themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | March 26

March 26 : 3 things you need to know today • confirmed 182 new coronavirus infections on Thursday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases up to 840 and marking the largest one-day increase in cases so far .
• Two people who tested positive for coronavirus in Moscow died on Wednesday , Russia 's coronavirus response center said .
The patients were 73 and 88 years old and also had pneumonia .
• Russia ’ s April 22 public vote on a package of constitutional amendments will be postponed until after the coronavirus outbreak is under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an address to the nation Wednesday .
He added that next week would be a nationwide paid holiday to encourage Russians to stay home and slow the spread of the virus .
— Russia 's coronavirus situation could be resolved in less than three months , President Vladimir Putin told a meeting with members of the business community .
— Russia will suspend all regular and charter flights to other countries starting March 27 , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered .
— All federal government employees will switch to remote work starting March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Moscow will close all shops except for pharmacies and grocery stores , the city 's mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
This measure , which also includes the closure of restaurants , cafes and bars , will last from March 28 until April 5 .
— Lyudmila Narusova , a member of the Federation Council and the mother of television star and former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak , has been hospitalized with suspected coronavirus , the RBC news website reported .
Senator Andrei Klishas told RBC that Narusova tested negative for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that libraries , theaters , recreational centers and nightclubs will be ordered to close in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus .
— “ Half of the people who arrived [ in Russia ] from abroad passed through Moscow .
A suitcase of viruses was brought from Courchevel , ” Sobyanin said in a television interview , referring to a French ski resort .
— Russia has closed all sporting and cultural events and most large gatherings in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus .
Starting Thursday , Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered to self-isolate at home .
— The Russian Embassy in the United States advised Russian citizens to return home due to the possibility that the U.S. could close all its airports to slow the spread of coronavirus there .
— The Russian government has told the country 's regions to close nightclubs and cinemas to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
— The Moscow health department said it will allow patients with mild cases of coronavirus to recover at home rather than in the hospital .
— Putin has ordered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increase its readiness to fight the coronavirus if necessary , the Defense Ministry said .
— Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu 's two-day visit to Syria this week was aimed at trying to prevent a flare-up in tensions there that might distract Russia , Turkey and Syria from committing resources to fighting coronavirus , the Vedomosti business daily reported .
— Russia confirmed 71 new coronavirus infections on Monday , bringing the country ’ s official number of cases up to 438 .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has ordered all residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , saying each elderly citizen would receive a total of 4,000 rubles ( $ 50 ) in exchange for following the order .
— The Kremlin later said that Sobyanin 's order does not apply to Putin , who is 67 .
— Moscow announced it has finished converting a seventh hospital building to treat coronavirus patients .
Sobyanin said the city has the capacity to more than double this count if needed .
— Moscow is changing the way it counts its coronavirus cases .
Patients will now be considered positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having samples sent to a lab Novosibirsk , Siberia for further verification .
— The head of infectious diseases in the Stavropol region has been indicted after she returned to work with coronavirus symptoms after vacationing in Spain and later tested positive .
— Alexander Chepurnov , a virologist at the Russian Academy of Sciences , told state television that Russia is three weeks behind Italy in terms of coronavirus infections and that it can expect to see a similar spike in cases as those seen across Europe .
— Some of Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests for employees because of the coronavirus outbreak , replacing the breathalyzer tests with `` alternative procedures with a lower risk of spreading infection . ''
— The Kremlin said that medical assistance Russia was providing to Italy to help it battle the coronavirus was not part of an attempt to get Rome help lift EU sanctions on Moscow .
— Russia confirmed 61 new cases of coronavirus , bringing its official count to 367 .
— The Russian military will start sending medical help to Italy from Sunday in order to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an order from President Vladimir Putin , Russia 's Defense Ministry said in a statement .
— Moscow authorities again ruled out the possibility of a citywide lockdown .
Meanwhile , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the city 's metro will not close down .
— The Tokyo 2020 Olympics should be postponed by a year because coronavirus outbreaks worldwide have disrupted athletes ' preparations and could jeopardize their health , the head of Russia 's Boxing Federation said .
— Russia confirmed 53 new coronavirus infections , bringing the country ’ s official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Moscow has closed all sports facilities including swimming pools and fitness clubs due to the coronavirus outbreak , the city 's health authorities said .
— The Moscow Times has found evidence , based on dozens of interviews , that Russia ’ s rich are buying up and hoarding ventilators that have proven essential in saving lives in severe cases .
