Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that April would be out of work in Russia, but wages preserved, to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and encourage his fellow citizens to stay at home as much as possible.

"I have decided to extend the non-working days scheme until 30 April inclusive," he said in a televised speech, adding that this measure, in force since March 28, "a [vait] saved time. " The Russian regions will be able to choose which companies will nevertheless be authorized to work, and which mode of containment they will impose on their population.

"Win time"

This measure, in force since March 28 in Russia, "has saved time [but] the peak of the epidemic in the world has not yet been crossed, including in our country", underlined the president Russian.

Noting that the epidemic reached a different threshold according to the Russian regions, some being still spared, Mr. Poutine specified that the regional leaders could choose which companies or organizations would be authorized to work and which mode of confinement they would impose on their population.

"By the end of the week, [the regional leaders] will have to determine a specific set of preventive measures for their territories, both in terms of health, security of the population, stability of the economy and infrastructure, "he said.

Additional measures

Vladimir Putin did not exclude "additional measures depending on the evolution of the situation" while noting that "if the situation allows [tait], we adjust [i] ons the announced period of days off in the direction reduction ".

"We must not forget how important it is to maintain people's jobs and wages," he said.

Russian health officials had previously called for extending the work week to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, at a time when the number of new daily cases is exploding in Russia. To date, 3,548 cases of Covid-19 have been officially recorded there. Thirty people died.

With AFP

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