themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 12

There have been 232,243 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 2,116 deaths .
As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 283,000 people worldwide continues to spread , Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic 's spread within its borders .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia as of May 12 .
— Moscow has conducted 1 million coronavirus tests since the start of its outbreak , the city 's coronavirus task force said , citing deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova .
More than 40,000 tests are carried out daily .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried out .
— Russian prosecutors have shot down online conspiracy theories about the coronavirus ’ manmade origins as fake , the Prosecutor General 's Office said in a statement Wednesday .
— Moscow residents could be required to wear face masks in all public spaces as early as next week , the Kommersant business daily reported .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said stay-at-home restrictions would remain in place beyond May 12 , but companies involved in industry and construction would be allowed to return to work that day .
— Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus , becoming the third Russian cabinet official to become infected with the virus after construction minister Vladimir Yakushev and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin .
— Russia confirmed 10,559 new coronavirus infections Wednesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 165,929 .
— Leonid Fedun , the billionaire energy tycoon who co-founded Lukoil and owns FC Spartak Moscow , has been hospitalized with coronavirus .
— “ I don ’ t want to say this , but we need to prepare for a long period surrounding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection .
Such is reality , sadly , and we should stare this reality in the face , ” he said .
— The real number of coronavirus infections in Moscow is likely around 300,000 , Sobyanin said .
Officially , the city has 92,676 cases .
— Russia confirmed 11,231 new coronavirus infections Thursday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 177,160 and marking a new one-day record rise in infections .
— Hundreds of thousands of Moscow ’ s rapid antibody tests labeled as Dutch-made are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early stages , meaning patients who receive false negatives could potentially infect others , a new investigation has said .
— Russia 's coronavirus lockdown could stay in place until a coronavirus vaccine is developed or until the pandemic ends , said Anna Popova , the head of Russia 's consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor .
— Russia confirmed 10,699 new coronavirus infections Friday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 187,859 .
Russia is now the fifth most-affected country in terms of infections , surpassing Germany and France on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fire broke out in a hospital treating coronavirus patients in northern Moscow , forcing an evacuation , emergencies officials said Saturday .
— Moscow 's coronavirus lockdown has been extended until May 31 , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
Starting May 12 , Moscow residents will be required to wear face masks and gloves in all public places and transport , Sobyanin said .
— President Vladimir Putin called for Russians to stand together on Saturday as the country marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II on lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and firmly believe that we are invincible when we stand together , '' Putin said in a televised speech after plans for a grand Victory Day military parade in Red Square had to be postponed because of the pandemic .
— Russia confirmed 10,817 new coronavirus infections Saturday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 198,676 .
— Russia confirmed 11,012 new coronavirus infections Sunday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 209,688 .
— Russia has conducted more than 5.6 million coronavirus tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or about 188,000 tests per day .
— Russia 's second-largest city , St. Petersburg , has extended its coronvirus lockdown until May 31 and will require its residents to wear face masks and gloves in public starting May 12 .
— Russia confirmed 11,656 new coronavirus infections Monday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 221,344 and marking a new one-day record increase .
— Russian pharmacy chains are reporting shortages in thermometers , according to the Kommersant business daily .
— Starting today , Moscow residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gloves in all public places .
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President Vladimir Putin has eased Russia ’ s “ non-working ” period imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus even as Russia emerges as Europe ’ s new coronavirus hotspot .
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Five people died in a fire in a hospital for coronavirus patients in Russia 's second-largest city of St. Petersburg on Tuesday , with some victims attached to ventilators , officials said .
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Russia confirmed 10,899 new coronavirus infections Tuesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and support the only independent , English-language news outlet reporting within Russia .
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— Russia confirmed 10,102 new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s official number of cases to 155,370 .
— Three Russian journalists have died from the coronavirus , the head of Russia 's Journalists Union told Interfax .
More than 100 have been hospitalized with the virus and more than 500 are self-isolating at home under the supervision of health services .
— Russia has sent medical research supplies and two mobile laboratories to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help the African country fight the coronavirus , Interfax reported .
— Russia confirmed 10,581 new coronavirus infections Monday , bringing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 145,268 .
— Authorities in St. Petersburg have pledged to pay compensation to doctors who become infected with the coronavirus — but only after an investigation establishes their level of responsibility for getting it , according to newly adopted rules .
— Bosnia denied entry to a team of 24 Russian military medical experts who had come to the Balkan country to carry out decontamination work .
— Starting May 8 , all individuals flying from Moscow to Beijing will be required to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test received 120 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergei Bebenin , the speaker of the Leningrad region 's parliament , has been infected with coronavirus , Interfax reported .
— Russia has removed its ban on the export of medical masks and respirators , Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told the state-run Rossia 1 news channel .
He said there is no shortage of masks or other sanitary products in Russian pharmacies .
— The Russian National Guard said it is using drones and a helicopter to enforce self-isolation rules in Moscow and the Moscow region over the May holidays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about violations to officers on the ground , who will then issue fines to violators .
— Russia confirmed 10,633 new coronavirus infections Sunday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 134,687 and marking a new one-day record increase .
— Russia confirmed 9,623 new coronavirus infections Saturday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 124,054 and marking a new one-day record increase .
— About 2 % of Moscow residents — or more than 250,000 people — have the coronavirus , the mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citing test results .
Around 2,000 Moscow doctors have either recovered from or are currently ill with Covid-19 , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
— Russia confirmed 7,933 new coronavirus infections Friday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 114,431 and marking a new one-day record increase .
— Half of Moscow ’ s coronavirus patients in serious condition have tested negative for the virus , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday amid questions over the accuracy of Russia ’ s tests .
— Eight refrigerated containers to store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been installed at hospitals in St. Petersburg , the local Fontanka.ru news website reported .
The city 's health department told Fontanka that the containers are n't being used yet and are a precautionary step in case the number of deaths rises .
— Russia could possibly tighten its coronavirus lockdown after May 11 if residents do n't follow the self-isolation rules over the May holidays , consumer protection watchdog head Anna Popova said .
— Moscow is setting up 44 temporary hospitals which will treat up to 10,000 coronavirus patients , deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed 7,099 new coronavirus infections Thursday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 106,498 and marking a new one-day record increase .
— Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has been diagnosed with coronavirus , he said during a video meeting with President Vladimir Putin broadcast on the state-run Rossiya 24 television channel Thursday .
— More than 300 members of the National Guard have contracted coronavirus , the defense force said .
— Residents of the Moscow region will soon be required to wear masks in public places , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital said .
— The opening of Russia 's new Orthodox mega-cathedral dedicated to the Armed Forces has been indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus , Interfax reported .
The cathedral was originally scheduled to open to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis on May 9 .
— Russia confirmed 5,841 new coronavirus infections Wednesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 99,399 .
— More than 1,000 Russian military personnel have tested positive for coronavirus , the Defense Ministry said .
— Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold a total of 10,000 beds for coronavirus patients , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
— Russia will allow its nationals who hold second passports to leave the country amid the coronavirus outbreak , according to a government decree issued Wednesday .
— Konstantin Malofeyev , the billionaire often referred to as Russia 's `` Orthodox tycoon , '' said he has contracted the coronavirus .
— Russia has indefinitely extended its entry ban for foreigners , which was originally set to end May 1 , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 counterfeit ventilators used to treat coronavirus patients have been detained after an armed confrontation outside Moscow , news outlets reported Wednesday .
— Russia confirmed 6,411 new coronavirus infections Tuesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 93,558 and marking a new one-day record increase .
— President Vladimir Putin has extended the national “ non-working ” month through May 11 as Russia continued to see sharp daily rises in new coronavirus infections in recent days .
Moscow 's coronavirus lockdown has also been extended until May 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered the federal consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor to draft a coronavirus lockdown exit strategy for the country by Wednesday .
— More than 270 Federal Penitentiary Service ( FSIN ) workers have contracted the coronavirus , the Russian prison authority said .
Its press service said that 40 inmates have tested positive for the virus nationwide .
— A priest at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius monastery in Sergiev Posad who was diagnosed with coronavirus died on Sunday two days after he escaped from the hospital and attempted to take his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media reports that the priest had set himself on fire , Russian Orthodox Church archpriest Leonid Kalinin told the Govorit Moskva radio station that the 90 % of the priest 's body was covered in burns .
— Russia confirmed 6,198 new coronavirus infections Monday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 87,147 .
Russia has now surpassed China to become the world 's ninth most-affected country amid the pandemic .
— Russia 's coronavirus lockdown measures may be gradually lightened as soon as May 12 depending on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , the head of the federal consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said .
— Russian doctors mistrustful of official coronavirus data have launched an unofficial list of their colleagues who have died from the virus .
— The republic of Karelia in northern Russia will create an interactive map of the places where confirmed coronavirus patients in the region live , including their street names and house numbers , in order for the region 's residents to avoid these places , its head Artur Parfenchikov wrote .
— The Immortal Regiment , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia parade with portraits of relatives who fought in World War II , will take place in an online video broadcast this year as the coronavirus has canceled Victory Day events .
— The head of a Siberian hospital repurposed for coronavirus patients is in critical condition after she fell from the hospital building following a conference call with health officials , local media reported Saturday .
— President Vladimir Putin is not waiting out the coronavirus pandemic in a bunker , his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .
— The Nizhny Novgorod @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless one has an emergency work permit or proof of residence there , its governor said .
The region has Russia 's fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases , after Moscow , the Moscow region and St. Petersburg .
— Nearly 50 employees at the Mariinsky Hospital in St. Petersburg have tested positive for coronavirus , the local Fontanka.ru news website reported .
Starting Monday , the hospital will only treat patients with coronavirus , with all other patients transferred to other hospitals .
— At least 874 Russian troops tested positive for Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whom are in critical or serious condition , the Defense Ministry said .
— Russia confirmed 6,361 new coronavirus infections Sunday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 80,949 and marking the highest one-day increase so far .
Overall , 747 people have been killed by the virus .
— In St. Petersburg , four nurses have died of coronavirus this month , officials confirmed .
— Two Russian lawmakers — Leonid Kalashnikov and Dmitry Novikov , both of the Communist Party — have been infected with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are the first positive Covid-19 cases to be confirmed from among Russia ’ s 450-seat State Duma .
— Authorities in Russia 's western exclave of Kaliningrad will end the region 's coronavirus lockdown for most residents starting April 29 , Governor Anton Alikhanov said , making it the first Russian region to do so .
Nonessential businesses will re-open on April 29 and salons and hairdressers will re-open on May 4 .
All residents will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing in public .
— Moscow authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders during the May holidays which include Labor Day and Victory Day , the mayor 's office said .
