Armenia makes mask wearing mandatory in outdoor public spaces
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Armenian authorities have again stepped up enforcement of rules requiring people to wear medical masks in outdoor public spaces due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases. The Health Ministry said today that the requirement comes into force on November 1.
At the same time, the ministry listed a set of conditions when wearing a face mask is not mandatory in outdoor public spaces. The list includes children under the age of 5, participants and speakers at protocol events with the participation of President, Prime Minister, Catholicos of All Armenians, the head of the Constitutional Court (this does not apply to journalists and staff).
Also, people with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or bronchitis, severe respiratory failure, chronic heart failure of functional class 3 and 4, if these persons have an appropriate medical document confirming the fact of the disease are not required to wear face coverings in outdoor public spaces.
People playing sports or cycling, people in specially designated outdoor and recreation areas, beaches, mountains, forests and similar outdoor areas are not either required to wear face masks, but not in public parks, city squares, botanical gardens and zoos, when visiting historical and cultural sites, during a pilgrimage, when hiking individually or in a group, having excursions, walks, travel and other activities of a similar nature.
People with mental or behavioral disorders, people with face traumas or with maxillofacial intervention in the oral cavity, when n smoking, drinking and eating are exempt from mask wearing in outdoor public spaces.
Armenian health officials have recorded 2,193 new cases of Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, saying the total number of confirmed cases rose to 306,739 as of Saturday morning.
According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 52 people have died from Covid-19 during the past 24 hours. The total tally of such deaths is now 6,284.
On July 9, the government of Armenia extended the coronavirus quarantine for another six months until December 20, 2021.
The nationwide quarantine was first imposed on September 11, 2020 replacing the state of emergency that was declared on March 16 to stop the spread of coronavirus. -0-
