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Armenia will receive 50,000 new antigen tests, which detect the coronavirus infection in the human body faster than PCR tests, Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan said at a discussion of the 2021 state budget in the parliament on Monday.

The minister stated that these tests detect the presence of COVID-19 faster and will likely lead to a change in the structure of the market, adding people and medical facilities will start using them.

“This trend exists in the world, and we will get 50,000 such tests soon. These tests will be carried out for free,” he said.

Arsen Torosyan noted that the new tests will also be performed by nasopharyngeal swab.

"By making changes in this year's state budget, we have made an advance payment of 890 million drams for the COVID-19 vaccine. This option will allow us to receive one of the vaccines that will be approved by the world health organizations. This amount makes up nearly 30% of the total payment. That is, next year we will have to add the rest of the payment. The purchased vaccine will be sufficient to immunize 10% of our population," the minister said.