Meanwhile , the head of Russia ’ s consumer health watchdog argued self-isolation should be extended by at least another two weeks , until the middle of May .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said he has asked Russia 's Health Ministry and Education Ministry to prepare fourth- and fifth-year medical students to help treat coronavirus patients .
— More than 40 % of Moscow 's health system is now being used in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor for social development Anastasia Rakova said .
— All of Moscow 's doctors and nurses will take an express test to detect the presence of coronavirus antibodies and test their immunity to the virus , Rakova told reporters .
— Russia confirmed 4,774 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 62,773 .
Overall , 555 people have died from the virus in Russia .
— Vladislav Filev , the owner of Russian carrier S7 Airlines , has predicted that international air traffic which has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resume in April 2021 .
— Russia will temporarily suspend deportations of foreigners over the next two months due to the coronavirus outbreak , the Interior Ministry said Thursday .
— More than 100,000 pregnant women will be unable to undergo medical abortions in Moscow because of restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak , the women ’ s rights organization Nasiliyu.net ( “ No to Violence ” ) Center has said .
— Russia ’ s Labor Ministry has ordered mental health facilities and nursing homes to quarantine residents and employees for two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
— Staff in the neurological department of the Lyubertsy Regional Hospital near Moscow have asked the FSB to investigate the hospital 's administration .
According to the staffers , 52 doctors have been infected with coronavirus due to management 's actions .
— A hospital in the Chelyabinsk region city of Zlatoust has been quarantined after 44 patients and staff became infected with coronavirus , the region 's governor said .
He added that the outbreak happened as a result of `` a procedural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the patients . ''
— Russia confirmed 5,236 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 57,999 .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that the regions ’ hospitals risk running out of beds within three to four weeks at current rates of infection .
— At least 21 Russian regions have requested digital travel passes a week after coronavirus-hit Moscow enacted its system to enforce lockdown measures and slow the deadly outbreak , the Communications and Press Ministry said Wednesday .
— The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rare diseases are in danger because the country ’ s hospitals are being repurposed to address the coronavirus outbreak , the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday .
— The authors of Russia ’ s delayed domestic abuse law have asked the government to take emergency steps to protect victims during the coronavirus quarantine , the RBC news website reported .
— Russia 's mosques will close during the holy month of Ramadan , Ravil Gainutdin , the chairman of the Council of Muftis which represents Russia ’ s Muslim community , said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia 's Far East has become the third region to require residents to wear face masks in public , following the Amur region and the republic of Tatarstan .
— Russia confirmed 5,642 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 57,999 .
— A new Moscow hospital built in a little over a month to treat coronavirus patients has admitted its first 20 patients , the Moscow mayor ’ s office said Tuesday as the Russian capital continues to battle an onslaught of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unidentified African countries have asked Russia to assist them in the fight against coronavirus , Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry said .
— Authorities in Moscow will start monitoring the movements of all people showing coronavirus symptoms using their cellphone geolocation data .
The city was already tracking the movements of confirmed coronavirus patients who are self-isolating at home .
— The rector of Moscow 's Yelokhovo Cathedral , Archpriest Alexander Ageykin , has reportedly died from coronavirus .
His death marks the highest-level coronavirus-related death within the Russian Orthodox Church .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will offer free coronavirus tests to everyone in Moscow as the city grapples with a rapid rise in infections .
— Russia confirmed 4,268 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 47,121 .
— The Russian military will quarantine everyone involved in rehearsals for Russia ’ s postponed Victory Day Parade , the Defense Ministry said following reports that some participants have tested positive for the coronavirus .
—Around 500 demonstrators gathered in the southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz to protest against job losses and lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the MBKh News website reported Monday .
— Russians should stop coming to Crimea during the coronavirus pandemic , its Moscow-backed leader said Monday after a surge in traffic to the annexed peninsula this weekend .
— Russia has extended visas and other temporary residence permits for foreigners from March 15 to June 15 during the coronavirus pandemic that has shut national borders around the world .
Putin ’ s act bans authorities from canceling visas and work permits , as well as from deporting and denying people refugee and temporary asylum status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has so far carried out over 2 million tests nationwide .
— Authorities in Moscow are investigating the death of a woman on a bench outside her home on the day she was discharged after testing negative for the coronavirus .
— Dozens of patients and staff have been infected with the coronavirus at a psychiatric hospital in Russia ’ s northwestern Arkhangelsk region .
— More than half of 149 overall Covid-19 cases in central Russia ’ s Sverdlovsk region are concentrated in one hospital in the regional capital of Yekaterinburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital No .
1 was placed under quarantine after 78 of its doctors and patients tested positive for the virus , Kuyvashev said on social media .
Most of them are asymptomatic , he added , while one patient is in critical condition .
— Russia confirmed 6,060 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 42,853 and marking the latest one-day record in new cases .
— Millions of Russians celebrated Orthodox Easter amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Russian Patriarch Kirill , who leads 150 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Christ the Savior Church without worshippers .
President Vladimir Putin did not go to a service as usual but visited a chapel at his country residence .
— Russia confirmed 4,785 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 36,793 and marking the latest one-day record in new cases .
— Russia confirmed 4,070 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 32,008 and marking the latest one-day record in new cases .
— President Vladimir Putin postponed a landmark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Soviet victory in World War II .
— 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 has said .
— The Russian government has authorized hospitals to treat coronavirus patients with the untested Chinese malaria drug hydroxychloroquine , which studies have linked to deadly side effects .
— Russian national carrier Aeroflot has closed ticket sales for all international flights until Aug. 1 , the Kommersant business daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's coronavirus cases are asymptomatic , the head of consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said .
— St. Petersburg can expect to see anywhere from 40,000 to 120,000 coronavirus cases by June depending on how closely residents follow lockdown orders , Alexei Borovkov , a member of the city 's coronavirus task force , has said .
The city has 1,507 confirmed cases so far .
— Russia 's Emergency Situations Ministry has advised against wearing face masks for regular trips outside , recommending their use only in crowded places , on public transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
— Russia confirmed 3,448 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 27,938 and marking the fifth consecutive one-day record in new cases .
— Russian tech giant Yandex will start delivering coronavirus tests to the homes of Moscow residents aged 65 and older .
The first 10,000 tests will be delivered at no cost , the company said , and the test delivery service will later be expanded to all age groups .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin signed a decree to provide the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and from work , as well as free hotel accommodation , during the coronavirus outbreak .
— Moscow authorities said they have switched to random checks of public transit passengers ' quarantine passes rather than checking each person 's pass after large queues formed outside metro stations during rush hour Wednesday .
— President Vladimir Putin believes the global coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity for his country to work together with the United States , the Kremlin said .
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to send ventilators to Russia .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leningrad region are concentrated in a crowded hostel that houses migrant workers involved in construction at an IKEA-owned shopping mall , local media reported .
— Russia confirmed 3,388 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 24,490 and marking the latest one-day record in new cases .
— Russian officials denounced U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s decision to cut Washington ’ s funding to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov calling the move a “ very selfish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — President Vladimir Putin announced a new package of measures to support Russia ’ s businesses hit by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday .
— Muscovites complained of large queues outside metro stations and severe traffic jams on the first day of the city ’ s mandatory digital lockdown passes , prompting concern that the coronavirus could spread further .
— Russian veterans ' associations have asked Putin to postpone Russia 's annual Victory Day parade in Moscow , which is set for May 9 , due to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany .
— Russia 's coronavirus information center will be headed by doctor and television presenter Alexander Myasnikov , BBC Russia reported .
Myasnikov previously predicted that it would be `` impossible '' for the virus to spread to Russia .
— The Murmansk region will use electronic bracelets to monitor the movements of coronavirus patients self-isolating at home and people suspected of having the coronavirus , the investigative Novaya Gazeta newspaper reported .
— The head of Moscow 's main coronavirus hospital has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he tested positive .
— Russia confirmed 2,774 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases to 21,102 and marking a one-day record in new cases .
— Moscow could face a shortage of hospital beds for coronavirus patients in the next two to three weeks , the city 's health department warned .
It added that an additional 24 hospitals will be converted to accommodate coronavirus patients , bringing the total number of beds to 21,000 .
Moscow has 13,002 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passes in the passes ' first day of operation due to residents entering incorrect or inaccurate information , the city 's coronavirus response center said .
The city issued 3.2 million passes for residents to leave their homes on Monday .
— Nine doctors at a hospital in the Moscow region have been infected with coronavirus , the RBC news website reported Tuesday .
Doctors there had complained that the hospital does n't isolate patients suspected of having coronavirus and that there 's a shortage of personal protective equipment .
— A lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medium businesses hit by the coronavirus lockdown will lead to mass starvation and widespread protests , opposition lawmakers reportedly warned Mayor Sergei Sobyanin .
— A group of liberal Russian economists called on the government to send cash payments to the public in order to avoid an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus , the RBC news website reported .
— Moscow traffic police will start checking all cars entering the city for digital lockdown passes starting Wednesday .
— Russia confirmed 2,558 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marking the latest one-day record in new cases .
— Moscow introduced its digital pass system to allow residents to leave their homes this week .
Traffic police have also been deployed at all city entry points to control movement and ask drivers why they ’ re entering the Russian capital during the coronavirus lockdown , according to state media .
— The coronavirus situation in Russia is worsening and the next few weeks will be `` decisive '' for the country , President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Deputy Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sobyanin .
— China 's northeastern Heilongjiang province has tightened its border controls to prevent new coronavirus infections from neighboring Russia , Bloomberg reported .
A growing number of Chinese nationals have returned from Russia with the virus , threatening a new outbreak in the country where the pandemic originated .
— The Russian Orthodox Church 's St. Petersburg diocese has ordered the city 's cathedrals to close their Holy Week and Easter services to the public and broadcast services online .
— Russian Railways will indefinitely suspend free long-distance rail travel for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home .
The free travel offer had been introduced ahead of the 75th anniversary of Victory Day in May .
— More than 500 Russian writers , publishers and bookstores have signed an open letter asking the government to provide support to the book industry after the coronavirus lockdown shuttered bookstores across the .
country .
— Russia confirmed 2,186 new coronavirus infections on Sunday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases up to 15,770 and marking a one-day record in new cases .
— More than half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday originated from a Russian flight to Shanghai the day before , a potential sign of the severity of Russia 's outbreak , Bloomberg reported .
So far this month , China ’ s northeastern Heilongjiang province has reported more than 100 infections imported from Russia through its land borders .
— Russia confirmed 1,667 new coronavirus infections on Saturday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases up to 13,584 and marking a slight decrease in infections from the previous day .
— Russia confirmed 1,786 new coronavirus infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 11,917 and marking a new record one-day increase .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced additional lockdown measures from April 13-19 in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus , with all nonessential business and activity suspended .
Grocery stores and pharmacies will stay open , and only the government , hospitals , protective gear manufacturers and the defense sector will continue to work .
All construction and maintenance work is suspended , as are car-sharing services .
