Lockdown restrictions 'must be built on logic and common sense': ex-parliament speaker calls for revising quarantine rules

Davit Sargsyan

The main lessons learned from the global pandemic should not be limited to wearing masks, practicing social distancing and observing norms of hygiene, Ara Babloyan, a former speaker of the National Assembly and a former minister of health, said today, stressing the importance of proper state efforts to provide accurate reporting.

Babloyan, who currently heads Arabkir Joint Medical Center, also blamed the government for relying on people's responsibility and common sense in the fight against coronavirus. "The past months allowed us to recognize this virus to a certain extent, though even in clinically evident cases, it is not always possible to confirm its presence. Perhaps antibody tests help identify the disease after a certain period. Masks are not forever; we must wear them until the right vaccine is detected," he told ArmNews TV channel.  

The doctor predicted two scenarios potentially leading to a twofold increase in the reported daily cases: either massive testing or a failure to observe the safety rules. "When the daily numbers were within the range of 700-750 cases, I predicted a decline and a gradual stabilization in the couple of weeks to come. The daily numbers now stand at 200-300. So we can circumvent the second wave as we have already reached a high peak which taught us important lessons indeed. It is now clear that reliance on proper organizational work rather than the people's consciousness is necessary to oversee the observance of rules."

Babloyan also emphasized the need of elaborating proper safety regulations for schools and universities. "With inbound tourism being in its full swing now, people are required to arrange their daily routine in such a way as to prevent their rest from leading to an increase in the disease dynamics. Also, we need to set the economy in motion and open educational institution," he said, calling for proper regulator procedures (to hire epidemiologists for schools, split classes into smaller groups, re-arrange classroom furniture, etc.).

Babloyan also stressed the urgency of revising the restrictions to make them more reasonable and logical (e.g. abolishing the requirement for TV commentators to wear masks on air when they are alone in the studio). "The state, employers and citizens must bear responsibility - each in their place. Even developed countries, where the state has pinned hope on their citizens' consciousness, faced problems and had to re-enforce stricter restrictions. It is important to save the healthcare sector to enable doctors to save people. The risks are especially high for polyclinics today," he added.