— Russia 's largest carmaker Avtovaz , which employs around 35,000 workers , has reported the first two coronavirus cases among its workers and quarantined 29 employees .
The carmarker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
— Russia confirmed 54 new cases of coronavirus , bringing the country 's total number of infections to 253 .
— There is `` no need '' for President Vladimir Putin to take a coronavirus test because he has n't shown any symptoms of the illness , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .
— The Russian Armed Forces ' spring draft will go on as planned despite the coronavirus , Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a military meeting .
All new recruits will be checked for the virus , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and citizens have launched a petition urging the government to take urgent action against the coronavirus as the country ’ s number of confirmed cases continues to climb , including postponing the April 22 vote on President Vladimir Putin 's constirutional amendments .
— Moscow traffic police have launched spot checks on the city 's taxis to ensure drivers wear face masks and regularly disinfect their vehicles .
Under new regulations , drivers must change masks every three hours and use sanitizer to clean their hands and disinfect their vehicles twice a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test for compliance with its `` internet isolation '' law due to the coronavirus , officials told Interfax .
— The head of infectious diseases in the Stavropol region — who returned to work after vacationing in Spain despite having coronavirus symptoms — has been hospitalized with suspected coronavirus , the Mediazona news website reported .
— Russia has reported 52 new cases of coronavirus , bringing the total to 199 .
This marks a 35 % jump in cases in the past 24 hours .
— A 79-year-old Russian woman with pre-existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after testing positive for the coronavirus .
It is the first coronavirus-related death in the country .
— President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the coronavirus by phone and agreed to deepen cooperation on developing pharmaceuticals , the Kremlin said .
Putin praised China 's efforts in preventing the spread of the virus which emerged in China late last year , the Kremlin said in a readout of the phone call .
— The Russian government announced a `` high alert '' status for all 85 of its regions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures such as banning large gatherings , moving schools to online classes and encouraging working from home .
— Russia 's consumer protection watchdog has ordered mandatory two-week isolation at home for all people entering the country even if they show no symptoms of coronavirus .
— Russian courts will stop considering all except the most urgent cases from Thursday onwards until April 10 to contain the spread of coronavirus , a decision by the Supreme Court on Wednesday showed .
— Moscow 's Sheremetyevo Airport — the capital 's main international transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terminals , C and E , starting Friday as closing borders and travel restrictions have suspended many flight routes .
Flights operating out of terminals C and E will be transfered to terminals D and F. — The Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) said it will invest in Medpromresurs , a Russian company that is currently developing coronavirus tests .
— Russia reported 33 new cases of coronavirus , bringing the total up to 147 from 114 the previous day and marking a 29 % increase .
— President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on constitutional amendments , which would allow him to run again for president .
He said the vote will be postponed if the coronavirus pandemic requires it .
— Russian schools will go on a three-week vacation from March 23 to April 12 to prevent the spread of coronavirus , Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said .
— Russia will limit flights to the United States , Britain and the United Arab Emirates starting Friday , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered .
— Russian prisoners , students and military personnel will produce medical masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the coronavirus pandemic , the RBC news website reported .
— Employees of the presidential administration and journalists covering President Vladimir Putin 's upcoming trips are being tested for coronavirus , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has urged employers to allow their employees to work from home to prevent the spread of infection .
— St. Petersburg has banned events and gatherings with more than 50 attendees as well as all sporting and cultural events .
— The Federal Penitentiary Service said it will suspend visits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons .
— Journalists accredited with foreign media outlets have been barred from the Russian State Duma over the coronavirus , BBC Russian correspondent Pyotr Kozlov said .
Journalists from Russian media are still permitted to enter , he added .
— Moscow 's network of facial recognition cameras has detected more than 200 people who violated orders to self-quarantine because they might be infected with the virus , the city 's police chief Oleg Baranov said .
— Russia has closed Bolshevik revolutionary Vladimir Lenin 's tomb on Moscow 's Red Square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service said , making it the latest Russian tourist attraction to shut down amid coronavirus fears .
— The annual Eurovision song contest has been canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic , its organizers announced .
Rave-pop band Little Big had been set to represent Russia in this year 's competition .
— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia has risen to 114 , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said , a 22 % increase from Monday .
Ten of these infections were transmitted within the country rather than contracted abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have denied reports that they will introduce a near-total shutdown of the city to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
— President Vladimir Putin said the situation with the spreading coronavirus is `` under control '' in the country after infections were `` contained . ''
— Russia 's embassies and consulates have suspended the processing of documents and issuing of all types of visas , including e-visas , the Foreign Ministry said .
