Quarantine violation, business support and sick leave: Federation Council approved draft laws on measures in connection with COVID-19

The Federation Council during an extraordinary meeting approved bills aimed at implementing the instructions of the President of Russia in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the approved initiatives is a bill introducing criminal liability for violation of the quarantine regime.

When the law comes into force, for violation of sanitary-epidemiological rules, which entailed by negligence a mass disease or poisoning of people, the offender will have to pay a fine of 500 thousand to 700 thousand rubles. It is also possible imprisonment for up to two years or forced labor up to two years.

In the event that the violation negligently caused the death of a person, the fine will increase to 1-2 million rubles, and the term of imprisonment will be from three to five years (similarly - forced labor). For violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules that caused the death of two or more persons, it is proposed to punish with imprisonment for a term of five to seven years or forced labor for a term of up to five years.

In addition to this, the introduction of criminal news about the coronavirus is supposed to impose criminal liability. Punishment - from 300 to 700 thousand rubles, or correctional labor up to one year, or restriction of freedom up to three years.

If, due to the spread of the fake, the health is harmed, then the fine will be from 700 thousand to 1.5 million rubles. The possible term of imprisonment or forced labor is up to three years.

When the spread of false information entailed the death of a person or other serious consequences, the fine will increase to 1.5-2 million rubles, and the term of imprisonment - up to five years.

The document containing such measures was also supported by the Constitutional Legislation Committee of the Council of the Federation.

Against these decisions, the head of the Russian government Mikhail Mishustin instructed the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare from April 3, 2020 to inform citizens through SMS services and the Unified State Services Portal about cases of violation of the quarantine conditions.

The situation with COVID-19 in Russia

Over the last day in Russia, 500 cases of coronavirus infection have been registered. The total number of cases in the country is 2337, according to the operational headquarters.

“In total, today in Russia 2337 cases of coronavirus are registered in 73 regions. Over the entire period, 17 fatal cases were recorded, 121 people recovered, ”the report said.

New infected were found in 24 Russian regions, in particular, in the Magadan and Astrakhan regions.

The largest number of infected was detected in Moscow - 387 people. Taking into account already recorded cases, in the capital there are more than 1.6 thousand cases of COVID-19.

• RT card: in which regions of Russia coronavirus infection COVID-19 was recorded
• RT

It is noted that among new cases, there are about 40% of people aged 40 to 65 years and almost 35% - from 18 to 40 years. Another 20% are people over 65 years old, children make up about 5%.

“All patients, as well as those who have close contact with them, are already under medical supervision. About 10% of patients in the past two weeks have visited European countries, ”the operational headquarters said.

For the distribution of COVID-19, more than 50 Russian regions have already announced the introduction of a complete self-isolation regime. Among them are Moscow and the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, Tatarstan, Primorye, Yakutia, Udmurtia, Chechnya, Ingushetia and others.

The main freelance epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health Nikolay Briko suggested that Russia is approaching the peak incidence of COVID-19,

“With regard to the peak, I want to believe that we are approaching some critical value, although for some time the number of patients may increase,” Briko said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to him, the activity of coronavirus infection, like acute respiratory viral infections, can begin to fall sharply from April-May.

Other measures for the spread of coronavirus

Along with this, the State Duma adopted a law expanding the powers of the Cabinet and the right of the government to introduce an emergency mode, which also clarifies the parameters of this regime.

“The powers of the Government of the Russian Federation to declare high-alert and emergency situations and to give them the right to establish binding rules of conduct during these regimes are being clarified. In addition, the list of grounds for introducing an emergency is supplemented by the fact of the spread of a disease that poses a danger to others, ”said Vasily Piskaryov, Chairman of the Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption.

According to the provisions of the document, in the event of an emergency or in case of a disease that poses a danger to others, the government will be able to limit the wholesale and retail sale of medical supplies and medicines for a specific list for 90 days.

In addition, a bill was passed providing for administrative liability for violation of the quarantine regime and other sanitary and epidemiological rules.

We are talking about violations of existing sanitary rules and hygienic standards, failure to comply with sanitary-hygienic and anti-epidemic measures committed during the emergency situation or when there is a threat of the spread of a disease that poses a danger to others, or during quarantine.

The document provides fines for citizens in the amount of 15-40 thousand rubles, for officials - 50-150 thousand rubles, for legal entities - 200-500 thousand rubles.

If the violation led to harm to human health or death of a person, collection from citizens will increase to 150-300 thousand rubles, for officials - up to 300-500 thousand rubles, for legal entities - from 500 thousand to 1 million rubles.

Along with this, the State Duma adopted a government law on increasing temporary disability benefits to the minimum wage. The document states that from April 1 to December 31, sick leave will be calculated on the basis of the minimum wage in cases where the temporary disability benefit per full month is lower than this amount.

Another measure was the bill, which allows for the granting in 2020 of deferment of taxes, fees and insurance premiums. In addition, the State Duma adopted a law on the collection of income tax on interest on deposits of more than a million rubles, the need for which Vladimir Putin had previously stated.

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov later explained that the tax will be levied only on interest received by depositors, including from ruble or foreign currency accounts with banks and from investments in bonds.

As Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin noted today, the new tax is not related to the current situation in the country's economy. According to the head of the Cabinet, it is "the need to ensure the stability of the financial and economic budget system of the country in the long term." He also pointed out that for the first time, Russians will have to pay this tax only in 2022.