"An emergency measure against the background of a difficult situation": the State Duma introduced bills on QR codes in public places and in transport

The Russian government has sent to the State Duma bills on the use of QR codes in public places and on some types of transport.

It is expected that if the documents are adopted and after the laws come into force, the measures taken will be valid until June 1, 2022.

"The proposed solutions are an emergency measure against the backdrop of a difficult situation with the coronavirus," the message published on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers emphasizes.

The first bill "On Amendments to the Federal Law" On the Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the Population "regulates the issues of Russians visiting mass events and various institutions.

"Citizens will be able to visit places of mass events, cultural institutions, catering and retail facilities with the presentation of either a QR code on vaccination, or a document confirming that a person has had a coronavirus, or a medical withdrawal from vaccination," the statement reads ...

Until February 1, 2022, in the absence of the listed documents, citizens will be able to visit these facilities by presenting a negative PCR test.

After this date, such an opportunity will remain only for persons who have a medical outlet from vaccination.

The government stressed that when visiting pharmacies and shops selling food and essential goods, nothing will still need to be presented.

Another bill “On Amendments to Article 107 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation and the Federal Law“ Charter of Railway Transport of the Russian Federation ”regulates the use of QR codes in railway and air transport.

It is clarified that we are talking about international and intercity transportation.

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Passengers will also need to present either a QR code for vaccination, or a medical waiver from vaccination, or confirmation of a postponed coronavirus.

It is noted that up to the date set by the Cabinet, in the absence of the listed documents, a negative PCR test result will be sufficient.

Foreigners will also need a PCR test in order to use railway or air transport services.

The head of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, Vitaly Savelyev, at a special briefing explained that it would be necessary to present documents already at the stage of buying tickets.

"When buying tickets and boarding both an airplane and a railway carriage, special medical documentation approved by the law will be presented ... We are working out the technology how to quickly check the medical documentation that will be presented so as not to delay passengers on boarding", - he said.

The text of one of the bills explains that Russians who purchased a flight ticket before the date of introduction of mandatory QR codes, in the absence of such documentation, will be able to return home upon presentation of a negative PCR test for coronavirus.

"If the carrier reveals inaccurate information or the passenger does not place the necessary information, the carrier is obliged to unilaterally terminate the passenger air carriage agreement within 48 hours after purchasing the ticket, but no later than four hours before the check-in for the flight is completed," the text says.

The authors of the document state that its adoption will entail the need to allocate additional funds from the federal budget to compensate for the lost income of carriers for ticket refunds.

Herd immunity at 80%

In turn, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said during a briefing at the Government House that the transition period for new measures will last until February 1.

“Citizens need to be given the necessary time to vaccinate and draw up the necessary documents for those who do not have them, therefore the law establishes a transitional period and the full use of certificates with all components will come into force on February 1, 2022,” Golikova said.

She explained that the period of validity of the new measures chosen in the bills is designated until June 1, 2022, since this date is a benchmark for achieving collective immunity in Russia.

“Why until June 1, 2022?

Because we expect that we will still be able to achieve the indicators of herd immunity, which we have established for ourselves as criteria: 80% of the adult population, ”said Golikova.

She also mentioned that the bill on QR codes will not apply to underage Russian citizens.

Also on russian.rt.com Golikova: a vaccination certificate should become as important as a passport

Speaking about the situation with the incidence of COVID-19, Golikova noted that after the holidays announced by the President of Russia, the rate of increase in the incidence has decreased.

According to her, it is important to maintain this positive trend and not lose the progress achieved.

“Therefore, after consulting with the governors, consulting with experts ... we came to a conclusion, which, in fact, is implemented in those two bills that the government has submitted to the State Duma today,” Golikova said.

She also stated that the reason for the high daily mortality rates from coronavirus lies in the fact that Russians do not comply with restrictive measures and "do not take preventive measures, which primarily include vaccination of the population."

Commenting on the initiatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, the head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Construction Andrei Klishas explained to TASS that the proposed measures related to QR codes can be introduced by federal law.

According to him, the partial restriction of the rights of citizens does not contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation in accordance with Part 3 of Article 55 (“The rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen can be limited by federal law only to the extent necessary in order to protect the foundations of the constitutional order, morality, health, rights and legitimate interests of others, ensuring the country's defense and state security ”).

Registration of injection "Areplivir"

Meanwhile, on Friday, November 12, it became known that Areplivir, the first domestic direct-acting injectable drug for the treatment of COVID-19, had been registered.

According to the press service of the Promomed Group of Companies, which developed the drug, the drug will begin to arrive in hospitals in all regions by the end of 2021.

“With its development, the Promomed Group of Companies responded to the urgent need of domestic health care for hospital therapy for COVID-19,” the company’s message was quoted by TASS.

They emphasized that specialists were the first in the world to create an injectable form of favipiravir, although this substance is an insoluble powder.

A study led by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Dmitry Pushkar confirmed the effectiveness and safety of the drug.