Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a decision to extend the winter holidays in Moscow schools for a week, until January 17, 2021, in order to slow the spread of coronavirus infection.

He announced this in his blog.

Students of colleges, institutions of additional education for children and sports schools subordinate to the Moscow government will also go on long vacations.

Non-governmental educational institutions are encouraged to make similar decisions. 

The mayor recalled that the fall holidays in 2020 lasted two weeks instead of one, which helped to reduce the rate of increase in the incidence of COVID-19 among schoolchildren.

In particular, pupils were less likely to pass the infection on to elderly relatives.

The share of the older generation among those infected with coronavirus has decreased from 25% to 16%, the mayor said.

Nevertheless, in December, according to Sobyanin, the epidemiological situation again significantly worsened.

The New Year holidays should help slow the spread of the infection.

“But, according to experts, 11 days of holidays and vacations will still not be enough to significantly knock down the current wave of growth.

At least partially, the pause should last longer - at least two weeks, ”the mayor explained.

In addition, from December 30, the list of industries whose employees will be able to be vaccinated against coronavirus is expanding.

The vaccination will become available for construction workers and college and university students over 18 years old.

Sobyanin said that the use of the vaccine for minors has not received approval from the Ministry of Health at the moment.

Also, Russians with chronic diseases will be able to get vaccinated against coronavirus infection, if there are no contraindications established by the instructions for using the vaccine. 

We will remind, earlier in the capital was opened a record for vaccination with the first Russian drug "Sputnik V" for citizens over 60 years old.

From December 28, residents employed in the housing and communal services, public catering, sports and law enforcement agencies can be vaccinated.

Also, vaccination became available for volunteers and individuals employed in non-profit and religious organizations.

Employees of transport, energy, industry, as well as employees of the media, employees of the MFC, employees of the MFC, culture, trade and services, workers in education, health care, and city social services can also get vaccinated.

At the same time, Sergei Sobyanin stressed that citizens who have already been vaccinated should be able to gradually return to normal life.

“As a first step, older Muscovites, students over 18 years old and citizens suffering from chronic diseases will be able to once again enjoy the right to free and discounted public transport.

The social cards belonging to them will be automatically unblocked 14 days after receiving the second component of the vaccine, ”the mayor said.

The long school holidays, Sobyanin noted, will stabilize the incidence of COVID-19 at a lower level than at the current moment, and, as a result, avoid the introduction of new restrictive measures in January.

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The mayor urged not to postpone the vaccination, noting that the vaccination will make you feel confident in the new year.

Vaccination points will be open daily, except December 31 and January 1.

We add, earlier in the Ministry of Health expressed the hope that the Russians who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus will be able to receive a passport of the vaccinated in January 2021.

It will be possible to issue it in your personal account on the website of state services, said the Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko. 

Meanwhile, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, said that, in accordance with the latest observations, immunity lasts for six months after suffering a coronavirus infection.

According to her, the vaccine should protect the body for at least a period.

At the moment, the Ministry of Health has registered two drugs from SARS-CoV-

2

 - the world's first vaccine "Sputnik V", developed by specialists from the Gamaleya Center, and the drug "EpiVacCorona" of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector".

Registration of the third vaccine created by the Chumakov Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations of the Russian Academy of Sciences is scheduled for late January - early February 2021.

Over the past day, 27,002 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Russia, during this time 24,784 people recovered, 562 patients died.