Until the summer: Moscow authorities extended restrictions introduced due to coronavirus until May 31

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin extended until May 31 the restrictive measures introduced because of the coronavirus. 

“The temporary restrictions on the functioning of trade, public catering, services, culture, education, sports and other non-productive industries, as well as the regime of self-isolation of citizens will be extended until May 31, 2020,” the mayor’s official website says.

Sobyanin said that previously issued work permits will be automatically extended until the end of the current month. The procedure for obtaining digital passes for one-time trips remains the same. Extension and exchange of unused tickets for public transport will be carried out after May 31.

At the same time, the mayor's office announced the beginning of the first stage of easing the restrictions introduced in the capital. So, from May 12, the enterprises of industry and construction will resume work.

“Including we are resuming the construction of roads, schools, kindergartens and other facilities necessary for the city. At the same time, the work of enterprises and construction sites should be organized in accordance with the stringent requirements of the sanitary-epidemiological regime, ”Sobyanin said.

Only those workers whose presence is necessary for technological reasons will return to work places, the rest will continue to perform their duties remotely.

The decision to start a return to work with industry and construction was made for several reasons. First of all, this is the least dangerous, as employees of industrial enterprises have almost no contact with consumers. In addition, the resumption of industrial production and investment in infrastructure will have a huge multiplier effect, Sobyanin noted.

“We will literally revive thousands of production chains, which include manufacturers of building materials and equipment, designers, transport workers and workers in many other industries. 500 thousand people in Moscow and hundreds of thousands in other regions of Russia will return to work, ”he explained.

Also, from May 18 to May 31, for students of grades 1-8 and 10 grades, distance learning will be conducted in the mode of free attendance.

Sobyanin noted that it was too early to open restaurants, theaters, sports facilities in the capital, and also recalled that in the event of a deterioration in the spread of coronavirus, canceled restrictions could be reintroduced.  

In addition, a mask mode is introduced in Moscow. Earlier, the head of the capital’s Main Control Directorate, Yevgeny Danchikov, said that in Moscow fines would be imposed for violating the regime at enterprises and organizations whose work is permitted. The fine will be 4 thousand rubles.

The chief freelance infectious disease specialist of the Ministry of Health, Elena Malinnikova, noted that the active spread of coronavirus infection in Russia will continue until June. 

“If we consider that in March the active spread of the virus in our country began, then add three months. Until June, the virus will actively spread among you and me, ”she said on the Rossiya-24 television channel.

Meanwhile, a number of Russian regions have also decided to relax restrictive measures. From May 15, in Karelia hairdressing salons, beauty salons and other enterprises of the service sector will be launched. The head of the region, Arthur Parfenchikov, said that from May 12, it is also planned to allow walks near the house, in parks and squares, as well as city forests. The next step will be "the resumption of non-food stores."

In Adygea after May 12, the resumption of markets is planned. The Prime Minister of the Republic, Vyacheslav Sapiev, noted that the markets are highly prepared for compliance with sanitary requirements. Also, according to him, in a number of municipalities, preparations have begun for the opening of weekend fairs.

At the same time, the head of the Interdepartmental Commission for Countering Coronavirus Infection in St. Petersburg, Yevgeny Shlyakhto, said that the situation in the city remains difficult and there is no certainty regarding the timing of the lifting of restrictive measures. 

“There will be an airbag, there will be official orders, then Alexander Dmitrievich (Belov. -  RT ) will make some decisions. It’s hard to say yet, but I think there may be some concessions in May, ”said Yevgeny Shlyakhto in an interview with the Petersburg Diary.

Recall that according to data on May 7, 177 160 cases of coronavirus were detected in Russia, 1625 people died.