“We still have time to walk around”: how athletes urge Russians to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic

“Live communication needs to be limited as much as possible”

On Saturday, March 28, the restrictive measures taken in the framework of the fight against the spread of a new coronavirus infection took effect in Russia. Among them - the closure of shopping centers, bars, restaurants, theaters, museums and other cultural and entertainment institutions, as well as parks. The authorities asked people to stay at home if possible and not to go out without emergency.

Many domestic athletes appealed to Russians to comply with the established restrictions. So, UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov warned against underestimating COVID-19.

“Coronavirus, they said ... In fact, everything is very serious. Keep clean, be careful in everything. Take care of yourself and your families, do not approach this situation lightly and with underestimation. The Almighty does not impose on a person beyond his capabilities, ”Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram.

The champion was supported by his colleague in the strongest promotion of the planet Alexander Volkov. He has published eight rules that must be followed to deal with a dangerous disease. Among them are staying at home, washing hands and wearing a protective mask.

“If you feel unwell, you do not need to go to a hospital or a pharmacy, let alone walk, so that you do not inadvertently infect anyone. You need to call affordable medical services and talk about your symptoms. They will help you, ”Volkov explained.

The former boxing champion, State Duma deputy Nikolai Valuev also spoke about the necessary restrictions.

“People at such a moment can only say that it is necessary to observe the isolation regime, because now, against the background of the development of infection, it is required to prevent it from spreading to the maximum. Therefore, live communication and any movements should be limited as much as possible, ”TASS quotes Valuev.

The players of the Russian national football team did not stand aside, having arranged for the fans a small educational program on coronavirus. Georgy Dzhikia, Roman Zobnin, Alexei Miranchuk and Denis Cheryshev told subscribers how the disease is transmitted and what symptoms should alert people.

Forewarned is forearmed. #Our guys very clearly spoke about the prevention of coronavirus. #Russian national team pic.twitter.com / 6wfh9T1J1F

A similar video was released by Rostov. The yellow and blue called on their fans to refrain from greeting handshakes, stay at least a meter away from other people, and wash their hands thoroughly. And in Lokomotiv they simply asked the fans to stay at home.

"Football. "Locomotive". Cherkizovo. This is what has united us for many years. We all miss the games of our team, the crowded stands of our own stadium. Usually we encourage everyone to come to the arena and support the team, but this is a special time. A time when our main rival is not in the stadium. When you need to be more attentive to yourself and your loved ones. Please stay home. Stay with Lokomotiv, the club said.

Follow the isolation regime asked subscribers and Eugene Malkin. The hockey player posted a photo with his son and accompanied the post with the hashtags #stayhome, #staystrong and #staypositive (stay home, stay strong and stay positive).

View this Instagram post

#stayhome #staystrong #staypositive

Posted by Evgeni Malkin (@ e.malkin71geno) Mar 27, 2020 at 8:51 am PDT

“Sit at home. This will save your life for yourself and others. ”

However, some representatives of the world of sports spoke much harder. For example, the famous commentator Dmitry Guberniev was extremely dissatisfied with crowds of people on the streets of Moscow on Saturday - the first day of restrictive measures. The journalist had already repeatedly called on compatriots to comply with quarantine and strictly adhered to the rules.

“I went for a run and exercises and was stunned! Huge companies walk together, picnics and a celebration. Guys, if we still take a walk, then soon we will definitely end! Russia, sit already at home! ” - wrote Guberniev in his Telegram channel.

His promise was supported by the wife of Alexander Ovechkin. Anastasia Ovechkina (Shubskaya) reposted the publication of Channel One correspondent Kristina Levieva, which tells how residents and visitors of Moscow, despite the introduction of restrictive measures, continue to walk as if nothing had happened. The hockey player’s wife accompanied the post with a comment: “People, what is the matter with you?”

Perplexed by the crowd, the former Russian national midfielder remained on the street, and at the moment the Zenit-2 head coach Vladislav Radimov. He called for compliance with the rules for the health of the older generation.

“Please sit at home. Let's observe safety measures. Sit at home. Spit on yourself - think about others, primarily about grandparents. It was not you who gave them life, so that, because of your indifference and indifference, it was taken away. Sit at home. In this way, you will save lives for yourself and others. Sit at home. We still have time to go for a walk, ”wrote Radimov.

And the general producer of Match TV, Tina Kandelaki, raised another problematic topic - the abundance of vacationers in Sochi. She harshly criticized people who, instead of self-isolating, went to the resort, which, by the way, also introduced strict restrictive measures, including a ban on the settlement of tourists, the suspension of food service outlets and the closure of tourist facilities.

“How can you not understand that you don’t have to drag yourself anywhere ?! It is not necessary to fill in hotels and the private sector, to make nonsense about the Masonic conspiracy and think: “Everyone will die, but I will stay,” the TV presenter wrote on the Telegram channel.

Kandelaki was supported by Ecuadorian midfielder FC Sochi Christian Noboa, who also urged subscribers not to come to the city. The footballer accompanied his appeal with the phrase: "Hey, this is not a vacation."