Handling coronavirus crisis: Quarantine restrictions 'will be in place' without prolonging national emergency

The Armenian cabinet on Thursday approved a legislative measure proposing new restrictions to handle the coronavirus crisis without prolonging the state of emergency.

Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan said they estimate "real chances" to contain the epidemic spread under conditions of lifting the lockdown rules. He introduced a package of bills proposing mechanisms towards the protection of the population's life and health.

"In case the package of laws is adopted within the assigned timeframes, the state of emergency, prolonged in Armenia until this September, will no longer be extended. Instead, the restrictions and measures proposed under the draft law will be in effect," he said, adding that the Ministry of Justice elaborated the bills in collaboration with the Health Ministry's Legal Department and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Badasyan added that the authority to impose quarantine rules, after the end of the national emergency, will be vested in the Government, the regional governors and the mayor of Yerevan.

"Whenever the quarantine is established by a regional governor or the mayor of Yerevan, the following measures will be in place: a special entry and exit regime in the epidemic zone, suspension of, or restriction on, the communication along the state border, restrictions on people's right to free movement and mobility of public transport, isolation and self-isolation," he said, elaborating further on the Government's functions.

"Whenever the quarantine is imposed by the Government, the following stricter rules will be possible to enforce depending on the epidemic necessitating the state of emergency: restrictions on the organization and conduct of, or participation in, assemblies or public events, establishment of special safety rules for legal entities, restrictions on the transportations of goods, the activities of educational institutions, as well as government and local government agencies and other institutions," Badasyan said.

He added that the established bans on economic activity, as well as the phone tracking of citizens will not be in effect after lifting the national emergency.

Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan pointed out to several gaps in the proposed legislation, adding that they had "less than a day" to consider the draft package to propose their considerattions.  

"As we look into the restrictions, and the opportunities and authority of different government agencies, there are certain concerns dealing with practical application and proportionality," he said, adding that their monitoring revealed problems not only for individuals but also several public administration bodies.

"We have considerations regarding isolation and self-isolation, and the process of handling appeals. Also the ratio between the quarantine and state of emergency regimes appears to be a matter of principle," the ombudsman added.

Hearing the problems and concerns raised, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ordered the cabinet to discuss all the issues with the interested agencies and give him a written notice before submitting the final draft for signature.