— In a statement Friday , Sobyanin also said that Moscow will gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown rules starting April 14 .
— Moscow ’ s health department has warned the city ’ s clinics that many coronavirus tests return false negative results , the Kommersant business daily reported .
— Russia 's President Vladimir Putin on Friday spoke with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump for the third time in two weeks , discussing the coronavirus pandemic and global oil prices .
— Moscow 's hospitals and ambulance service are working at peak capacity after a sharp rise in those hospitalized with serious coronavirus complications , a senior city official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east of Moscow has been placed under lockdown after the alleged death of one of its inspectors from coronavirus , the Mash Telegram channel reported .
— At least 170 doctors and patients at a hospital in central Russia have tested positive for coronavirus in preliminary tests , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported .
— The Russian Orthodox Church has advised worshippers to pray at home during the Holy Week and Easter , the Church 's most important holidays .
— Russia 's number of coronavirus cases surpassed 10,000 as new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus infections , bringing the total number of cases up to 10,131 and marking a new record one-day increase .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has temporarily banned Muscovites from visiting the city 's cemeteries except for those attending funerals .
Many Russians visit the cemetery on Orthodox Palm Sunday , which falls on April 19 this year .
— The health minister of Russia 's northwestern republic of Komi has resigned after the remote region became one of the country 's hotspots for the coronavirus .
— Moscow is planning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geolocation for coronavirus prevention after Russia reopens its national borders , the Kommersant business daily reported Thursday .
— Coronavirus patients in Moscow have started to receive blood plasma transfusions from recovered patients , the city 's deputy mayor for social development said .
Blood plasma from coronavirus survivors has been found to help current patients recover from the virus .
— Russia 's consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnazdor said that more than 1 million coronavirus tests have been carried out across the country .
— Russia confirmed 1,175 new coronavirus cases , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases up to 8,672 and marking a new record one-day increase in infections .
— Russia will reach the peak of its coronavirus outbreak in 10-14 days , the head of the Federal Biomedical Agency said .
Veronika Skvortsova predicted that the country 's number of infections will start to fall in early to mid-June .
— Putin has ordered the government to automatically renew documents for Russian citizens , including passports and driver 's licenses , for as long as the coronavirus situation persists .
Speaking at a televised conference with regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered the government to create a business support program within five days and said doctors will receive a monthly bonus while dealing with the pandemic .
— Moscow police will now be able to directly issue fines to residents who violate lockdown orders , according to an agreement between the Interior Ministry and the city government .
— Russia has now sent coronavirus test kits to more than 30 countries , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a meeting of the government 's coronavirus task force .
— Russian Railways will reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and St. Petersburg to four per day in each direction amid reduced demand due to the coronavirus .
— The airport in Grozny , the capital of Russia 's republic of Chechnya , will require all passengers arriving from Moscow to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test starting April 11 .
— Moscow City Duma deputy Mikhail Timonov has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus .
He had attended city council meetings as recently as April 1 , when it voted to impose fines on Muscovites who violate lockdown orders .
— Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s number of cases up to 7,497 and marking a new record one-day increase in infections .
— The head of a top Russian research center told Putin that his lab was ready to start human trials of experimental coronavirus vaccines in June .
— Putin has asked health experts whether it would be possible to end Russia 's paid `` non-working '' period sooner than planned .
He originally declared a `` non-working '' week from March 28 to April 5 , then extended the period until April 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the peak of the coronavirus epidemic in Russia has n't passed yet .
— The head doctor at Moscow 's Davydovsky hospital , Yelena Vasiliyeva , has tested positive for coronavirus , the Mash Telegram channel reported .
Because she continued to work and attend conferences while waiting for the test results , more than 500 patients and doctors who were in contact with her are now self-quarantining and getting tested for the virus .
— Russia 's national carrier Aeroflot operated a flight from Moscow to New York today to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its closed border and suspension of international flights .
Aeroflot 's last Moscow-New York flight was abruptly canceled on April 3 after the plane had already started taxiing to the runway .
— Russia 's largest business associations have called on the government to introduce a sweeping package of measures to support employers amid the coronavirus lockdown .
In a letter to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin , firms asked the government to cover two-thirds of employees ' salaries for those who can not work due to the shutdown .
— Russia has conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the federal consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said .
— Russia confirmed 954 new coronavirus infections , bringing the official number of cases to 6,343 and marking a new record one-day increase .
— Russia will send $ 1 million to the World Health Organization to help in the fight against coronavirus , according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin .
— Three Russian Orthodox priests in Moscow have been hospitalized with coronavirus , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported .
Two other priests are showing symptoms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed .
— It is `` unacceptable '' for Russia 's regions to close their borders with other regions of the country , Mishustin said at a meeting with regional envoys after the republic of Chechnya sealed off its borders .
The Kremlin also called such measures `` excessive . ''
— Russia 's health watchdog Rosdravnadzor has developed an `` express '' coronavirus test that can test at 94 % accuracy within 40 minutes , the Industry and Trade Ministry said .
— Three regions of Russia — the Irkutsk region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun ordering all people arriving from Moscow and St. Petersburg to self-isolate for two weeks in a move to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
— Russia confirmed 658 new coronavirus infections , bringing the official number of cases to 5,389 .
Forty-five people have been killed by the virus in Russia .
The majority of new cases were in Moscow , where Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the risk of the coronavirus spreading is the highest in the country .
The capital accounts for 87 % of all confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension of the nationwide “ non-working week ” until April 30 after the country registered a sharp increase in coronavirus cases .
He added that he would delegate the decisionmaking power on anti-coronavirus measures to regional authorities .
— Russia will halt flights returning its nationals from abroad after midnight Saturday , Interfax cited an unnamed source at an unnamed airline as saying .
Domodedovo , one of Moscow ’ s four international airports , has shut down its international flights board , according to the state-run TASS news agency .
— Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serbia , the latest country Moscow is helping to fight the global coronavirus pandemic as it also flexes its soft power muscles .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the city will hold off on introducing a QR code pass system to enforce movements under quarantine and extended the quarantine until May 1 .
He said city authorities would reconsider implementing the system if the coronavirus situation worsens or the number of self-isolation violations rises .
— Moscow residents may now only ride together in a private vehicle if they live at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaker Alexei Shaposhnikov said .
— Anastasia Vasiliyeva , the head of the Doctors ’ Alliance , an independent trade union linked to Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny , was detained overnight in the Nizhny Novgorod region .
She and other members of the union were there to donate protective gear to doctors fighting the coronavirus , the union tweeted .
— Russia confirmed 771 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases up to 3,548 and marking a record one-day increase in infections .
— Sobyanin signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be violating the city 's self-isolation orders .
Individuals will be fined up to 4,000 rubles ( $ 50 ) for first-time offenses and up to 5,000 rubles ( $ 63 ) for repeat offenses .
Businesses will be fined up to 40,000 rubles ( $ 500 ) for violating the order .
Legal entities will be fined up to 300,000 rubles ( $ 3,800 ) for first-time offenses and up to 500,000 rubles ( $ 6,300 ) for repeat offenses .
— The United States purchased medical supplies from Russia to battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the State Department said , contradicting the Kremlin 's description of the shipment as humanitarian aid .
— Russia could close to the public or reschedule its annual parade in Red Square that commemorates the Soviet victory in World War II due to the coronavirus pandemic , the RBC news website reported .
— The Nizhny Novgorod region has launched a QR code pass system to allow residents to leave their homes for essential reasons .
Moscow has announced it is developing a similar pass system for its 12 million residents but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of Moscow ’ s leading cancer hospitals , the Blokhin Cancer Center , has stopped admitting patients to chemotherapy sessions after one of the department 's medics tested positive for coronavirus .
All of the chemotherapy department 's employees have been quarantined and its patients are under special supervision , the hospital said .
— Russia 's state statistics service Rosstat has said it may postpone this year 's census until 2021 due to the coronavirus .
— Putin signed legislation imposing severe punishment — including up to five years in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the coronavirus .
The legislation also imposes punishments for people breaking coronavirus quarantine rules , including up to seven years in prison .
— Russia confirmed 440 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases up to 2,777 .
— Russia has earmarked almost $ 18 billion to battle the coronavirus pandemic , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin during a televised video conference with his cabinet .
— Moscow authorities have developed a QR code system to allow residents to leave their homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitor coronavirus patients ’ movement in self-isolation , the city ’ s IT chief said Wednesday after tech experts raised privacy questions .
— President Vladimir Putin is now practicing social distancing with everyone and does n't shake hands , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters .
He has also started holding meetings remotely .
— A nurse at a police hospital in the Lipetsk region has potentially infected eight of her colleagues with the coronavirus after she returned to work with symptoms instead of self-isolating , the Kommersant business daily reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said was `` criminal negligence '' in a statement .
— Moscow 's Sheremetyevo Airport , the capital 's main transport hub , has closed a third terminal due to reduced air traffic caused by the coronavirus , leaving three terminals open .
— Russia will extend its suspension of football matches in the face of the coronavirus pandemic until May 31 , the Russian football association ( RFS ) said .
— Several regions of Russia have imposed limits on alcohol sales during their self-isolation regimes .
Some cities in Siberia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have banned the sale of alcohol altogether .
— Russia 's consumer protection watchdog has ordered quotas on the number of Russians being returned from abroad per day , the Kommersant business daily reported , a move that the Foreign Ministry said `` immediately complicated , and in some places paralyzed , the process of returning '' the approximately 35,000 Russians seeking to return .
— Russia confirmed 500 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases up to 2,337 and marking its sevent consecutive one-day record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the head doctor at the infectious diseases hospital treating Moscow 's coronavirus patients , has tested positive with the virus , the state-run Rossia 24 television station reported .
He was photographed shaking hands with President Vladimir Putin six days ago .
— A Russian plane carrying medical equipment and protective gear has departed for the coronavirus-hit United States .
U.S. President Donald Trump had said earlier that Russia sent a `` very , very large planeload '' of medical aid .
`` Trump accepted this humanitarian aid with gratitude , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — The Justice Ministry has proposed suspending registrations of marriage and divorce in Russia until at least June 1 in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
— Moscow has enacted a citywide quarantine from Monday , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said as the city 's number of coronavirus cases surpassed 1,000 over the weekend .
Moscow residents will only be allowed to leave their homes to seek emergency medical care , shop for food or medicine , go to work , walk pets or take out the garbage .
— Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders for their residents following Moscow 's quarantine .
— Moscow 's self-isolation order will be active through April 14 , the city 's coronavirus crisis center said .
It later deleted the statement from its Telegram channel .
— In televised comments on state television , President Vladimir Putin said decisive measures by Russia had helped win it time in its battle to contain the coronavirus and to prevent an explosive growth in cases , but that it was vital authorities now used that time effectively .
— Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposing the same restrictions on movement to halt the spread of the coronavirus that have been imposed in Moscow , the state-run RIA news agency reported .
— The makeshift memorial to opposition politician Boris Nemtsov at the site near the Kremlin where he was gunned down in 2015 has been abandoned for the first time since his death due to Moscow 's stay-at-home order , the activists who had maintained a 24/7 watch at the memorial said .
— Several regions of Russia have enacted region-wide stay-at-home orders for residents , following @ @ @ @ @ @


