YEREVAN. – There is no doubt that the [coronavirus] epidemic has caused significant social and economic damage, but it is very important to assess that damage. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this Thursday at the Cabinet session of the government of Armenia.

"Of course, the indicators of economic decline are being published, they are known. Here we always have the problem of having accurate indicators of the social situation in the country, and to what extent the situation has worsened.

Cash register [receipt] turnover has decreased by only 2.5% in August 2020 as compared to August 2019. (…). This number itself must prove that yes, we have problems, but we do not have a social collapse and a social crisis," he said.

"This situation has occurred also thanks to the steps taken by the government because 163.4 billion drams have been injected into the economy during the implementation of the anti-crisis programs," the PM stressed.