The Armenian Ministry of Health says it is still compiling demographic information on those who have tested positive for Covid-19.

On March 13, Hetq wrote to the ministry asking for a demographic breakdown of those infected in the country; their gender, age and place of residence (not their address). 

We received the following from the ministry ten days later. It reads, “Demographic data regarding citizens confirmed to have the coronavirus disease is still being collated.”

Hetq then contacted Ministry of Health Spokesperson Lilit Babakhanyan for clarification.

The conversation was as follows.

- The data that you want now is being charted. At the press conference, the minister said it will be made public. That’s my answer.

- We understand that there is a lot of work to do, but we want to know what information will be made public, their gender, age, place of residence?

- I do not have such information, but I know that it is being charted to provide more information. Of course, it is data that does not identify the person. If you look at the page where we publish information, it was scarce before, and then it expanded. We’re increased information in stages.

- You’re saying the data is being collated? Is there a team working on the database?

- Of course, they’re collecting. We’re working with people.

- If they are collecting, what is the difficulty in downloading data from this database and answering our query? We also work hard and providing information to the public is no less important.

- You are right, but now it is being collated. This information is not available.

- What’s the problem if you have a database…

- No problem. The work is in progress. We will do it, we will.

"When will you provide it?" You sat on our request for ten days.

"When it's done." To be honest, I could extend [the timeframe, edit], but I didn't extend it because I want to respond sooner.

- Emergency restrictions do not limit the right to information. The law on access to information has not changed.

- You're right, I'll extend the deadline next time.

- Extend it in accordance with the law, but as a result you must provide information. Because if you do not provide information to journalists, you are in some way hampering our work.

- I have provided information.

- There are no numbers in the information you provided.

- It's still being processed. There is nothing I can say.

- This means that you are delaying any answer.

"I don't delay it. I replied that it was being processed."

- What do you suggest? Do we work cooperatively in this situation or must we inform the public that the ministry does not provide information in the manner prescribed by law?

"What can I say, it's your right. Can I say anything?"

P.S. Hetq also asked the ministry about isolation and testing procedures, about which information was provided.

For the second time today, Hetq has sent its request for information to the State of Emergency Command, expecting to exercise its media right to receive information.