The ministry said there are a small number of exceptions , including for diplomats and people attending funerals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Football 's 2020 European Championship has been postponed for a year because of the outbreak of the coronavirus , the Norwegian and Swedish FAs said on Tuesday .
— Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin 's cabinet plans to unveil a slew of new economic and regulatory measures to reduce the coronavirus ' impact on Wednesday , including creating an anti-crisis fund of 300 billion rubles ( $ 4.05 billion ) to support Russian citizens and the Russian economy and compensating quarantined citizens , including freelancers and the self-employed , for lost income .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border checkpoints , including those with neighboring Russia , as it seeks to prevent the coronavirus from spreading .
— Russia 's airlines could lose 100 billion rubles ( $ 1.4 billion ) due to the coronavirus outbreak and risk going bankrupt , the head of Russia 's Federal Air Transport Agency , also known as Rosaviatsiya , told Interfax .
— Russia 's Agriculture Ministry has ordered all of Russia 's regions to ready a two-month food supply to prevent shortages .
— The Russian Orthodox Church is instigating an unprecedented list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus in its sacred spaces nationwide , it said in a statement .
— Russia 's Energy Ministry has suspended the majority of its foreign and domestic business trips , with the exception of urgent cases , to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
— Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied reports that President Vladimir Putin is preparing an address to the nation about the coronavirus .
— Russia 's consumer protection watchdog , Rospotrebnadzor , has ordered Russia 's regions to test everyone who has been in Europe in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — All football , hockey and basketball games will be suspended in Russia until April 10 , the state-run TASS news agency reported , citing a source to Russia 's national leagues .
The Russian Football Union confirmed the news .
— Russian tourists in Europe are trapped abroad as flights have been canceled and borders closed due to the coronavirus crisis , a spokeswoman for Russia ’ s travel industry union told Interfax .
— Russia will ban the entry of foreign nationals and stateless people from March 18 to May 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government said .
The ban will not apply to diplomatic representatives , airplane crew members and some other categories of people .
— The number of coronavirus infections in Russia has risen to 93 , a 47 % increase from the previous day , the state-run TASS news agency reported , citing Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova .
— European Union leaders are considering temporarily banning all non-essential travel into the Schengen borderless travel zone by non-EU citizens , the BBC reported , citing a diplomatic note it obtained .
— Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 people from now until April 10 , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a new decree .
Older citizens are also advised to stay at home .
— From March 21 to April 12 , all schools and universities will be closed , Sobyanin said .
— An Irish citizen has been hospitalized with suspected coronavirus infection in the city of Murmansk in Russia ’ s Arctic after participating in a chess tournament .
— People entering Russia from the United States , Britain , the European Union , Ukraine , Belarus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as those who live with them — will now be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival .
— Starting today , coronavirus tests will be available for free in St. Petersburg , city health officials said .
— President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a special working group within the State Council to fight the spread of the coronavirus .
Putin put Sobyanin in charge of the new group , which will also include government officials .
— Russia 's Science and Higher Education Ministry recommended that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Monday .
— Russia has closed its border with neighboring Belarus as a `` proactive step '' to halt the coronavirus ' spread , the state-run TASS news agency quoted Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin as saying .
— A Russian patient has escaped from coronavirus quarantine near Moscow , the hospital ’ s head physician said Monday .
The woman has been detained and returned to the hospital after police found her at her home .
— Russia registered four more cases of coronavirus , Interfax reported , bringing the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Sergei Sobyanin denied that the authorities are downplaying the numbers of coronavirus patients in the capital .
— The Russian protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor confirmed the first community transmission of the coronavirus in Russia , RBC reported , but this information was later removed from Rospotrebnadzor 's statement .
— Rospotrebnadzor also said it ran just over 104,000 coronavirus tests since the start of the outbreak while 14,742 people are currently being monitored for coronavirus .
— A Russian Orthodox Church spokesperson said it will not be closing churches or canceling religious proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop international passenger trains from Moscow to Berlin and Paris .
Earlier it was announced that train connections to and from Ukraine , Moldova and Latvia will be suspended .
— Russia has confirmed 14 new cases of coronavirus , bringing the total to 59 , the state-run RIA news agency reported .
Nine of the new cases are in Moscow , one in the Moscow region , one in St. Petersburg , two in Kemerovo and one in Kaliningrad .
