Armenia 

The number of Covid-19 cases continues growing amidst the government’s decision to fully reopen the economy (Caucasus Watch reported).

Some critics accused the Armenian government of trying to dodge responsibility for its tax enforcement of stay-at-home orders and failure to contain the epidemic with the radical lifting of restrictions.

Despite the growing numbers, Armenian health authorities are still able to hospitalize or isolate all people testing positive for the virus. The spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health Alina Nikoghosyan said that many of these patients are monitored or treated by doctors at hotels isolated from the outside world. “We are talking about people showing no symptoms at all,” she explained.

In the meantime, the Armenian State Revenue Committee (SRC) created an alternative platform for economic entities to make their tax payments electronically. It said business entities and individuals would now be able to fulfil their tax obligations on its electronic reporting platform by using their credit cards. 

The current tally of infected persons in Armenia stands at 3392, with 46 reported deaths.

Azerbaijan

The Chairman of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Unit (TABIB) Ramin Bayramli stated that the number of cases in the country continues to grow.  “The cases of infection were mainly detected in Azerbaijan’s Baku, Ganja, Yevlakh, Absheron, Kurdamir, Tovuz and Shirvan,” the chairman said. “The cases of infection mainly account for Ganja and Absheron. In accordance with the statistics, the second wave of infection may begin,” he said, adding that the increase of numbers is the consequence of the Azerbaijani citizens' irresponsible attitude to the quarantine regime rules.

Bayramli also presented the statistics of the pandemic of the country. Moat of the Covid-19 cases were reported in the capital of Baku (47.5%), followed by the Ganja-Gazakh economic region (13.6%), Aran economic region (10.2%), Lankaran economic region (9.4%) and the Absheron region (5.5%). 

He also spoke about the possibility of reopening the cafes in the country. “The decisions about opening of the Baku Metro, restaurants in Baku and the country’s districts are made on the basis of an analysis of the data on the dynamics of the pandemic. We cannot keep them closed for a long time,” he stated.

Bayramli also spoke on the possibility of reopening the big shopping malls in the country, saying that late May is considered a fitting timeframe for the consideration, but added that opening sooner is possible. “The shopping malls may open in the coming days. However, restrictions may be introduced for children's entertainment centers and catering facilities that may increase the number of infected people,” he said.

Speaking on the government's plan to tackle the virus, Bayramli said that a new stage of combating the virus in the country begins. “During the tough quarantine regime, we managed to limit the spread of coronavirus infection. We mobilized medical facilities and renewed our resources. The next stage is the implementation of the planned measures to control and stabilize the epidemiological situation. A separate plan of measures and rules has been developed for each of these stages,“ he said.

The current tally of infected persons in Azerbaijan stands at 2519, with 32 reported deaths.

Georgia

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced that all shops, except malls, clothing and shoe stores would be reopened.

The Georgian government also lifted the restrictions on entry and exit from the capital of Tbilisi. Gakharia added that the travel restrictions will also be lifted in Rustavi and Gardabani from 14 May, and in Marneuli from 18 May.

The health officials in the country stated their optimism that the spread of the virus in the country is beginning to decrease. The Head of Tbilisi Infectious Disease Hospital Tengiz Tsertsvadze said that the rate of coronavirus infection is currently decreasing in Georgia and says if citizens maintain social distancing there will be very little increase in the number of cases in the coming days. The Director of the First University Clinic Levan Ratiani also stated yesterday that “this entire mess will end soon but we will have to continue living with this virus.” 

The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a 9 million lari grant programme together with the Georgian Agriculture and Rural Development Agency (ARDA) to help Georgia’s rural regions respond to the economic and social challenges amid the coronavirus crisis. The programme will be implemented in eight municipalities – Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Dedoplistskaro, Kazbegi, Keda, Khulo, Lagodekhi and Tetritskaro – where UNDP and the EU are working together 'to promote livelihoods outside agriculture’. The Rural Development Programme will assist non-agricultural business start-ups and growing enterprises with grants worth up to GEL 170,000 per project. 

The country also received an additional $3 million in assistance from the US. The funds will be used to train healthcare workers on the proper use of personal protective equipment; infection prevention and control; contact tracing of suspected cases of COVID-19. 

The current tally of infected persons in Georgia stands at 638, with 10 reported deaths.