President Armen Sarkissian is in a constant contact with his international partners, different high-level officials, and scientific centers: “Coronavirus has not been defeated yet, and I believe it will be here for a long time”

“Coronavirus has not been defeated yet, and I believe it will be here for a long time,” President Armen Sarkissian said during his interview to the Erkri Harc@ program of the Yerkir Media TV channel. He urged the citizens to abide by the rules, be disciplined, think about responsibility, about relatives, parents and those who are sick or have frail health.

As for the already taken steps, the President said that we could always make an assessment what the world, our government, each of us has done and how it was done. “But I believe it is essential for each of us to think today how we can be helpful,” President Sarkissian noted. “And with this regard, the Presidential Administration is trying to make its small contribution to the common task. First, from day one, I am in a constant contact, almost daily, with different high-level officials – presidents, ministers of health and scientific centers engaged in these issues. It is done for a number of purposes: first, to understand the nature of this virus and how different countries fight it, to learn at which point mistakes have been made. All this information is passed on to our relevant bodies – the minister of health, along with my advice and things I have learned. At the same time, talking to the heads of different states, I, in a way, enlist their assistance, because we, especially in the initial months, needed very much protective gear - masks and gloves.” As an example of a swift response, President Sarkissian noted that the leader of the United Arab Emirate sent an aircraft which, among other things, brought 500,000 reusable gloves. “Or, the RA Government purchased a certain amount of drugs from China. At the same time, the President of China, as a result of our personal contact, sent a great quantity of medical supplies as a gift,” the President of Armenia said. “And now about the gifts: for instance, ten thousands masks which the Presidential Administration has to distribute in, let’s say, assisted living homes or other places where they are needed.”

Recently, President Sarkissian had a distant conversation with the American businessman and benefactor Noubar Afeyan whose company is working vigorously on creating a vaccine to fight the coronavirus and has registered certain success. The President said that he follows on a daily basis global developments and pertinent information related to the containment and treatment of coronavirus, including the steps aimed at the creation of a vaccine or drugs, especially if they involve our compatriots. “I will be glad if he is successful but the purpose of my conversation and inquiry is not just academic,” President said referring to his conversation with Noubar Afeyan. “I also spoke, for instance, with Oxford University. They already announced that a new vaccine has been created and that AstraZeneca signed an agreement with them. I want to bring the new medication, if it exists, to Armenia among the first. For example, the famous American Gilead Sciences company has created a drug which has a certain effect. Approximately 6000 patients have been cured and the FDA gave them a license so the drugs can be used now. Certainly, these are very expensive drugs but an Indian company was allowed to produce its generic type at a very low price. Today that very Indian company is negotiating with our Ministry of Health, and we will be able to acquire that very effective drug at a low price.”

The President said that if an interesting idea or a new drug exists somewhere in the world and is used in some countries, it is necessary to bring it to Armenia very fast because if the drug is efficient, the line to get it will be very long.