themoscowtimes--2020-04-17--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surge By Over 4,000 in 6th Consecutive One-Day Record

Russia ’ s officially reported numbers — which are still relatively lower than those in European countries — have sparked suspicion .
Experts warn that Russia 's testing capacity is hampered by bureaucracy , while officials warn that the real number of cases is likely much higher .
The majority of Russia 's cases are in Moscow .
Since March 30 , all of Moscow 's 12 million residents have been ordered to stay in their homes with few exceptions .
`` The peak in morbidity should arrive in the next two to three weeks , '' she said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under confinement rules that Muscovites have to observe until at least May 1 , they are only allowed to leave their homes to go to work , walk their dogs , take out trash or visit their nearest shop .
This week city authorities tightened the lockdown by introducing a digital permit system , requiring that anyone travelling by car or public transport obtain a pass .
Russia has carried out more than 1.7 million coronavirus tests , though there have been concerns about their reliability .
Worldwide , the virus has infected @ @ @ @ @

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-17--Moscow to Treat Respiratory Infections as Coronavirus: Official

The city ’ s new directive comes a week after its decision to treat all pneumonia cases as potential coronavirus patients because the virus often causes pneumonia .
Federal officials have also authorized Covid-19 diagnoses without lab tests as Russia ’ s relatively low infection rates drew suspicion and tests have had a high share of false negatives .
Moscow , the epicenter of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak , will begin treating respiratory infections as Covid-19 as the disease shows no signs of slowing down , a senior city official said Thursday .
“ The virus is already actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , it ’ s difficult to distinguish between early signs of coronavirus and a simple acute viral respiratory infection , ” deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said .
“ That ’ s why we decided that all respiratory infection cases will be considered as suspected coronavirus [ cases ] , ” the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Rakova as saying .
These patients and people who live with them will be placed under 14-day quarantine , she was quoted by The Bell news website as saying .
If they develop complications , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 45 converted clinics for CT scans , blood tests and electrocardiograms .
Those who violate self-isolation rules will also face fines extended to housebound coronavirus patients , according to Moscow ’ s coronavirus crisis center .
On Friday , Rakova said Moscow could reach its peak in coronavirus infections in the next two to three weeks .
Moscow , a city of more than 12 million people , has emerged as the epicenter of the contagion in Russia with more than 16,000 coronavirus cases .
Russia has reported a total of 27,938 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 14th most-affected country , and 232 deaths as of Thursday .

The city’s new directive comes a week after its decision to treat all pneumonia cases as potential coronavirus patients because the virus often causes pneumonia. Federal officials have also authorized Covid-19 diagnoses without lab tests as Russia’s relatively low infection rates drew suspicion and tests have had a high share of false negatives.
Moscow, the epicenter of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, will begin treating respiratory infections as Covid-19 as the disease shows no signs of slowing down, a senior city official said Thursday.
“The virus is already actively spreading inside the city. In these conditions, it’s difficult to distinguish between early signs of coronavirus and a simple acute viral respiratory infection,” deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said.
“That’s why we decided that all respiratory infection cases will be considered as suspected coronavirus [cases],” the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Rakova as saying.
These patients and people who live with them will be placed under 14-day quarantine, she was quoted by The Bell news website as saying. If they develop complications, the patients will be sent to one of 45 converted clinics for CT scans, blood tests and electrocardiograms.
Those who violate self-isolation rules will also face fines extended to housebound coronavirus patients, according to Moscow’s coronavirus crisis center.
On Friday, Rakova said Moscow could reach its peak in coronavirus infections in the next two to three weeks.
Moscow, a city of more than 12 million people, has emerged as the epicenter of the contagion in Russia with more than 16,000 coronavirus cases.
Russia has reported a total of 27,938 cases, making it the world’s 14th most-affected country, and 232 deaths as of Thursday.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-16--Over 100 Migrant Workers Infected Near St. Petersburg

