NKR authorities to toughen restrictions due to coronavirus

The count of coronavirus cases in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) has risen sharply; new potential infection carriers arrive from Armenia daily. Authorities should introduce tough restrictive measures so that Stepanakert does not become a hotbed of the epidemic, experts assert.

Now, 69 people are in isolation, the press service of the NKR's Ministry of Public Health (MPH) has informed. During June 2 and 3, 14 new infection cases were detected.

Samvel Balayan, the head of the information office under the NKR's Commandant, has stated that movement across the border is limited; and an emergency regime has been introduced.

"Every day, over 500 compatriots come from Armenia; there is a high probability that there are infection carriers among them," Araik Arutyunyan, the President, wrote on the Facebook. He has admitted the tightening of entry-exit restrictions.

Armenia is in the first place in Southern Caucasus in the number of coronavirus cases – as of June 5, COVID-19 was confirmed in 11,817 people; 183 patients had died.

The Karabakh "Tomorrow of Artsakh" Party has urged the authorities on the Facebook to monitor the observance of sanitary regulations at entertainment centres, in shops and banks.

Tigran Grigoryan, a political analyst, has noted that "the authorities rely on citizens' self-awareness and responsibility in the fight against the epidemic, but the example of Armenia should have shown that this is a hopeless and short-sighted policy."