On 18 January, Armenia’s Health Minister Arsen Torosyan was sacked from his position and appointed as chief of the country’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s staff. 

Torosyan’s first deputy Eduard Aghajanyan was appointed by a separate decree as the country’s new Health Minister. Pashinyan did not explain the moves. Torosyan also issued no statements on his sacking and new appointment. During his time as the country’s Health Minister, Torosyan faced criticism from the opposition forces in the country for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it remains uncertain if Torosyan’s sacking was a result of the opposition pressure or the current government reshuffle in the country.

The country’s Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan stated that Armenia’s economy shrunk by 8.5% as a result of the pandemic. He estimated that the country’s exports and imports as well as domestic consumption were down by a combined 20%. Armenia’s Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan presented the general forecasts on the macroeconomic framework and economic developments expected in 2022. He noted that in connection with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the hostilities in Karabakh, it is advisable to start discussing the budget process earlier.

In the past 24 hours, Armenia reported 90 new cases of the virus and 6 deaths, bringing the total tally to 164, 676 cases and 2,998 deaths.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani authorities started the vaccination process in the country. The high-risk populations that will be vaccinated first are healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, military personnel, detainees, arrested persons and prisoners, persons working in the educational and social sector, persons permanently residing in social institutions, employees of the ASAN Service and DOST centers, the public transport sector, telecommunications operators and providers, postal workers, employees of the banking sector who are in direct contact with the population, persons aged over 65, patients with chronic respiratory diseases, chronic hemodialysis patients, patients with type 2 diabetes (aged 50 and older), as well as obese people. The Azerbaijani government chose the CoronaVac vaccines of the Chinese manufacturer SinoVac and a contract was signed for the purchase of 4 million doses.

In the past 24 hours, Azerbaijan reported 118 new cases of the virus and 13 deaths, bringing the total tally to 227,391 cases and 3,022 deaths.

As for Georgia, the country’s government announced that it would vaccinate 60% of its population of 3.7 million in 2021. The budget for the vaccination process would cost between 65-170 million lari. In terms which vaccine would be used, Georgia’s Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia stated that the country is likely to to receive the Pfizer vaccine in the first quarter of 2021, adding that at that time the Covax international platform may also offer the vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, and adding that the Moderna vaccines would possibly be available in the country.

In the past 24 hours, Georgia reported 110 new cases of the virus and 25 deaths, bringing the total tally to 247,915 cases and 2,958 deaths.