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The winter holidays in Armenian schools have been extended for yet another week – until February 1 -because of the situation with swine flu and acute respiratory infections, Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan wrote on his Facebook page today.

“Based on the instructions of the Armenian prime minister and taking into account the proposal of the health minister, I announce that the holidays in comprehensive, elementary and secondary state educational institutions of the republic will be extended. Classes will resume on February 1,” A. Ashotyan wrote.

“I propose that non-state educational institutions should use the same schedule. The decision does not apply to higher educational institutions. Make-up classes will be held as compensation until the end of the academic year,” Ashotyan added.

The press service of Armenian Health Ministry reported earlier today: “Given the fact that limiting public contacts is important to prevent the spread of a virus, on the instructions of Armenia’s Health Minister, the Health Ministry proposed that in order to keep the tendency towards  a stabilizing situation, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations, and Yerevan Municipality should extend the winter holidays in comprehensive, pre-school and secondary special state educational institutions for yet another week”.

According to data released by Health Ministry yesterday, on January 20, regarding flu and acute respiratory infections,  174 patients were discharged from Armenian hospitals, including 129 under the age of 18. 6 people remain on a ventilator. The swine flu death toll in Armenia is 18.