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Rosneft ‘Controls’ Russia’s Leading Business Paper Vedomosti Through Debt: Investigation

The findings follow widespread suspicion of Rosneft ’ s involvement in high-profile censorship scandals at Vedomosti , including its new chief editor changing a headline on the Russian government ’ s majority stake in the oil giant and deleting a column critical of Rosneft head Igor Sechin .
Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft exercises leverage over the country ’ s leading business newspaper Vedomosti through multibillion-dollar debt held by its bank , a multi-outlet investigation said Tuesday .
Rosneft 's Russian Regional Development Bank ( RRDB ) has since 2017 owned 24.2 million euros of debt held by BNM , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the joint investigation by Vedomosti , Forbes Russia and news websites Meduza and The Bell .
Former Vedomosti owner Demyan Kudryavtsev 's investment company reportedly took out the 24.2-million-euro loan from state-run Gazprombank to buy BNM in 2015 before the loan came under RRDB ’ s ownership .
Kudryavtsev announced in March that he and his partners would sell 100 % of BNM ’ s assets to two buyers , one of whom was reported to have pulled out of the deal after the series of censorship scandals .
The paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the appointment of a new editor , warning in a scathing editorial last month that it risks turning into “ another controlled media serving the interests of secret owners.
” Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontyev played a key role in negotiations to sell Vedomosti and in selecting its controversial acting editor-in-chief , Meduza cited unnamed sources close to potential investors as saying .
Leontyev had reportedly mentioned “ controlling ” Kudryavtsev through the RRDB loan .
Kudryavtsev denied the claims , telling Vedomosti : “ It ’ s simply absurd to suspect me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s two lawsuits with this famous corporation , stripping me of citizenship and de-facto chasing me out of the country.
” Vedomosti largely operated independently with backing from foreign media organizations since its founding in 1999 until 2015 , when Kudryavtsev bought it after Russia passed a law limiting foreign ownership in media companies to 20 % .
Kudryavtsev is a member of The Moscow Times ’ board .

