Timid return to normal in sight in Moscow. The Russian capital, relying on an improvement in its epidemiological situation, reopened Monday, June 1, its businesses closed for two months, but, caution requires, millions of Muscovites must remain confined to their homes.

President Vladimir Putin is waiting for the government to deliver an economic recovery plan until 2021 to respond to the blows of the new coronavirus pandemic.

"Its main goal is the transition to a trajectory for sustainable growth, with an increase in the incomes of our citizens", explained, according to Russian agencies, Prime Minister Mikhaïl Michoustine, the country bankrupt because of the pandemic. on a drop in its GDP from 5 to 6% this year.

If the epidemic seems to have stabilized since the second half of May, the capital continues to register a large number of new cases - 2,297 according to the count on Monday, and 76 dead. In total, Russia recorded 9,035 more cases and 162 deaths, bringing the respective totals to 414,878 and 4,855. Many regions were able to lift restrictions before Moscow, the severity of the epidemic there was less.

An economically drained capital

After two months of closure in the capital, the economic engine of the country, the reopening of businesses is a highly anticipated measure as their finances are drained, despite government measures to defer taxes or zero-rate loans.

According to a study published by the Center for Strategic Research in April, almost a third of Russian companies risk bankruptcy due to the drop in demand caused by the epidemic and containment. Retail trade and services are the most affected, the study said.

If the stores and shopping centers reopen (second stage of deconfinement after the recovery of industry and construction sites in mid-May), the inhabitants of the capital will have to wait at least June 14 before being able to move freely. Even if they can now do non-food shopping, wearing masks and gloves, the millions of Muscovites who do not have a pass allowing them to work outside their home will still have to spend most of their time home.

Walks have been authorized since Monday, but only three times a week while respecting a system of slots based on each one's address and whose complexity is such that it has been widely mocked online.

Return to normal targeted for June 24

The mayor of the city, Sergei Sobianin, deemed such a mechanism necessary, for fear that too many people would go out onto the streets and parks at the same time. All places of leisure, including restaurants, cinemas and playgrounds and sports fields will remain closed. And it is still forbidden to sit on public benches, even if this measure is hardly respected.

The next stage of deconfinement of the Russian capital should not take place for two weeks. Because the authorities have a date in sight for a semblance of normalcy: June 24, the day of the great military parade commemorating the Soviet victory over the Nazis. It should have taken place on May 9, but the Kremlin had to resolve to postpone it - reluctantly since it was counting on this event to celebrate the rediscovered power of Russia internationally.

Presidency spokesman Dmitri Peskov said on a TV show on Sunday that the containment measures will have been lifted by the date of the parade.

"We will hope that for the parade, there will be almost nothing left of this regime," he said.

The Kremlin is also to decide shortly on the new date for a referendum to pave the way for potential additional terms for Vladimir Putin. Scheduled for April, it was postponed due to the new coronavirus.

With AFP

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