The rest of the country will join Moscow to start so-called “no work” days from Saturday to November 7. After these restrictions took effect, Russia reported 40,096 cases and 1,159 deaths on Thursday, the highest single-day figure so far.
Restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, clothing stores, fitness clubs, bookstores and many other places in Moscow are closed on Thursday. Only cafes and restaurants provide takeaway and delivery services, except for hotel restaurants, where only guests and staff can dine.
As long as the holidays continue, government agencies and national service agencies will also continue to “extend paid leave”, although they will still provide online services.
Medical assistance in Moscow will be provided as usual, but with some restrictions. In particular, dentists can only provide emergency and urgent care. Schools and kindergartens will also be closed, and universities will have to work remotely.
Unless the city government approves an exception, no group cultural, entertainment and sports activities will be organized.
However, Muscovites can still enter shops, pharmacies, parks, theaters and museums that sell food and basic goods with proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19.
Despite these restrictions, the streets of the capital remained lively as usual on Thursday. Transport in Moscow will continue to operate as usual.
On October 20th, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the proposal to announce a national holiday from October 30th to November 7th, and strongly encouraged all regions to take measures as soon as necessary.
Moscow’s deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova urged people to use the holiday to vaccinate. Russia’s efforts to reduce transmission have been severely hampered by the weak vaccination program. In a country where four local vaccines are available, only about 30% of the population is fully vaccinated.
“We urge Muscovites to make the most of this time-spend time with their families, go to a country house or get vaccinated in one of the city centres. The Covid-19 vaccination and rapid testing center will continue to be in Moscow, and you can do so in public places without an appointment. Or make an appointment at the clinic to get the vaccine,” Rakova said.
Since Monday, Moscow has also implemented other restrictions. All residents over the age of 60 who have not been vaccinated in the past six months and have not been sick, as well as people with certain chronic diseases, have been ordered to stay at home until the end of February. Employers in the capital were also ordered to tell at least 30% of their employees to work from home starting from Monday.
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