The findings follow widespread suspicion of Rosneft’s involvement in high-profile censorship scandals at Vedomosti, including its new chief editor changing a headline on the Russian government’s majority stake in the oil giant and deleting a column critical of Rosneft head Igor Sechin.
Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft exercises leverage over the country’s leading business newspaper Vedomosti through multibillion-dollar debt held by its bank, a multi-outlet investigation said Tuesday.
Rosneft's Russian Regional Development Bank (RRDB) has since 2017 owned 24.2 million euros of debt held by BNM, the joint-stock company that owns Vedomosti, according to the joint investigation by Vedomosti, Forbes Russia and news websites Meduza and The Bell.
Former Vedomosti owner Demyan Kudryavtsev's investment company reportedly took out the 24.2-million-euro loan from state-run Gazprombank to buy BNM in 2015 before the loan came under RRDB’s ownership.
Kudryavtsev announced in March that he and his partners would sell 100% of BNM’s assets to two buyers, one of whom was reported to have pulled out of the deal after the series of censorship scandals. The paper’s staffers balked at the sale and the appointment of a new editor, warning in a scathing editorial last month that it risks turning into “another controlled media serving the interests of secret owners.”
Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontyev played a key role in negotiations to sell Vedomosti and in selecting its controversial acting editor-in-chief, Meduza cited unnamed sources close to potential investors as saying. Leontyev had reportedly mentioned “controlling” Kudryavtsev through the RRDB loan.
Kudryavtsev denied the claims, telling Vedomosti: “It’s simply absurd to suspect me of colluding with these people after Vedomosti’s two lawsuits with this famous corporation, stripping me of citizenship and de-facto chasing me out of the country.”
Vedomosti largely operated independently with backing from foreign media organizations since its founding in 1999 until 2015, when Kudryavtsev bought it after Russia passed a law limiting foreign ownership in media companies to 20%.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--5 Die in 'Nightmare' Fire at Russian Virus Hospital

Five people died in a fire in a hospital for coronavirus patients in Russia 's second-largest city of St. Petersburg on Tuesday , with some victims attached to ventilators , officials said .
Another 150 people were evacuated after the blaze broke out on the sixth floor of the Saint George hospital , the emergencies ministry said , one of a string of fires in care facilities and clinics in Russia in recent days .
The hospital had been repurposed to treat coronavirus patients and some of the dead patients had been connected to ventilators when the fire began .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital were blackened with soot as firefighters worked outside .
Four patients died in an intensive care ward , the city 's Vyborg district attorney Pavel Danilov told AFP , adding that the cause of death of the fifth person was being clarified .
`` Everyone is shocked by what happened , '' said Svetlana Stepanova , a pensioner receiving treatment at the hospital .
`` A fire in the hospital is a nightmare , '' she told AFP .
St. Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov , citing preliminary information , said a short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fire .
`` A ventilator has caught fire , '' his office said in a statement .
Russia 's Investigative Committee , which examines serious crimes , said it had launched a probe into the incident .
A fire at a Moscow hospital treating coronavirus patients last week killed one person and forced hundreds of others to evacuate .
On Monday , a fire broke out in a retirement home in the Moscow region , killing nine people .
Two more people died in the hospital later , officials said Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 .
Russia reported 10,899 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday , continuing a steady increase of new infections that has seen the country become a global virus hotspot .
With a total of 232,243 infections , Russia is among the top four most infected countries in the world alongside the United States , Spain and Britain .
Russia 's reported mortality rate is much lower compared to other European countries hit hard by the pandemic , with 107 new deaths and 2,116 dead from the coronavirus as of Tuesday .

Five people died in a fire in a hospital for coronavirus patients in Russia's second-largest city of St. Petersburg on Tuesday, with some victims attached to ventilators, officials said.
Another 150 people were evacuated after the blaze broke out on the sixth floor of the Saint George hospital, the emergencies ministry said, one of a string of fires in care facilities and clinics in Russia in recent days.
The hospital had been repurposed to treat coronavirus patients and some of the dead patients had been connected to ventilators when the fire began.
Windows near the top floor of the hospital were blackened with soot as firefighters worked outside.
Four patients died in an intensive care ward, the city's Vyborg district attorney Pavel Danilov told AFP, adding that the cause of death of the fifth person was being clarified.
"Everyone is shocked by what happened," said Svetlana Stepanova, a pensioner receiving treatment at the hospital.
"A fire in the hospital is a nightmare," she told AFP.
St. Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov, citing preliminary information, said a short circuit was believed to be the cause of the fire.
"A ventilator has caught fire," his office said in a statement.
Russia's Investigative Committee, which examines serious crimes, said it had launched a probe into the incident.
A fire at a Moscow hospital treating coronavirus patients last week killed one person and forced hundreds of others to evacuate.
On Monday, a fire broke out in a retirement home in the Moscow region, killing nine people.
Two more people died in the hospital later, officials said Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to 11.
Russia reported 10,899 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, continuing a steady increase of new infections that has seen the country become a global virus hotspot.
With a total of 232,243 infections, Russia is among the top four most infected countries in the world alongside the United States, Spain and Britain.
Russia's reported mortality rate is much lower compared to other European countries hit hard by the pandemic, with 107 new deaths and 2,116 dead from the coronavirus as of Tuesday.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Private Healthcare Contributes Little to Russia’s Coronavirus Response

With Russia ’ s official tally of coronavirus infections over 230,000 on Tuesday , the country is scrambling to find extra hospital beds to deal with the pandemic .
Despite official reassurances that the health system can cope , in Moscow and the surrounding region — where more than half the country ’ s cases are located — reports from medical professionals on the ground paint a picture of a system rapidly approaching breaking point , with reports of ambulances driving for hours to find a hospital with a free bed , and queueing up outside .
Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in treating Covid-19 patients as insufficient government funding and an outdated insurance system are making it difficult for them to switch to specialist treatment .
To deal with the squeeze , Russia has embarked on a huge mobilization drive to get as many hospital beds as possible ready to treat Covid-19 patients .
Moscow has already built an emergency hospital on its outskirts , and is currently converting exhibition space in the VDNKh park into another huge temporary hospital .
Outside the capital , the Russian government has handed down quotas to hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide to deal with Covid-19 patients .
In many places , the search for space has taken a creative turn .
A hospital in Kurgan , in the Urals , is reprofiling its hospital museum — complete with archaic surgical tools and dummy skeletons — into the frontline of its battle with the virus .
While private hospitals in many European countries have been enlisted to treat Covid-19 patients , in Russia they ’ re playing a limited role as private players lack the facilities necessary to treat the coronavirus , and low-key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointless .
“ Private clinics ’ input is real , but it should not be overestimated , ” said Vasiliy Vlassov , an epidemiologist at Moscow ’ s Higher School of Economics .
“ Most are cherry picking as they don ’ t want to provide all necessary care .
Private clinics want to participate , but only a small number can , because they are not orientated to such resource-intensive treatments.
” While private players have played an extensive role in Russia ’ s testing regime , just three fully private healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Child — have converted hospitals in Moscow to accept Covid-19 patients .
In total , they have added around 825 beds , official data shows .
More than half of those are occupied by paying customers .
Factoring in extra beds converted at RZD Medicine hospitals — a quasi-market player providing healthcare for the staff of state-owned Russian Railways but also offering private corporate healthcare — around 5 % of Moscow ’ s 30,000 Covid-19 beds have been requisitioned from outside the nationalized healthcare system .
Private healthcare is a small part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 15 % of total healthcare expenditure .
This is skewed towards non-emergency treatments , such as dentistry , cosmetics or maternity .
Even in Moscow there are only a handful of large sophisticated private hospitals which could in theory treat Covid-19 , and even fewer with enough space or multiple premises to convert a facility , isolate Covid-19 patients and continue to work with regular patients .
On top of this , the interplay between Russia ’ s public and private healthcare systems does not incentivize expensive reprofiling .
All Russians have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance system funded by the government , according to which private hospitals can be reimbursed if they take patients who don ’ t pay for themselves .
However , in the context of the coronavirus , the system appears to have fallen short .
The tariff which has been set for city hospitals — 200,000 rubles ( $ 2,720 ) for a course of Covid-19 treatment — appears counterproductively low .
Moreover , there are no additional funds being provided for the costly task of actually reprofiling a hospital , moving patients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some cases , reorienting building ventilation .
“ The tariff is very unprofitable for us , ” Yelena Brusilova , President of Medsi , which has converted its flagship hospital at Otradnoye in north Moscow , told Business FM .
“ Of course , we understand this is a loss for us .
”