— Moscow 's chief sanitary doctor Elena Andreeva signed a decree on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compulsory hospitalization of patients with atypical course of flu and banning visitors in hospitals , orphanages and boarding schools .
— Russia will close its land borders with Poland and Norway to foreigners in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said .
— Russia confirmed 11 new cases of coronavirus , bringing the total to 45 , the RBC news website reported , citing the country 's coronavirus crisis center .
— Russia is limiting flights with Europe from Monday to prevent the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aidan Salakhova says she has been quarantined in a hospital after returning from Italy on a flight that was carrying two people infected with coronavirus .
All the passengers on Salakhova 's flight have been placed in hospital quarantine as well .
— Two Russian tourists in Israel have been diagnosed with coronavirus .
— St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region banned events with more than 1,000 people .
— The Kremlin told journalists who cover President Vladimir Putin to stay away from official events if they felt unwell as a precautionary measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
— Polish President Andrzej Duda will not travel to Russia next month due to the coronavirus , missing ceremonies marking the 10-year anniversary of a plane crash which killed Poland 's president , central bank chief and military commanders .
— Russia 's border will temporarily be closed to Italian citizens and foreigners traveling from Italy starting today as Italy continues to grapple with the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe .
— Russia has confirmed six new cases of coronavirus , bringing the total number of cases to 34 , Interfax reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center .
Four of the new cases are in Moscow , one in Krasnodar and one in Kaliningrad .
— The Moscow region 's governor has announced a `` high alert '' status for the region due to the coronavirus , banning all large events over 5,000 people and encouraging companies to allow their employees to telecommute .
The remote-working measures do not apply to the city of Moscow , home to 12 million people .
— A joint Russian-European mission to Mars has been postponed for two years , the Russian and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and technical issues .
— A religious procession in central Russia aimed at fighting the coronavirus has been canceled due to the threat of the virus itself .
— About 100 Chinese students in Moscow will be deported from Russia because they violated their self-quarantine orders , the Kommersant business daily reported .
— State Duma lawmaker Sergei Katasonov did not self-quarantine after returning from France and was present at work for several days before his colleagues told him to go home , libertarian party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky has said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ belongs to , proposed stripping him of his parliamentary powers as punishment .
— The World Health Organization declared that the coronavirus is a pandemic as the number of cases worldwide surpassed 112,000 in 114 different countries .
— Russia will suspend most flights to and from Italy , Germany , France and Spain over the coronavirus outbreak starting from Friday , Russia 's coronavirus crisis center said in a statement .
Russia will also stop issuing tourist visas to Italian citizens , the center said .
— The number of confirmed coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
All the people tested positive in the last day had previously traveled to Italy , according to the coronavirus crisis center 's statement .
— Moscow has banned large events of more than 5,000 people until April 10 in a move to prevent the spread of the virus , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a decree .
Critics accused the city of using the health crisis as an excuse to prevent people from protesting President Vladimir Putin 's constitutional reforms that could allow him to stay in power past his term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on arrival for citizens of 18 countries including Russia in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
— State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy is isolating himself in self-quarantine after returning to Moscow from Paris , he wrote on Facebook , adding that he is `` completely healthy '' and will work from home .
— Russia 's Defense Ministry has canceled the Moscow International Security Conference due to the threat of coronavirus .
The defense and international affairs conference , which would have been attended by more than 1,000 delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for April 22-23 .
— Russia 's consumer safety watchdog recommended that people avoid public transport , shopping malls and other public places at rush hour as a precaution against the coronavirus , the state-run RIA news agency reported .
— Another three people in Moscow have been diagnosed with coronavirus overnight , the RBC news website reported , citing a report from city officials it obtained .
The three individuals had recently visited Italy .
— Moscow city authorities threatened prison terms of up to five years for people failing to self-isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visiting countries hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak .
— Russia confirmed four new cases of coronavirus , taking the total number to 17 — three of whom have since recovered .
— Russia has reported six new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours , including five in Moscow and one in Nizhny Novgorod 400 kilometers east of the capital .
All six cases were contracted in Italy , one of several virus hubs outside China , the authorities said .
— Russian officials have conducted more than 51,000 tests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watchdog said .
— Seven Russian passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were placed in a two-week quarantine in Russia 's Far East have been discharged .
Two other quarantined patients are awaiting test results .
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a “ high alert regime , ” ordering self-isolation for Russians returning from China , South Korea , Iran , France , Germany , Italy and Spain .
—Russia canceled its flagship annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum this year as a precaution against coronavirus .
The forum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was due to be held in St. Petersburg on June 3-6 .
