Guaranteeing a safe environment for persons deprived of liberty within the scope of prevention of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) as a priority

Taking steps to prevent the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is particularly important in closed institutions where it is necessary to guarantee a safe environment for persons deprived of liberty.

It is exactly for creating a safe environment for persons held in penitentiary institutions that direct contacts with persons deprived of liberty, i.e. visits, have been restricted starting from 12 November 2021.

From 1 January 2021 to 12 November 2021, 85 convicts and detained persons were examined and received treatment at the Infection Unit of the "Hospital for Convicts" subdivision of the "Penitentiary Medicine Centre" SNCO; moreover, the main flow of patients started at the end of the month of October, i.e. 28 October 2021.

As of 12 November 2021, 54 persons were in the course of treatment.

Currently, 16 persons are in the course of treatment.

We would like to inform that the biological death of convict of "Nubarashen" Penitentiary Institution V.B. (born in 1951) was recorded today at "Surb Grigor Lusavorich" Civil Hospital. The convict was diagnosed with COVID-19 on 22 November of this year, on the same day, at 14։50, the convict was transferred to "Surb Grigor Lusavorich" Civil Hospital. To establish the circumstances of the death, materials are being prepared, and a forensic medical expert examination has been assigned.  

As a result of reducing the flow of other persons accessing penitentiary institutions through a ban on visits, intensifying the testing process in the period of being deprived of liberty, and as a result of increase in the number vaccinations, 6 new cases have been recorded since 12 November 2021; moreover, 5 cases were diagnosed in the early stage of the disease when no clinical symptoms had developed.

In terms of figures, it seems that positive progress was made after  the ban was set on visits.

We deem it necessary to inform that it is envisaged that the ban on visits will be maintained for a certain period during which monitoring will be conducted for prevention of prevalence of the novel coronavirus infection in the period of maintenance of the ban on visits, relevant comparisons will be made, after which the strategy for allowing visits will be determined.

The Ministry will do its best to reduce the risks of the spread of the pandemic during the period of the ban on visits and will develop the future format for allowing visits in line with the approaches of the national healthcare system, taking as a basis the best interests of persons deprived of liberty.