The Leningrad region , which surrounds Russia ’ s second-largest city of St. Petersburg , has reported 330 Covid-19 cases since the start of the outbreak .
Over a four-day period , 123 mostly mild coronavirus cases have been reported in the hostel in the village of Novosergiyevka east of St. Petersburg .
One-third of all coronavirus infections in a northwestern Russian region are concentrated in a crowded hostel that houses migrant workers involved in construction at an IKEA-owned shopping mall , local media reported Wednesday .
The hostel is rented by a Turkish construction contractor whose migrants are involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nearby IKEA-owned shopping center , the local 47news.ru website reported .
“ The shopping center ’ s employees did not have direct contact with the contractor ’ s sick workers , ” the outlet quoted IKEA as saying .
Regional authorities described the hostel as “ illegal.
” '' We received information that on April 11 employees of Esta Construction , a contracting organization that carries out construction work on the property of the MEGA Dybenko [ shopping center ] , had symptoms of SARS , which was later confirmed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work at the facility , and in accordance with the authorities ' instructions , the workers were quarantined and the premises were completely disinfected , ” a spokesperson for the shopping center told The Moscow Times .
Health officials set up a field hospital on hostel grounds to isolate the infected and prepare for a possible outbreak among its estimated 485 residents .
“ We decided not to hospitalize them because there ’ s around 500 people there , ” the local Bumaga news website quoted the Leningrad region ’ s press service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases are mild and don ’ t require hospitalization.
” Authorities have opened a criminal probe into health violations leading to mass illness , a crime punishable by up to two years in prison .
They did not name the suspects .
The Leningrad region ’ s governor , Alexander Drozdenko , also ordered an inspection into all hostels following the mass infection at Novosergiyevka .
St. Petersburg , a city of 5.5 million , is Russia ’ s third hardest-hit locale with 1,083 out of 27,938 countrywide coronavirus infections and seven reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to clarify that the contractors are not IKEA employees and to add the shopping center 's statement .

The Leningrad region, which surrounds Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg, has reported 330 Covid-19 cases since the start of the outbreak. Over a four-day period, 123 mostly mild coronavirus cases have been reported in the hostel in the village of Novosergiyevka east of St. Petersburg.
One-third of all coronavirus infections in a northwestern Russian region are concentrated in a crowded hostel that houses migrant workers involved in construction at an IKEA-owned shopping mall, local media reported Wednesday.
The hostel is rented by a Turkish construction contractor whose migrants are involved in “either reconstructing or cleaning” the nearby IKEA-owned shopping center, the local 47news.ru website reported.
“The shopping center’s employees did not have direct contact with the contractor’s sick workers,” the outlet quoted IKEA as saying.
Regional authorities described the hostel as “illegal.”
"We received information that on April 11 employees of Esta Construction, a contracting organization that carries out construction work on the property of the MEGA Dybenko [shopping center], had symptoms of SARS, which was later confirmed to be coronavirus. The contractor immediately stopped construction work at the facility, and in accordance with the authorities' instructions, the workers were quarantined and the premises were completely disinfected,” a spokesperson for the shopping center told The Moscow Times.
Health officials set up a field hospital on hostel grounds to isolate the infected and prepare for a possible outbreak among its estimated 485 residents.
“We decided not to hospitalize them because there’s around 500 people there,” the local Bumaga news website quoted the Leningrad region’s press service as saying. “Plus, most cases are mild and don’t require hospitalization.”
Authorities have opened a criminal probe into health violations leading to mass illness, a crime punishable by up to two years in prison. They did not name the suspects.
The Leningrad region’s governor, Alexander Drozdenko, also ordered an inspection into all hostels following the mass infection at Novosergiyevka.
St. Petersburg, a city of 5.5 million, is Russia’s third hardest-hit locale with 1,083 out of 27,938 countrywide coronavirus infections and seven reported deaths.
This story has been updated to clarify that the contractors are not IKEA employees and to add the shopping center's statement.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-17--Russia Passes Dual Citizenship Law, Hoping to Add 10M Citizens