— Russia 's state carrier Aeroflot said it would suspend its flights to and from Hong Kong amid fears over coronavirus .
— Moscow authorities have drafted an emergency plan that envisions a near shutdown of the Russian capital in case of a coronavirus outbreak .
— Officials confirmed a seventh coronavirus infection in the country .
The patient is an Italian citizen who had arrived to Russia on Feb. 29 , asked for medical help on March 2 and tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being treated at an undisclosed hospital .
— Russian businesses have started to cancel foreign business trips and participation in international conferences after a recommendation from the Health Ministry to restrict foreign travel .
— Students at a university dormitory in St. Petersburg have been placed under quarantine and prohibited from leaving the building after the hospitalization of an Italian exchange student who had been living there .
The number of patients in the city that are being monitored for coronavirus symptoms has nearly doubled to 44 people .
— Two Russian citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Arab Emirates , the country 's health ministry said .
— Russia has temporarily banned the export of medical masks , gloves , bandages and protective suits .
— President Vladimir Putin said that fake news reports about coronavirus were being sent to Russia from abroad to spread panic .
He urged the government to ensure that citizens were correctly informed about the situation in Russia .
— Russian gas giant Gazprom has suspended foreign trips for its staff due to the coronavirus outbreak , a company spokesman said .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of passengers ' temperatures at station entrances , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
— A Russian national who was quarantined in a Moscow hospital after recently returning from northern Italy , a hub for the coronavirus outbreak , has the coronavirus .
The man , 29-year-old Moscow resident David Berov , is the first known Russian national to test positive for coronavirus while in the country .
— The impact of coronavirus on the Russian economy will be deeper than originally expected , Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said .
The ruble 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ momentum since mid-February due to the fast-spreading coronavirus and concerns about its economic impact , which sent oil prices crashing .
— Schools across Moscow have canceled swimming classes and large-scale events to prevent the spread of the flu and respiratory infections , the city ’ s education officials said in a Feb. 28 letter cited by Interfax .
— Moscow authorities are deporting 88 foreign nationals who violated quarantine measures imposed on them as a precaution against coronavirus , the state-run RIA news agency cited Moscow 's deputy mayor as saying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with coronavirus in Azerbaijan after arriving there from Iran , Interfax reported .
It marks the fourth case of coronavirus among Russian citizens and the first infection in Azerbaijan .
— The Russian government temporarily barred Iranian citizens from entering Russia and said it would also restrict the entry of South Korean citizens from March 1 as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus , decrees published online showed .
— The government also said it would not allow in any foreign citizens traveling from Iran or South Korea , and ordered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visas to Iranian citizens .
— Russia will suspend its train service from Moscow to the southern French city of Nice starting March 4 , the state-run TASS news agency reported , citing the Transport Ministry .
The ministry said the train link would be suspended until further notice as part of wider measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Russia .
— Moscow authorities have identified 88 people who violated the city 's self-isolation orders after returning from China , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
The Russian capital deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine .
— Russia has developed five prototypes for a coronavirus vaccine , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Russia 's Federal Tourism Agency recommended national tour operators suspend tours to Italy , South Korea and Iran until the outbreaks of coronavirus there are brought under control .
— Moscow will suspend flights between Russia and South Korea from March 1 over coronavirus fears , except those operated by Aeroflot and Aurora , Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said .
— Golikova said Russia would also stop issuing visas to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advising Russians against traveling to Italy .
— Other restrictions related to the outbreak which have been previously announced will be extended by one month to April 1 , Golikova said .
— The Chinese Embassy in Russia has asked Moscow authorities to stop the profiling of Chinese nationals on the city 's public transport .
According to Novaya Gazeta , the embassy 's letter said that Moscow police and subway workers had begun questioning passengers believed to be Chinese to check for signs of coronavirus , something that is n't being done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Around 2,500 people arriving from China have been ordered placed under quarantine for the coronavirus and monitored by the Russian capital ’ s facial-recognition technology , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said .
— Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the RBC news website that the coronavirus had caused a drop in Chinese trade with Russia of 1 billion rubles ( $ 15.68 million ) a day .
— Two Russian citizens from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship were diagnosed with the new coronavirus , bringing the total number of infected Russian nationals to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entry of Chinese citizens to its territory has gone into effect .
The temporary suspension will be for Chinese citizens entering Russia for employment , private , educational and tourist purposes .
— The 144 Russians evacuated from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China have left a quarantine area in Siberia ’ s Tyumen region following a 14-day quarantine .
