly, PM Nikol Pashinyan told MPs that thirty COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the country and that nineteen are linked to a marriage betrothal party that took place in the town of Etchmiadzin.

Pashinyan said that one case was confirmed yesterday in Yerevan, at a manufacturing plant.

Pashinyan said three of those infected are over sixty, and that one has pneumonia.

Pashinyan told MPs that all those diagnosed are in good or satisfactory condition.

“At the moment the situation can be considered manageable. The biggest risk is related to the case of the work plant, but we seem to have been able to draw that line. In such cases you can never be sure, that's why such a decision was made,” he said referring to the state of emergency declaration.

Pashinyan confessed that the Law on Emergency Situations has no provision for dealing with epidemics.

"For the last twenty days we have witnessed cases where our beloved compatriots do not always follow the code of conduct proposed by the ministry to ensure the safety of both themselves and others, and in many cases events can develop in such a way as to require coercion." Pashinyan said.

Referring to the food stocks, Pashinyan said there are adequate reserves in the country and there will be no shortages for at least one month.

Pashinyan added that the director of government food reserves has the authority to make decisions, such as banning the export of certain products.

"There are strict restrictions on the dissemination of information, this is solely related to coronavirus and does not mean that any critical publication of the government's work will be avoided. The restriction applies only to the dissemination of information related to the virus,” Pashinyan said, adding that the public has probably seen how the government is trying to publish about the virus once it is confirmed

Pashinyan added that public gatherings such as weddings, betrothals and funerals are banned throughout the country.

"The issue of funerals is sensitive. We are not placing restrictions from the start, but they can be epidemic epicenters so that the number of participants will be limited to twenty, depending on the situation," he said.