Lawmakers have described the amendments to Russia ’ s citizenship law , which among other steps strike down a requirement to renounce one 's existing citizenship , as “ revolutionary.
” Their authors expect up to 10 million people , primarily from Russian-speaking populations in the former Soviet republics , to obtain Russian passports as the country tries to fix its demographic crisis .
Russian lawmakers from both houses of parliament have passed legislation Friday allowing dual Russian citizenship for foreigners , sending it to President Vladimir Putin ’ s desk less than two weeks after introducing it .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower-house State Duma unanimously in a 302-0 vote in a rare session Friday .
The Duma usually convenes between Tuesday and Thursday .
Russia ’ s upper-house Federation Council , which traditionally gathers once a week on a Wednesday , passed the bill shortly after .
Both votes took place within 10 days since the Russian government submitted the legislation for consideration .
Russia ’ s dual citizenship bill will become law 90 days after Putin signs it and Russia ’ s official gazette publishes it .
The bill also exempts spouses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuous residence requirement in order to become a naturalized Russian .
Putin ’ s migration policy guidelines for 2019-2025 state that there should be clear and simple conditions for acquiring Russian citizenship .
Last year , he expanded the list of people eligible for fast-tracked passports to include residents of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine .

Lawmakers have described the amendments to Russia’s citizenship law, which among other steps strike down a requirement to renounce one's existing citizenship, as “revolutionary.” Their authors expect up to 10 million people, primarily from Russian-speaking populations in the former Soviet republics, to obtain Russian passports as the country tries to fix its demographic crisis .
Russian lawmakers from both houses of parliament have passed legislation Friday allowing dual Russian citizenship for foreigners, sending it to President Vladimir Putin’s desk less than two weeks after introducing it.
The bill relaxing current citizenship rules passed the lower-house State Duma unanimously in a 302-0 vote in a rare session Friday. The Duma usually convenes between Tuesday and Thursday.
Russia’s upper-house Federation Council, which traditionally gathers once a week on a Wednesday, passed the bill shortly after.
Both votes took place within 10 days since the Russian government submitted the legislation for consideration.
Russia’s dual citizenship bill will become law 90 days after Putin signs it and Russia’s official gazette publishes it.
The bill also exempts spouses and children of Russian nationals from the five-year continuous residence requirement in order to become a naturalized Russian.
Putin’s migration policy guidelines for 2019-2025 state that there should be clear and simple conditions for acquiring Russian citizenship. Last year, he expanded the list of people eligible for fast-tracked passports to include residents of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-17--New Russian Governors Oppose Controversial Shiyes Landfill in Their Backyard

Opposition to construction of the Shiyes landfill in the Arkhangelsk region as a destination for Moscow ’ s trash grew from a local issue in 2018 to a mass movement a year later .
A court ruled to demolish Shiyes in January 2020 , though the landfill ’ s investor has since appealed the decision .
Two newly appointed leaders in northern Russia have said they oppose a controversial landfill whose construction set off nationwide protests against shipping Moscow 's waste to poorer regions over a year ago .
“ I ’ m against the project at the Shiyes station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue , ” Alexander Tsybulsky , the new acting governor of Arkhangelsk region , said in an interview Wednesday .
Vladimir Uyba , the new acting governor of the neighboring republic of Komi , said he had discussed the issue with Tsybulsky and reached the same conclusion regarding the landfill .
“ Any project that can harm the environment of any region of any country shouldn ’ t have the right to exist , ” Uyba was quoted as saying Friday .
Neither of them has so far outlined concrete plans on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project .
President Vladimir Putin named Uyba and Tsybulsky acting governors of their respective regions after their predecessors quit in early April .
Uyba replaced his predecessor in the republic of Komi this month after a mass coronavirus outbreak at a local hospital turned the region into one of Russia 's virus hotspots .
Tsybulsky took over in Arkhangelsk after his predecessor , who was a vocal supporter of the suspended landfill and drew locals ' ire for offending remarks , said Putin should determine the region 's new leader .

