On 24 March, Armenia’s Health Ministry reported a shortage of beds in the country for Covid-19 patients, saying that intensive care units were full and dozens of patients with the symptoms of the virus have to wait for their turn to be hospitalised.

According to the ministry, the number of hospitals treating Covid-19 patients has been nearly doubled in recent days, tallying a total of 19 hospitals currently, which treat patients in Yerevan, Gyumri, Martuni, Spitak and Kapan. The head of the Health Ministry’s Medical Aid Policy Department Knar Ghonyan, said that currently almost all beds at intensive care units were occupied. According to the official, Armenia was back to a situation when patients have to wait for hospitalisation at home. While healthcare experts voice concern about the current epidemiological situation in Armenia, the country’s former Health Minister and current Chief of Staff for Prime Minister [Nikol Pashinyan] Arsen Torosyan, said earlier this week that the government is unlikely to introduce another lockdown.

In the past 24 hours, Armenia reported 1,164 new Covid-19 cases and 14 deaths, bringing the total tally to 186,184 cases and 3,398 deaths. Azerbaijan also reported a sharp rise of cases, reporting in the past 24 hours 1,185 new cases and 20 deaths and bringing the total tally to 249,492 cases and 3,404 deaths.

Meanwhile in Georgia, health officials continue to express their concerns for the slow vaccination process in the country. “Although the number of new cases of infection in Georgia has stabilised, the country is in serious danger,” stated the Head of Tbilisi Infectious Diseases Hospital Tengiz Tsertsvadze. “There are two main factors – the first is that in Georgia, despite the fact that the vaccine has been imported and the process will continue, there is an unprecedented passivity towards the vaccine and the greatest scepticism. In fact, mass vaccination is not possible. The second factor is that people no longer follow the minimum regulations, especially when wearing a face mask. The rate of wearing a face mask was 70%, now it has dropped to 42%, which is an alarming sign,” he underscored.

Following the tragic death of the 27-year old Georgian nurse Megi Bakradze (Caucasus Watch reported), the country’s health ministry issued an instruction, saying that individuals who are receiving either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines against Covid-19 would have to stay at clinics for 45 minutes, instead of 30 minutes to be observed if there are any adverse effects after the vaccination. Also, the ban on travelling by taxi with more than two persons has been lifted in the country.

In the past 24 hours, Georgia reported 450 new cases of the virus and 8 deaths, bringing the total tally to 278,628 cases and 3,714 deaths.