Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for intensified monitoring of Covid-19 regulations in the country given the recent rise of infection numbers.

He said that last week’s infection numbers were worrying, and that the situation will get worse if preventative measures aren’t taken seriously.

Pashinyan, at a session of the commission coordinating efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Armenia, called for increased inspections of mask wearing, especially of people rising public transportation.

Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan said that 14,287 individuals are now undergoing treatment for the virus.

She said that the first batch of the Astra Zeneca coronavirus vaccine, 24,000 doses, arrived in Armenia yesterday, adding that the government is working to obtain more batches of the vaccine.

The vaccine will inoculate medical workers, care home personnel, persons aged 65 and older as well as younger people suffering from chronic diseases.

Earlier the Ministry of health said it had purchased 15,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, to be made available to “high risk” groups in the country.

The Ministry of Health today reported 424 new coronavirus cases and twelve deaths.