Russia’s private hospitals are playing a limited role in treating Covid-19 patients as insufficient government funding and an outdated insurance system are making it difficult for them to switch to specialist treatment. With Russia’s official tally of coronavirus infections over 230,000 on Tuesday, the country is scrambling to find extra hospital beds to deal with the pandemic. Despite official reassurances that the health system can cope, in Moscow and the surrounding region — where more than half the country’s cases are located — reports from medical professionals on the ground paint a picture of a system rapidly approaching breaking point, with reports of ambulances driving for hours to find a hospital with a free bed, and queueing up outside.
To deal with the squeeze, Russia has embarked on a huge mobilization drive to get as many hospital beds as possible ready to treat Covid-19 patients. Moscow has already built an emergency hospital on its outskirts, and is currently converting exhibition space in the VDNKh park into another huge temporary hospital. Outside the capital, the Russian government has handed down quotas to hospitals dictating how many extra beds they must provide to deal with Covid-19 patients. In many places, the search for space has taken a creative turn. A hospital in Kurgan, in the Urals, is reprofiling its hospital museum — complete with archaic surgical tools and dummy skeletons — into the frontline of its battle with the virus. While private hospitals in many European countries have been enlisted to treat Covid-19 patients, in Russia they’re playing a limited role as private players lack the facilities necessary to treat the coronavirus, and low-key support from the government makes reprofiling financially pointless. “Private clinics’ input is real, but it should not be overestimated,” said Vasiliy Vlassov, an epidemiologist at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. “Most are cherry picking as they don’t want to provide all necessary care. Private clinics want to participate, but only a small number can, because they are not orientated to such resource-intensive treatments.” While private players have played an extensive role in Russia’s testing regime, just three fully private healthcare providers — Medsi, K-31 and Mother and Child — have converted hospitals in Moscow to accept Covid-19 patients. In total, they have added around 825 beds, official data shows. More than half of those are occupied by paying customers. Factoring in extra beds converted at RZD Medicine hospitals — a quasi-market player providing healthcare for the staff of state-owned Russian Railways but also offering private corporate healthcare — around 5% of Moscow’s 30,000 Covid-19 beds have been requisitioned from outside the nationalized healthcare system. Unprofitable Private healthcare is a small part of the market in Russia — accounting for 15% of total healthcare expenditure. This is skewed towards non-emergency treatments, such as dentistry, cosmetics or maternity. Even in Moscow there are only a handful of large sophisticated private hospitals which could in theory treat Covid-19, and even fewer with enough space or multiple premises to convert a facility, isolate Covid-19 patients and continue to work with regular patients. On top of this, the interplay between Russia’s public and private healthcare systems does not incentivize expensive reprofiling. All Russians have access to free healthcare under a compulsory insurance system funded by the government, according to which private hospitals can be reimbursed if they take patients who don’t pay for themselves. However, in the context of the coronavirus, the system appears to have fallen short. The tariff which has been set for city hospitals — 200,000 rubles ($2,720) for a course of Covid-19 treatment — appears counterproductively low. Moreover, there are no additional funds being provided for the costly task of actually reprofiling a hospital, moving patients, creating clean and dirty zones and, in some cases, reorienting building ventilation. “The tariff is very unprofitable for us,” Yelena Brusilova, President of Medsi, which has converted its flagship hospital at Otradnoye in north Moscow, told Business FM. “Of course, we understand this is a loss for us.”


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surge Past 230K as Putin Eases National Lockdown

Despite reporting more than 10,000 new cases a day for over a week , President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced that a `` non-working '' period in place for six weeks would be lifted from Tuesday .
A lockdown in Moscow , the epicenter of the crisis in Russia , remains in place until the end of May , but even in the capital some restrictions were being lifted .
Some 500,000 employees of companies involved in industry and construction were allowed to resume work , though authorities made it mandatory to wear masks and gloves in shops and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate is much lower compared to other European countries hit hard by the pandemic , with 107 new deaths and 2,116 dead from the coronavirus as of Tuesday .
Authorities say this is because Russia moved quickly to close its borders and isolate those at risk , convert hospitals to treating virus patients and launch a vast campaign to test and quarantine those infected .
Officials also credit a widespread testing and tracking effort , though critics have cast doubt on the numbers , as Russia uses a different classification method to count @ @ @

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--2020-05-12--Officers Launch Flashmob to Demand Freedom for Russia’s ‘Police Ombudsman’

Russian police officers have organized an online flashmob in support of their former colleague , the founder of a popular online community that reports abuse within law enforcement who has been jailed on extortion charges .
Vladimir Vorontsov , who founded the “ Police Ombudsman ” social media channel , has had his home searched by police twice within a month .
Last week , officers rappelled down his roof , sawed through his door and arrested him on charges of extorting 300,000 rubles ( $ 3,800 ) from a former policeman in exchange for not publishing his private photographs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymously , have begun posting photos of their badges or pieces of their uniforms with the hashtags # FreedomToVorontsov and # IAm/WeAreVorontsov , the Mediazona news website reported .
“ We ’ re outraged by how the special forces behaved : Vladimir ’ s wife and daughter were in the apartment , ” the outlet quoted Maxim Kuzmenkov , a Moscow police dog handler , as saying .
“ Vladimir himself is not dangerous to society , ” said Kuzmenkov , one of the few police officers to speak publicly in Vorontsov ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow cadet , said it was imperative for other police officers to show their support for Vorontsov “ because he had helped many others resolve their problems through publicity.
” “ The Interior Ministry structures didn ’ t like it and decided to shut him down , to put it bluntly , ” Kozlov told Mediazona .
“ If he helped others , then we must support him purely from a moral point of view.
” Vorontsov denies the charges against him and maintains that they are “ revenge for his community 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police ’ s rank-and-file officers , ” according to the Meduza news website ’ s translation of his statement in court .
Vorontsov on Monday was transferred from a detention facility to a hospital , his lawyer said , days after an ambulance was called for his high blood pressure but did not take him away .
In April , Vorontsov said that authorities broke down his apartment door to conduct a search on suspicion of publishing “ fake news ” about a coronavirus outbreak within a military school .
Police questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Russian police officers have organized an online flashmob in support of their former colleague, the founder of a popular online community that reports abuse within law enforcement who has been jailed on extortion charges. Vladimir Vorontsov, who founded the “Police Ombudsman” social media channel, has had his home searched by police twice within a month. Last week, officers rappelled down his roof, sawed through his door and arrested him on charges of extorting 300,000 rubles ($3,800) from a former policeman in exchange for not publishing his private photographs.
ombudsment / Vkontakte
Police officers, most of them anonymously, have begun posting photos of their badges or pieces of their uniforms with the hashtags #FreedomToVorontsov and #IAm/WeAreVorontsov, the Mediazona news website reported. “We’re outraged by how the special forces behaved: Vladimir’s wife and daughter were in the apartment,” the outlet quoted Maxim Kuzmenkov, a Moscow police dog handler, as saying. “Vladimir himself is not dangerous to society,” said Kuzmenkov, one of the few police officers to speak publicly in Vorontsov’s support. Leonid Kozlov, a Moscow cadet, said it was imperative for other police officers to show their support for Vorontsov “because he had helped many others resolve their problems through publicity.”
ombudsment / Vkontakte
“The Interior Ministry structures didn’t like it and decided to shut him down, to put it bluntly,” Kozlov told Mediazona. “If he helped others, then we must support him purely from a moral point of view.” Vorontsov denies the charges against him and maintains that they are “revenge for his community's activities to uphold the labor rights of the police’s rank-and-file officers,” according to the Meduza news website’s translation of his statement in court.
ombudsment / Vkontakte


