YEREVAN. – Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today chaired, at the government, a meeting of the committee on coordination of the prevention of the spread of the coronavirus in Armenia.

The discussants conferred on the current situation in the world and in our region due to the coronavirus, and the actions to prevent its spread in Armenia.

The Prime Minister gave appropriate instructions to the heads of the concerned departments.

Summing up the results of the meeting, Pashinyan noted as follows, in particular. "The urgency of this discussion is related to the fact that there are already incidents of deaths from the coronavirus (...) in the neighboring and friendly Islamic Republic of Iran, and we must take action.

As a result of discussions, we decided that today, by the decision of the Government, we will close the land border and communication with the Islamic Republic of Iran for two weeks. Of course, there will be exceptions.

Certain—but not full—restrictions on air communication will [also] apply.

I would also like to state that there is no need for panic. Yes, there is a problem, but thank God, the Republic of Armenia, we have managed to avoid having a coronavirus patient at least until now (...).

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, the Health and Labor Inspectorate Body currently have all the necessary technical means to diagnose the disease.

Today the government will make a decision at a distance session, and the decision will take effect from today.

The border [with Iran] is not closed 100 percent, but, as I said, with the exceptions already listed.”