On 24 March, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared in a public address to the nation new, even stricter measures required to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus within the country, reported arka.am. 

The new measures required: 1) the ceasing of work of thousands of enterprises with only companies whose activities were considered vital would be allowed to work, 2)  movement of citizens prompted by only absolute necessity would be allowed; 3) when going outdoor the Armenian citizens must have a passport or ID-card; 4) being in the streets must be reasoned by vital circumstances; 5) the commandant’s office will establish the necessary special permit form for the movement of citizens; 6) people can only gather in groups of no more than two people, including in yards and arbors; 7)  shops, pharmacies and banks would continue working; 8) from 10:00 to 12:00, all stores, pharmacies and banks will serve only citizens over 65; 9) all rules of hygiene and calls of the ministry of health must be followed at home.

In addition, the government task force enforcing a coronavirus-related state of emergency in Armenia announced a de facto partial closure of virtually all state agencies. It said only a limited number of their employees will be allowed to go to work.

Pashinyan also updated the nation in regard to the sources of the infection in Armenia. “There were three chains of the spread of coronavirus, which began from citizens from Iran, citizens from Echmiadzin and a factory in Yerevan,” he said. “We have managed to stop the chain associated with Iran and Echmiadzin, however, it is possible that the case at the factory in Yerevan has taken uncontrolled development, as cases were recorded at other plants in Yerevan and Charentsavan,” he said.

The current tally of infected persons in the country is 265.