"Depends on the rate of vaccination and herd immunity": Sobyanin assessed the prospects for lifting restrictions in Moscow

The mask mode and some other precautions related to the spread of coronavirus are likely to continue to operate in Moscow after the spring of 2021.

This opinion was expressed by the mayor of the capital Sergei Sobyanin in an interview with TASS.

“We canceled most of the previously existing restrictions in January-February.

Most likely, the remaining restrictions can be lifted in the spring.

Perhaps, some precautions, for example, a mask mode in the subway or restriction of mass events, will have to be maintained longer, ”said the mayor.

He explained that the decisions made will depend on the rate of vaccination and the formation of herd immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

In turn, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov stated that the return to normal life will be associated with the rate of artificial or natural immunization of the population - according to experts, we are talking about 60-65% of the population.

“It seems to me that this level of immunization should be achieved by mid-summer.

That is, August will already be, as they say, with an open visor, "Peskov suggested.

“Now many countries are gaining momentum in vaccination, although it goes in different directions.

And we in Russia are making efforts to gain momentum in this direction, ”he added.

Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Health, Mikhail Murashko, noted that, according to the department's experts, the formation of collective immunity among Russians should be completed in the first half of the year.

At the same time, he stressed the importance of observing precautions during the vaccination campaign.

This position was also confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, according to which, despite the gradual improvement of the situation, it is necessary to comply with the existing restrictions.

Moreover, she expressed the opinion that vaccination against coronavirus can become regular.

“The coronavirus is becoming a seasonal virus, which means it is highly likely that we will be vaccinated regularly.

Neither the world nor we have yet gained sufficient experience in terms of understanding how long the immune defense lasts.

Of course, now everyone is “relaxed” and thinks that the covid is leaving, the situation is better now, but while the virus is still not going anywhere, we must take care of ourselves and our loved ones, ”Golikova said.

• AGN "Moscow"

• © Zykov Kirill

According to the representative of the World Health Organization in Russia Melita Vuinovich, returning to normal life in the light of the coronavirus pandemic is "very difficult" at a time when there are still people who "deny reality and believe that COVID-19 is a mild disease" that does not require introduction of social measures.

“It is very difficult ... until there is agreement in the whole society, where everyone will fulfill their role.

It is important to start with myself: what can I do to help, even if it is unpleasant or difficult, "Vujnovich quotes TASS.

“It is important that all of us (countries, individuals, societies, companies - everyone) rethink our way of everyday life in order to ensure that we are able to meet any challenge,” she said.

According to the WHO, more than 2.7 million new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the world last week, which is 2% more than a week earlier.

Global growth is reported to be driven by increased incidence in the Eastern Mediterranean (10%), Africa (10%) and Europe (4%).

At the same time, a slight decrease was noted in North and South America, as well as South-East Asia (2% each).

In Russia, over the past week, the number of detected cases of coronavirus decreased by almost 6.5% compared to the previous seven days (72 803 versus 77 848 episodes).

Over the past day, the diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed in another 9079 people - this is at least since October 1 (8945).

Most of the new cases were recorded in Moscow (1116), St. Petersburg (959), Nizhny Novgorod (378), Moscow (291) and Rostov (258) regions.

Also, over the past day, 13,350 patients recovered, 466 people died from complications caused by coronavirus infection and concomitant diseases.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in Russia, the coronavirus has been detected in 4 351 533 people, of whom 3 945 527 have recovered, 90 275 have died.

315,751 cases (7.26%) remain active.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, nearly 113.9 million tests for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have been carried out for all the time, more than 510 thousand people remain under medical supervision.