On 18 March the Armenian health officials recorded 1,024 cases of Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, which was the highest number since 17 December 2020. They announced that the total number of confirmed cases rose to 181,165. In that period 19 deaths were reported, bringing the total tally to 3,301.

The country’s Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan spoke on the issue of vaccination in the country. Avanesyan said that Armenia received a small batch of Russian Sputnik V vaccine a month ago and that they are used to vaccinate a small group of people, mainly health workers and people at risk, with no reported side effects. She also said no mass vaccination is planned yet, but people in risk groups will get the jabs along with the import of new batches of vaccines. According to her, there was no specific data regarding the frequency of vaccination and the duration of the immunity, as everything depends on the type of vaccine. Avenesyan stressed that for risk groups, vaccination would be free, for the rest it would be paid, but the price is still unknown. The Ministry of Health has approved three vaccines against coronavirus - Sputnik V, AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

Azerbaijan also reported a growth in Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, recording 933 new cases and 7 deaths and bringing the total tally to 243,424 cases and 3,314 deaths. Also, the country reported its first cases of the British Covid-19 strain. The National Haematology and Transfusion Center detected that 2 men and one woman, born in 1977, 1961, 1992 had the British strain of the virus, adding that one of them was infection in Ukraine.

Meanwhile in Georgia, the government is struggling with the Church to promote the vaccination in the country. “The Patriarchate has a strong position that they will not engage in active propaganda to promote the vaccination, but will support any reasonable decision made by the government,” stated Georgia’s Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze. 

Two days earlier the Head of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Amiran Gamkhrelidze, addressed the members of the Synod via a video on Formula, asking for their support during the vaccination process and reminding them of the significance of their position and their influence on members of society. “Please stand by us, the doctors, during these hard times, because people’s faith in you is very strong, oftentimes stronger than in doctors. We ask for special collaboration during the vaccination process. We are prepared for any meetings as always, and it is always an honour for us to work with the Church and be with you. I am sure we will achieve the desired outcome together,” his message to the Church read.  

In the past 24 hours, Georgia reported 369 new cases of the virus and 9 deaths, bringing the total tally to 276,436 cases and 3,674 deaths.