The Armenian National Assembly today, by a vote of 80 to 28, approved a bill, at the first reading, allowing the government to continue administering coronavirus-related safety regulations without extending a state of emergency yet again.

The bill was presented by the First Deputy Minister of Justice Rafik Grigoryan, who says it provides the necessary legislative tools to apply certain restrictions to battle the spread of infectious diseases and outbreaks. Such restrictions include ordering a quarantine in the event of an epidemic.

The government says the bill mirrors Council of Europe recommendations for containing the coronavirus epidemic.

The bill allows for a total nation-wide lockdown and the isolation of specific communities, as well as the quarantining of infected individuals.

New coronavirus cases in the country have dropped over the past few weeks.

The Ministry of Health reported today that 190 people tested positive for the virus during the past 24 hours. Four died from Covid-19 during the same period.