On 26 March, the press service of the Armenain government published a list of temporarly suspended activities in the country following the government’s decision to add to the existing restrictions (Caucasus Watch reported) in order to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

The following activities were suspended: 1) membrane production, 2) paper and paperboard manufacturing, 3) stationery production, 4) printing of other printing products (except newspapers) with the exception of postage stamps and envelopes, 5) production of plastic products for packaging, 6) production of hollow glass products, 7) industrial gas production, 8) manufacture of other alkaline organic chemicals, 9) production of chalk, gypsum and alabaster, 10) aluminum production, 11) retail sale of newspapers and stationery in specialized stores; 12) legal activities excluding law practice and 13) religious services. 

The government also announced that it would release additional 270.1 million drams to protect public health and support various measures to combat the spread of the virus. The government also approved a comprehensive program of measures to combat the coronavirus impacts. The program focuses on three levels of polarization, namely: 1) in the event of deformation of consumption in the system where certain decrease in liquidity was observed, 2) the support for people who lost their jobs due to the virus, and 3) ensuring the social protection of socially vulnerable groups of the population.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at a parliament session that the government plans to make major changes in the structure of agriculture and would be paying all the debts of farmers and offer, through co-financing, agricultural loans to farmers who don’t have bad credit histories. As for those farmers who were on the “blacklists”, Pashinyan suggested that they create agricultural cooperatives so that they can receive loans. “In this case, the government’s co-financing may be up to 70%. Since there is a view that people won’t have big chances of leaving for work abroad, the government’s hypothesis is that those people will be involved in the agriculture sector and help solve the problem with food safety,” he said.

Pashinyan also spoke about the current state of affairs of the people infected with the virus. He said that two of them were in critical condition, one of which is a US citizen. For those who have mild symptoms of the virus and do not receive any treatment, Pashinyan said that they would be placed in hotels instead. He added that in this cases it would be necessary to negotiate with hotel representatives so that the price is set below market level. Certain social groups in the country began expressing their concerns over their employment and salaries. Social networks and some media outlets in the country wrote about the teachers concern over the possible reduction in the salaries for those not involved in the process of distance education. Armenia’s Education Minister Araik Harutyunyan guaranteed that that won’t be the case.

Leader of the party ‘Prosperous Armenia’ Gagik Tsarukyan called on the government today to declare  tax amnesty for all citizens in order to mitigate the critical situation that has emerged after the government declared the state of emergency in the country. He said that as many as 200 thousand families survive on daily wages of  5-7 thousand drams and many are likely to be laid off, which is fraught with significant social difficulties. According to Tsarukyan, the government should consider the issue of compensation for citizens who are forced out of work, restructuring loans, or deferment of utility bill payments. Tsarukyan described the government’s appeal to the banks to display 'individual approach' to every borrower as 'ridiculous and unreasonable.” 

Members of the party's parliamentary faction said the government must take urgent measures to overcome inflation, revise the restriction on the movement of citizens. The parliamentarians also expressed concern about the appearance of low-quality medical products in the market, pointing out the need for strict measures to curb such entrepreneurial activity.

The current tally of infected persons in the country is 290. On 26 March, Armenia reported first death related to coronavirus.