Covid-19 in Russia: in Moscow, the closure of non-essential businesses raises concern
Moscow restaurants will have to close for 11 days (Image illustration).
AP - Pavel Golovkin
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In Russia, we have gone from 800 official deaths per day on average this summer due to Covid-19 to more than 1,000 in October, triple say independent experts.
President Vladimir Putin has therefore decided to resort to a week of paid leave.
In Moscow, the closure of non-essential businesses for 11 days starting next Thursday is causing concern in many sectors of the economy.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Moscow
,
Anissa El Jabri
Very hard hit, the Russian capital has decided to take even more severe measures: over 60 years unvaccinated confined from October 25 to February 25, and a closure of non-essential businesses for 11 days from Thursday, October 28.
►Also read
: Covid-19 in Russia: Putin calls on the Russians to be vaccinated and decrees a week off
These non-essential businesses had long hoped to escape the ax.
This time it's over.
Restaurants, beauty salons, clothing or furniture stores, sports halls or dance schools, have eight days to organize themselves before this closure.
"
The decision will weigh on the accounts of employers
"
Anastasia Mesheryakova runs a restaurant chain in Moscow. The business manager balances between resignation and concern. “
As part of our catering outlets are in business centers where work will be suspended, for us it doesn't make sense to stay open during this period anyway
,” she explains
. I also understand that the number of patients is on the rise and that the health situation is not improving, but unfortunately, the decision that has been taken will again weigh on the accounts of employers. Because we're talking about paid vacations here for staff. And so far, no support or salary reimbursement measures for this period of restrictions have been announced.
"
Many Muscovites say to themselves that this period will be extended.
The impact of the spring 2020 containment has been violent for the Russian economy.
Anastasia Mesheryakova had to permanently close three restaurants.
He only has four and 70 employees left.
The town hall of the Russian capital is discussing the establishment of a health pass after November 7 for public places, this will already be the case during this holiday period for theaters and museums which will remain open with a reduced gauge.
Locally, regions such as cities have added a health pass for access to public places.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Russia
Coronavirus