Opposition to construction of the Shiyes landfill in the Arkhangelsk region as a destination for Moscow’s trash grew from a local issue in 2018 to a mass movement a year later. A court ruled to demolish Shiyes in January 2020, though the landfill’s investor has since appealed the decision.
Two newly appointed leaders in northern Russia have said they oppose a controversial landfill whose construction set off nationwide protests against shipping Moscow's waste to poorer regions over a year ago.
“I’m against the project at the Shiyes station. I don’t want it to continue,” Alexander Tsybulsky, the new acting governor of Arkhangelsk region, said in an interview Wednesday.
Vladimir Uyba, the new acting governor of the neighboring republic of Komi, said he had discussed the issue with Tsybulsky and reached the same conclusion regarding the landfill.
“Any project that can harm the environment of any region of any country shouldn’t have the right to exist,” Uyba was quoted as saying Friday.
Neither of them has so far outlined concrete plans on how to move forward with the landfill project.
President Vladimir Putin named Uyba and Tsybulsky acting governors of their respective regions after their predecessors quit in early April.
Uyba replaced his predecessor in the republic of Komi this month after a mass coronavirus outbreak at a local hospital turned the region into one of Russia's virus hotspots. Tsybulsky took over in Arkhangelsk after his predecessor, who was a vocal supporter of the suspended landfill and drew locals' ire for offending remarks, said Putin should determine the region's new leader.


themoscowtimes--2020-04-17--Russia Approves Unproven Malaria Drug to Treat Coronavirus

Thursday ’ s decree instructs Russia ’ s national medical cardiology research center to distribute 68,600 packs of hydroxychloroquine donated by a Shanghai pharmaceutical company to hospitals across Russia for free .
The Russian government has authorized hospitals to treat coronavirus patients with the untested malaria drug hydroxychloroquine , which studies have linked to potentially deadly side effects .
More than a dozen countries are studying the effects of hydroxychloroquine to prevent and treat Covid-19 .
Studies have warned that the drug can be deadly when combined with other drugs , prompting scientists to urge countries to hold off on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials show its safety and effectiveness .
A BBC Russia report last week said that doctors in Moscow were being required to test hydroxychloroquine on themselves despite the drug ’ s known side effects and the study ’ s stated voluntary nature .
Moscow ’ s health department issued a tender in early April to buy 2.6 million rubles ( $ 33,200 ) worth of hydroxychloroquine .
Russian scientists are testing vaccine prototypes for the new coronavirus and plan to start human trials of experimental vaccines in June .
Vektor , a top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine platform technologies that have already been tested in humans for other infections and could be used for Covid-19 .
Russia has reported a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases , ranking it the 11th in the world , and 273 deaths as of Friday .

Thursday’s decree instructs Russia’s national medical cardiology research center to distribute 68,600 packs of hydroxychloroquine donated by a Shanghai pharmaceutical company to hospitals across Russia for free.
The Russian government has authorized hospitals to treat coronavirus patients with the untested malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which studies have linked to potentially deadly side effects.
More than a dozen countries are studying the effects of hydroxychloroquine to prevent and treat Covid-19. Studies have warned that the drug can be deadly when combined with other drugs, prompting scientists to urge countries to hold off on using it to treat coronavirus until larger trials show its safety and effectiveness.
A BBC Russia report last week said that doctors in Moscow were being required to test hydroxychloroquine on themselves despite the drug’s known side effects and the study’s stated voluntary nature.
Moscow’s health department issued a tender in early April to buy 2.6 million rubles ($33,200) worth of hydroxychloroquine.
Russian scientists are testing vaccine prototypes for the new coronavirus and plan to start human trials of experimental vaccines in June.
Vektor, a top Russian research center, said it has vaccine platform technologies that have already been tested in humans for other infections and could be used for Covid-19.
Russia has reported a total of 32,008 coronavirus cases, ranking it the 11th in the world, and 273 deaths as of Friday.