Restrictions eased, who controls compliance with safety rules?

As of May 5^th, there are 2619 people infected with coronavirus in Armenia. In 687 of them, the disease was confirmed in the period from April 30 to May 4. Despite this, the Commandant eased restrictions on May 4 by setting rules for businesses to operate in a situation of pandemic.

The photos published on the very first day of eased  restrictions showed that the rules of the commandant are not observed in all places, and those who exercise control are unknown to the public. Proper public awareness was not provided to citizens, while social responsibility is expected from them.

There are more cafes, beauty salons and other facilities in Yerevan, which has a population of more than one million. We did not find any urging or other appeal to the citizens on the mayor’s page. WomenNet.am spoke with female members of the Yerevan Council of Elders to try to understand how security rules are monitored. Opinions differed starting with the social responsibility of citizens and businesses to the need for civic police.

Lyudmila Sargsyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia faction of the Yerevan Council of Elders, is currently isolated outside Yerevan. In a conversation with WomenNet.am, she said that she had informed the city authorities in writing about her absence from the Council of Elders sessions. She is over 60 years old and has chronic diseases. She believes that it will be difficult to control the vigilance of citizens.

Ani Khachatryan, secretary of the Luys faction of the Council of Elders, thinks that we will live and walk with the virus for a long time, we must learn to live carefully. In the current situation, in her opinion, the municipality has little to do, the main burden is on the shoulders of the police. According to her, the situation would be different if we had a city police. In the context of easing restrictions, she said, the issue of transport should also be considered.

Hasmik Khachunts, the secretary of the “My Step” faction, has not received any complaints or grievances from the citizens these days. She believes that the city government works well both in case of severe restrictions and in case of mitigation.

The member of the Council of Elders considers that the government and the guardhouse have properly informed people, during this period, and if they want to follow them, that information has been available from somewhere.

Anahit Asatryan from the same faction considers the work of the municipality sufficient. “Now, according to my information, the representatives of the city authorities are carrying out control in the trade points, they are controlling the street trade. In some places, the employees of the administrative districts have been engaged in voluntary work, ensuring that there are no crowds near the shops, ”she said.

According to the member of the Council of Elders, normal garbage collection is carried out in Yerevan these days, which is very important, and the employees carrying out control are provided with the necessary protective uniforms.

The member of the “My Step” faction, in her turn, emphasizes the need of the city police, considers that in case of its existence, the control and the responsibility that follows will be more effective. Anahit Asatryan says that these days she has behaved like a responsible citizen, she has hardly left her home, and she thinks that responsibility is also expected from her fellow citizens. “It is impossible to control everyone in a city with a population of one million. A lot depends on the consciousness of each of us, “she said.

It should be reminded that the commandant Tigran Avinyan addressed the citizens before the mitigation, emphasizing that the mitigation does not mean that the danger of the epidemic has passed.

“This is an attempt to adapt to the new rules of coexistence. Therefore, at this stage, the individual, social and corporate responsibility of each of us is very important. This is a special test for all of us to what extent we are able to show high consciousness and discipline. I would like to emphasize that in case of aggravation of the situation, a return to the regime of more severe restrictions can be made at any moment, “warned Tigran Avinyan.

P.S. It should be noted that restrictions on free movement have been lifted since May 4^th, the work of the processing industry was allowed, including textiles, furniture, shoes, polygraphy, etc., wholesale and retail trade, but only in specialized and non-specialized shops and kiosks.

Open-air restaurants, bars, cafes, taverns, the whole information and communication sector, botanical and zoos and specially protected areas, sports clubs for outdoor sports, with the participation of professional athletes, dry cleaning services, hairdressing salons, beauty salons, body care services will start functioning. At the same time, public transport will not operate during this period.

Commandant’s decision sets the rules for each business to operate in this situation.