Armenian cabinet approves plan to extend national emergency  

The executive on Monday approved a bill on extending the month-long national emergency for another 30-day period, agreeing on the urgency of stronger efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The proposed date and time for ending the special measure is 5pm local time, May 14, Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan said.

"It is very important to state that in terms of pure epidemiological figures, we  do not have an unmanageable situation as such. Yet, it is important to also state a very important risk we are currently facing. Certain forms of economic activity have been permitted under the emergency coordinator's decision, and that creates speccific risks that the figures will rise should our citizens fail to abide by the epidemiological rules," he noted. 

Badasyan also announced a recently approved decision on lifting restrictions on the media "provided a proper monitoring is conducted to evaluate the matching interests between a specific media outlet and the public, and the information policies over the period". "Should we observe manifestations posing certain risks. we will make changes in the government decision to reinstate the formerly established regime," he added.

The prolonged state of emergency will be announced by the National Assembly at a special session later today.