After an attempt by Azerbaijani soldiers to cross over the Armenian border on July 12, tensions escalated between the two sides, leaving at least four Azerbaijani soldiers dead and an already fragile region rattled.

All those with chronic respiratory illnesses will no longer be obligated to wear a face mask in open public spaces; during the Government Session, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that the COVID-19 situation in the country remains stable but critical and that the healthcare sector needs to continue expanding its capacity.

Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the Primate of the Diocese of Tavush speaks about the strength, patriotism and resilience of the people living in the border villages and towns along the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border. He says the imperative is to develop and strengthen infrastructure and institutions in Tavush and it is the responsibility of the Armenian nation to support them through investments and not only charity.

During a press conference today, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan presented the Ministry’s strategy and key actions in the battle against COVID-19 over the past several months. Currently, over 500 people have lost their lives to the virus; the cumulative number of infections is expected to surpass 30,000 in the coming days.

Elderly residents of the Nork Old Age Home who were infected with COVID-19 have all recovered; volunteers distribute face masks and explain anti-epidemic rules at several dozen stands placed throughout Yerevan; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the State of Emergency will likely be extended and more.

A new infection hub is detected in Artsakh; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan says that the Spitak Medical Center is now part of the network of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients; Armenia received 10,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests from the World Health Organization; authorities continue to urge citizen to follow safety guidelines and more.

After Azerbaijani forces began shelling Armenian positions on the international border between the two countries on July 12, Azerbaijani hackers launched cyber attacks on a number of Armenian state and media websites and vice versa. Digital security consultant and co-founder of CyberHub Artur Papyan explains the logic, history and potential danger of this hybrid warfare.

According to the Health Ministry, almost 400 medical personnel, including doctors, nurses and orderlies have been infected since March 1; there over 650 patients in critical or extremely critical condition; strict safety measures to be implemented during university entrance exams to be held in the coming week and more.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says everyone should “restart” their behavior and this includes state bodies and agencies, the police force and businesses and that an ineffective lockdown is more problematic than no lockdown at all; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan calls for a “conscious lockdown” and more.

As the number of cases continues to rise in Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says stricter regulations will be imposed in the near future; anesthesiologist and ICU specialist Dr. Karen Tonoyan says the virus has the capacity to destroy families and urges people to come together and fight alongside medical staff.