COVID-19: Moscow announces new restrictions on rise of epidemic

In particular, the Moscowian authorities ordered the mandatory vaccination of 80% of the services employees by 1 January 2022, and the containment of the over 60 years of no vaccinated from October 25 to February 25th.

Le Monde with AFP

The city of Moscow announced, Tuesday, October 19, of the health restrictions, the former since the summer, facing the rise in contaminations by the coronavirus and the deaths due to COVID-19. For its part, the Kremlin reflects on national measures to stem the spread of the virus. This wave caused by the Variant Delta worsens after a previous thrust this summer. It is amplified by a pushing vaccination campaign and random respect for distancing measures.

“The number of people hospitalized for serious cases increases every day,” said the Mayor of the capital, Sergei Sobianine, who ordered “urgent measures” to protect the most vulnerable categories of the population, including the Seniors.

The Moscow authorities have thus ordered the mandatory vaccination of 80% of the employees of the services by the 1 January 2022, the containment of the over 60 years of no vaccinated from October 25 to February 25 and teleworking “at least 30%” of employees. “I understand how much the current restrictions are tiring and unpleasant. But there is no other way to protect you from this serious illness,” justified Mr. Sobianine.

These are the first restrictions ordered in Moscow since gradually lifted from the end of July. In June, the capital had experienced an unemployed week to curb the spread of the epidemic, and then she introduced a very unpopular and weighing economy for a few weeks.

Less than 35%. of the population totally vaccinated

Tuesday, Russia recorded a new record with 1,015 dead from COVID-19 in twenty-four hours, bringing the government’s balance sheet to more than 225,000 deaths – the heaviest in Europe. However, this number is largely underestimated, the National Agency for Rossat Statistics having counted more than 400,000 dead at the end of August.

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister Responsible for Health, Tatiana Golikova, asked to declare unemployed throughout the country the week of October 30 to November 7. The President, Vladimir Putin, could decide on Wednesday. For the most hit regions struck by the epidemic, this measure could even come into effect on October 23, according to M me Golikova. Putin has in the past decreed repeatedly such leave, and the Prime Minister, Mikhail Michourtine, said itself favorable on Tuesday.

The Kremlin has always preferred this measure, intended to limit the circulation of people and, therefore, of the virus, to preserve the economy, rather than confining the population.

Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Presidency, Dmitri Peskov, called the Russians to be “more responsible” and to be vaccinated, while less than 35% of the population is totally immune and that it is overall suspicious with Russian vaccines. Mr. Peskov nevertheless admitted that the authorities had not done enough to explain to the Russians that there is no other solution than vaccination “. “Now, it’s time for each of us to be civic meaning,” he added.

Before Moscow reflects on new sanitary measures, several regions reintroduced the obligation to present a pass to access certain public places. Monday, St. Petersburg, the second city of the country, announced the establishment of such a certificate from 1 November to access sports or cultural events bringing together more than forty people, And from the December 1 ER to access restaurants and shops.

/Media reports.