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Telegram Ditches $1.7Bln Blockchain Launch

The Telegram and Vkontakte founder had been developing the TON blockchain platform and Grams cryptocurrency for more than two years , successfully raising $ 1.7 billion from investors in an initial coin offering ( ICO ) in early 2018 .
It quickly ran into trouble , however , when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) said the ICO was illegal and banned the sale of Grams in the U.S. and around the world .
In a statement posted on his Telegram on Tuesday , Durov wrote : “ We have made the difficult decision not to proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post to officially announce that Telegram ’ s active involvement with TON is over.
” He added : “ The technology we created allowed for an open , free , decentralized exchange of value and ideas .
When integrated with Telegram , TON had the potential to revolutionize how people store and transfer funds and information .
Unfortunately , a U.S. court stopped TON from happening.
” In an attack on the SEC ’ s oversight of the crypto space , Durov added : “ The court decision implies that other countries don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is good and what is bad for their own citizens … We — the 96 % of the world ’ s population living elsewhere — are dependent on decision makers elected by the 4 % living in the U.S .
”

The Telegram and Vkontakte founder had been developing the TON blockchain platform and Grams cryptocurrency for more than two years, successfully raising $1.7 billion from investors in an initial coin offering (ICO) in early 2018. It quickly ran into trouble, however, when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said the ICO was illegal and banned the sale of Grams in the U.S. and around the world.
In a statement posted on his Telegram on Tuesday, Durov wrote: “We have made the difficult decision not to proceed with TON … I am writing this post to officially announce that Telegram’s active involvement with TON is over.”
He added: “The technology we created allowed for an open, free, decentralized exchange of value and ideas. When integrated with Telegram, TON had the potential to revolutionize how people store and transfer funds and information. Unfortunately, a U.S. court stopped TON from happening.”
In an attack on the SEC’s oversight of the crypto space, Durov added: “The court decision implies that other countries don’t have the sovereignty to decide what is good and what is bad for their own citizens … We — the 96% of the world’s population living elsewhere — are dependent on decision makers elected by the 4% living in the U.S.”


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Explainer: What the End of Putin’s Coronavirus ‘Non-Working’ Period Means

During the nationwide “ non-working ” period , all non-essential businesses were required to close and employers ordered to continue paying staff .
It has been criticized for what observers say is insufficient financial support for small and mid-sized businesses as well as for people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic .
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia ’ s “ non-working ” period would come to an end from May 12 , allowing the country to start easing restrictions imposed more than six weeks ago to slow the spread of the coronavirus even as Russia saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the end of the “ non-working ” period does n't mean Russia 's coronavirus lockdown is over .
Putin has given regional leaders the authority to lift restrictions , instructing them to ease lockdown measures in phases based on the epidemiological situation .
Here 's a closer look at the restrictions that are still in place across most of the country — and how and when they 'll be lifted : Who decides when restrictions will be lifted ?
Russia 's governors and regional leaders .
Anti-coronavirus measures imposed by Moscow Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's coronavirus task force , have been replicated in most other regions until now .
What restrictions are still in place in every region ?
Moscow , the epicenter of Russia 's coronavirus outbreak with 121,301 cases , has extended its lockdown until at least May 31 .
Under the lockdown , Muscovites can only leave their homes to buy groceries or medicine at the nearest shop , take out the trash , walk dogs within 100 meters of their buildings , go to work if they have essential jobs or seek emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents will be required to wear face masks and gloves at work , in shops and on public transportation , including taxis .
Also on Tuesday , industrial and construction companies will be permitted to reopen .
A digital pass system which enforces the citywide lockdown rules remains active in Moscow and the surrounding Moscow region .
Moscow authorities are meanwhile working on easing the lockdown measures to allow residents to go outside for jogging and for walks in certain city parks , BBC Russia reported Monday , adding that the mayor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-related restrictions until at least mid-June .
Russia 's second-largest city St. Petersburg has followed Moscow ’ s move and extended its lockdown measures until May 31 .
Starting Tuesday , St. Petersburg residents will also be required to wear face masks and gloves in public spaces .
The Stavropol region has extended its lockdown for the shortest period of time — until next Monday .
The Krasnodar region in southern Russia extended its lockdown regime until May 23 , with Governor Veniamin Kondratyev pointing to the continued presence of new infections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its lockdown until May 24 and the Kolyma region until May 25 .
The republic of Sakha has extended its lockdown until May 31 but will allow non-essential small enterprises where employees do not directly interact with customers to resume work .
The Tyumen region has extended its lockdown through May 31 with some exceptions like allowing residents to walk outside while maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 meters ( 4.9 feet ) between people .
The Yamal region has also extended its lockdown until May 31 but allowed small businesses like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Kamchatka region and the Volgograd region also extended their lockdown orders until May 31 .
The Tomsk region extended pandemic-related restrictions until June 1 , urging local residents to wear protective masks and gloves in public places .
Starting Tuesday , the Oryol region will allow city fairs and markets to re-open and has re-opened parks and squares for walking .
In the Murmansk region , lockdown rules remain in place only for people aged 65 and older after May 12 .
Residents are now required to wear masks and gloves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tatarstan has eased lockdown measures , canceling its SMS pass system and allowing small businesses to return to work .
In the Omsk region , car dealerships , clothing stores and shoe stores re-opened on Tuesday .
In the Ivanovo region , small shops and beauty salons have been allowed to re-open with some restrictions .
Last week , local authorities eased the lockdown regime to allow bicycle rides and walks outside .
In the Novosibirsk region , food markets regionwide will be allowed to re-open , with markets in the city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct a sanitary inspection .
Starting May 12 , residents can go outside for jogging and sporting activities .
Shopping centers and zoos will reopen in the Belgorod region with only a limited number of people permitted inside at a time .
The Tomsk region will allow residents to go outside for walks and sporting activities .
Tomsk authorities will also re-open training facilities , parks and outdoor trails .
Social distancing rules still remain in place .
The Kostroma region has allowed small businesses to resume their work and residents are allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social distancing is still mandatory , as is mask-wearing in public places .
In the republic of Chechnya , small shops and service-sector businesses have been allowed to re-open but self-isolation orders remain in place across the region .

