Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, who is also commandant of the current state of emergency in Armenia due to the COVID-19 situation in the country, on Wednesday signed a new decision which specifies the exceptions for wearing face masks in Armenia.

Accordingly, people suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses, emphysema or bronchitis, severe respiratory failure, as well as those with 3rd- and 4th-degree chronic heart failure may no longer wear face masks in open public areas, provided they carry with them a medical document confirming the fact of the respective disease.

The decision comes into force on Wednesday at 11:59pm.