Moscow closes essential services amid Russian COVID-19 hecatomb

Moscow began to apply a series of health restrictions on Thursday, such as the closure of schools and restaurants and the imposition of a non-working week on most companies and public administration, to contain the COVID-19 epidemic that is accelerating in Russia.

The restrictive measures for Moscow came into force on a day when Russia registered another record of deaths and infections linked to COVID-19, amid the violent wave of pandemic that the country suffers.

According to figures released by the government, 1,159 people died and 40,096 were infected with the virus in the last 24 hours.

Restaurants, beauty salons, clothing or furniture stores, gyms, dance schools and other considered services “non-essential”Will remain closed in Moscow until November 7.

According to Sergei Sobianin, mayor of Moscow – the city most affected by the epidemic in Russia – only centers for the sale of medicines, food and basic necessities are allowed to open.

In addition, most companies and utilities were ordered to stop working during that period.

While most of the streets in central Moscow appeared with little traffic on Thursday morning, the main avenues were congested and the subway packed, reported AFP journalists.

Vaccination failure

The total death toll stands at more than 235,000 people, according to government figures, making Russia the most mourning country in Europe.

The national statistical agency, which has a broader definition of deaths from COVID-19, reported in late August a balance that exceeds 400,000 deaths from coronavirus.

The third wave of the epidemic is driven by the delta variant of the virus, more contagious, and little respect for the use of masks and distancing measures, especially in transport and shops.

The vaccination campaign remains complicated due to the distrust of the Russians. Only a third of them are fully immunized, according to the specialized site Gogov, despite the fact that the country has developed four vaccines, including Sputnik V.

The Kremlin last week acknowledged the failure of its vaccination campaign, but blamed it on the absence of “awareness of citizens ”.

Despite everything, the government is refusing any lockdown or curfew for the time being, for fear of further affecting an already fragile economy.

Russians on vacation

Instead, President Vladimir Putin preferred to declare a national non-working period between October 30 and November 7, a measure he has already taken three times in the past.

The aim is to stop the circulation of people and, therefore, of the virus.

However, due to the lack of mandatory confinement, many Russians plan to go on vacation. The Sochi seaside resort, located on the Black Sea, expects to receive 100,000 visitors.

Air ticket sales to Turkey and Egypt have also exploded.