During the nationwide “non-working” period, all non-essential businesses were required to close and employers ordered to continue paying staff. It has been criticized for what observers say is insufficient financial support for small and mid-sized businesses as well as for people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia’s “non-working” period would come to an end from May 12, allowing the country to start easing restrictions imposed more than six weeks ago to slow the spread of the coronavirus even as Russia saw record increases in new infections.
However, the end of the “non-working” period doesn't mean Russia's coronavirus lockdown is over. Putin has given regional leaders the authority to lift restrictions, instructing them to ease lockdown measures in phases based on the epidemiological situation.
Here's a closer look at the restrictions that are still in place across most of the country — and how and when they'll be lifted:
Who decides when restrictions will be lifted?
Russia's governors and regional leaders. Anti-coronavirus measures imposed by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the head of Russia's coronavirus task force, have been replicated in most other regions until now.
What restrictions are still in place in every region?
All mass public events, including major sports tournaments, remain suspended across Russia.
Moscow and the Moscow region
Moscow, the epicenter of Russia's coronavirus outbreak with 121,301 cases, has extended its lockdown until at least May 31.
Under the lockdown, Muscovites can only leave their homes to buy groceries or medicine at the nearest shop, take out the trash, walk dogs within 100 meters of their buildings, go to work if they have essential jobs or seek emergency medical care.
Starting Tuesday, all residents will be required to wear face masks and gloves at work, in shops and on public transportation, including taxis. Also on Tuesday, industrial and construction companies will be permitted to reopen.
A digital pass system which enforces the citywide lockdown rules remains active in Moscow and the surrounding Moscow region.
Moscow authorities are meanwhile working on easing the lockdown measures to allow residents to go outside for jogging and for walks in certain city parks, BBC Russia reported Monday, adding that the mayor’s office has also plans for extending coronavirus-related restrictions until at least mid-June.
St. Petersburg
Russia's second-largest city St. Petersburg has followed Moscow’s move and extended its lockdown measures until May 31.
Starting Tuesday, St. Petersburg residents will also be required to wear face masks and gloves in public spaces.
Other regions
Extended lockdowns
The Stavropol region has extended its lockdown for the shortest period of time — until next Monday.
The Krasnodar region in southern Russia extended its lockdown regime until May 23, with Governor Veniamin Kondratyev pointing to the continued presence of new infections in the region.
The Omsk region extended its lockdown until May 24 and the Kolyma region until May 25.
The republic of Sakha has extended its lockdown until May 31 but will allow non-essential small enterprises where employees do not directly interact with customers to resume work.
The Tyumen region has extended its lockdown through May 31 with some exceptions like allowing residents to walk outside while maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) between people.
The Yamal region has also extended its lockdown until May 31 but allowed small businesses like barber shops and beauty salons to re-open.
The Kamchatka region and the Volgograd region also extended their lockdown orders until May 31.
The Tomsk region extended pandemic-related restrictions until June 1, urging local residents to wear protective masks and gloves in public places.
Eased lockdowns
Starting Tuesday, the Oryol region will allow city fairs and markets to re-open and has re-opened parks and squares for walking.
In the Murmansk region, lockdown rules remain in place only for people aged 65 and older after May 12. Residents are now required to wear masks and gloves in public places.
The republic of Tatarstan has eased lockdown measures, canceling its SMS pass system and allowing small businesses to return to work.
In the Omsk region, car dealerships, clothing stores and shoe stores re-opened on Tuesday.
In the Ivanovo region, small shops and beauty salons have been allowed to re-open with some restrictions. Last week, local authorities eased the lockdown regime to allow bicycle rides and walks outside.
In the Novosibirsk region, food markets regionwide will be allowed to re-open, with markets in the city of Novosibirsk allowed to re-open after local authorities conduct a sanitary inspection. Starting May 12, residents can go outside for jogging and sporting activities.
Shopping centers and zoos will reopen in the Belgorod region with only a limited number of people permitted inside at a time.
The Tomsk region will allow residents to go outside for walks and sporting activities. Tomsk authorities will also re-open training facilities, parks and outdoor trails. Social distancing rules still remain in place.
The Kostroma region has allowed small businesses to resume their work and residents are allowed to go outside for sporting activities. Social distancing is still mandatory, as is mask-wearing in public places.
In the republic of Chechnya, small shops and service-sector businesses have been allowed to re-open but self-isolation orders remain in place across the region.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Russian Rape Victims Charged With Violating Virus Lockdown

The unnamed 17- and 18-year-old victims reported the crime to a patrol officer in the city of Krasnoyarsk on April @ @ @ @ @ were accused of violating stay-home orders .
Police in Siberia have cited two teenagers for @ @ @ @ @ they reported that they were raped on the street , the regional Tayga.info news website @ @ @ @ @ unknown man stole their cellphones and jewelry under threat of violence , then committed acts @ @ @ @ @ of them and disappeared , ” the police department was quoted as saying .
The @ @ @ @ @ sexual predator with a criminal record , has been apprehended and also cited for violating @ @ @ @ @ carries a fine of up to 1,000 rubles ( $ 12 ) .
The Krasnoyarsk @ @ @ @ @ a total of 1,428 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday , has been under lockdown measures @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 since April 1 .
Authorities postponed plans to gradually lift restrictions after an outbreak @ @ @ @ @ gold mine was reported in the region Tuesday .

Update: Authorities declined to fine the victims “because they turned to police due to threats to their lives and health,” the regional coronavirus task force said Wednesday.
Police in Siberia have cited two teenagers for breaking coronavirus stay-at-home orders after they reported that they were raped on the street, the regional Tayga.info news website reported Tuesday.
The unnamed 17- and 18-year-old victims reported the crime to a patrol officer in the city of Krasnoyarsk on April 22, when they themselves were accused of violating stay-home orders.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-12--Putin's Spokesman Hospitalized With Coronavirus

The Kremlin spokesman is at least the second person in Putin ’ s administration and the fifth senior government official to test positive for Covid-19 .
President Vladimir Putin ’ s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has been hospitalized with coronavirus , he told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency Tuesday .
In addition to Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova , Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin , Putin ’ s first deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenko was reported to have tested positive in mid-April .
It was not immediately clear when Peskov , 52 , last met Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the state-run TASS news agency that he last had face-to-face contacts with Putin “ more than a month ago.
” Similar questions over Putin 's contacts with coronavirus-positive individuals were raised when he visited Moscow ’ s main coronavirus hospital in late March and shook hands with its chief doctor , who tested positive for Covid-19 days later .
Putin began working remotely at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow on April 1 following the news of doctor Denis Protsenko ’ s infection .
Putin and everyone in his administration “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peskov said at the time .
Peskov was seen briefly wearing a so-called “ virus blocker , ” an air purification device based on chlorine dioxide , on his lapel days later .
The blocker disappeared after questions were raised about its efficacy to ward off coronavirus and its manufacturer said the device “ is a disinfectant , not a medical product.
” Peskov 's wife and famous ice dancer Tatyana Navka told Russian media Tuesday that she has also been hospitalized with coronavirus .
“ He brought it from work , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online news outlet.
“ The entire family was under strict isolation .
My husband ’ s been working .
In that regard , there ’ s only one argument : it ’ s probably him , since he was the first to get sick.
” This story is being updated .

The Kremlin spokesman is at least the second person in Putin’s administration and the fifth senior government official to test positive for Covid-19.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has been hospitalized with coronavirus, he told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency Tuesday.
In addition to Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Putin’s first deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenko was reported to have tested positive in mid-April.
It was not immediately clear when Peskov, 52, last met Putin, 67, in person. Peskov told the state-run TASS news agency that he last had face-to-face contacts with Putin “more than a month ago.”
Similar questions over Putin's contacts with coronavirus-positive individuals were raised when he visited Moscow’s main coronavirus hospital in late March and shook hands with its chief doctor, who tested positive for Covid-19 days later. Putin began working remotely at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow on April 1 following the news of doctor Denis Protsenko’s infection.
Putin and everyone in his administration “are taking all precautionary measures,” Peskov said at the time.
Peskov was seen briefly wearing a so-called “virus blocker,” an air purification device based on chlorine dioxide, on his lapel days later. The blocker disappeared after questions were raised about its efficacy to ward off coronavirus and its manufacturer said the device “is a disinfectant, not a medical product.”
Peskov's wife and famous ice dancer Tatyana Navka told Russian media Tuesday that she has also been hospitalized with coronavirus.
“He brought it from work,” Navka told Russia’s Daily Storm online news outlet.“The entire family was under strict isolation. My husband’s been working. In that regard, there’s only one argument: it’s probably him, since he was the first to get sick.”
This story is being updated.


themoscowtimes--2020-05-13--Russian Tourism Might Not Recover to Pre-Coronavirus Levels Until 2021

Russia might not see its pre-coronavirus levels of tourism return until January 2021 , officials said Tuesday as President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ to “ return to normal.
” Russia shut its borders to foreign nationals , suspended @ @ @ @ @ most international flights in late March as the coronavirus pandemic showed no sign of easing @ @ @ @ @ Tourist Agency ( Rostourism ) warned that the measures would lead to “ colossal losses @ @ @ @ @ at least 300 billion rubles ( $ 4 billion ) per quarter .
`` From @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s possible to allow incoming and outgoing tourism in the framework that existed @ @ @ @ @ the government daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta quoted a letter by Andrei Ignatiyev , the president of @ @ @ @ @ , and Gennady Lamshin , the president of Russia ’ s hotel association , as @ @

Russia might not see its pre-coronavirus levels of tourism return until January 2021, officials said Tuesday as President Vladimir Putin pushed for the economy to “return to normal.”
Russia shut its borders to foreign nationals, suspended its visa issuance and halted most international flights in late March as the coronavirus pandemic showed no sign of easing. Russia’s Federal Tourist Agency (Rostourism) warned that the measures would lead to “colossal losses for the economy” of at least 300 billion rubles ($4 billion) per quarter.
"From Jan. 1, 2021, it’s possible to allow incoming and outgoing tourism in the framework that existed before the outbreak,” the government daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta quoted a letter by Andrei Ignatiyev, the president of Russia's travel industry union, and Gennady Lamshin, the president of Russia’s hotel association, as saying.