— Russia discharged a Chinese national from the hospital in the Siberian city of Chita after he recovered from coronavirus infection , the second of Russia 's first two confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coronavirus outbreak may delay Russia 's delivery of S-400 air defense systems to China , the state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport said .
— Authorities in the Chelyabinsk region 1,500 kilometers east of Moscow walked back plans to set up a quarantine center after local residents formed a human shield to prevent entry to Chinese nationals .
— The Kremlin has started checking the body temperatures of individuals attending events with President Vladimir Putin as a `` precautionary measure , '' spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .

Russia has confirmed 18,315,292 cases of coronavirus and 378,784 deaths , according to the national coronavirus information center. Russia’s total excess fatality count since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is at least 995,000. Under half the population is fully vaccinated.
— QR codes will be issued to Russians who test positive for Covid-19 antibodies, regardless of their vaccination status.
— Russians will be able to take an antibody test to obtain a coronavirus health pass from Feb. 21, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.
— Russia reported more than 200,000 new Covid-19 infections for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— After a three-day decline, Russia saw an an increase of Covid-19 infections with a total of 179,284 new infections and 748 deaths.
Russians and foreigners will be able to receive a coronavirus QR-code health pass based on the results of an antibody test from Monday.
Russia reported 137,642 new Covid-19 infections and 785 deaths over the last 24 hours.
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Feb. 10
— Russia reported a total of 197,076 new infections and 701 deaths.
Feb. 9
— Russia reported a total of 183,103 new infections and 669 deaths.
Feb. 8
— Russia reported a total of 165,643 new infections and 698 deaths.
— Almost 12,000 children with Covid-19 are currently being treated in hospitals, while children make up about 20% of the country's total number of coronavirus cases, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced.
Feb. 7
— Russia reported 171,905 new coronavirus infections and 609 deaths.
Feb. 6
— Russia reported a record 180,071 new coronavirus infections and 661 deaths.
Feb. 5
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 177,282 new infections and 714 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
Feb. 4
— Russia reported another record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 168,201 new infections and 682 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has a 70.5% efficacy against the Delta variant of the coronavirus six months after vaccination, the jab’s developers said Friday. The findings were published as part of the results of Phase 3 medical trials into the vaccine. Omicron has displaced Delta as the dominant strain of the coronavirus in Moscow and is sweeping rapidly across the country.
Feb. 3
— Russia reported a new record number of new coronavirus infections. A total of 155,768 new infections and 667 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Russia plans to cancel mandatory isolation requirements for people who come into contact with somebody infected with Covid-19, Anna Popova, the head of the Rospotrebnadzor consumer health watchdog said Friday. She said the forced quarantine rules “have lost their reasoning” with the surge in Omicron cases.
Feb. 2
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fifth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 141,883 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 678 fatalities.
Feb. 1
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 125,836 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 663 fatalities.
— Russia's Labor Ministry has recommended that all enterprises send as many of their employees to remote work as possible due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
— A growing number of Russian regions are re-introducing coronavirus lockdown measures due to the surging Omicron variant, even as the Kremlin on Monday repeated that there will be no nationwide lockdown due to the variant’s spread. Fifteen regions across the country have suspended routine medical care due to the overwhelming number of hospitalizations, while five regions have sent schoolchildren to remote learning and four regions banned mass gatherings. The Tula region south of Moscow took the most drastic step in the latest virus surge by announcing a 10-day regionwide holiday.
Jan. 31
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 124,070 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 621 fatalities.
— Russia’s excess fatalities reached 995,000 by the end of 2021, according to The Moscow Times’ analysis of official statistics. The country also saw its largest natural population decline since the end of the Soviet Union, registering a fall of more than one million in 2021, the Rosstat statistics service said Friday.
Jan. 30
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 121,228 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 617 fatalities.
Jan. 29
— Russia reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time ever. The country’s coronavirus task force confirmed 113,112 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours and 668 fatalities.
— Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "clear that the real number of people who have Covid-19 is slightly higher than the official statistics."
— Moscow does not plan to introduce new lockdown measures in response to the Omicron variant, the RBC news website reported, citing two sources close to the Mayor's Office.
Jan. 28
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the eighth day running. A total of 98,040 new infections and 673 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
Jan. 27
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the seventh day running. A total of 88,816 new infections and 665 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours. Case numbers have doubled in the span of a week.
— The number of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital in the capital jumped 22% on Thursday and is now running close to peaks recorded during the two previous waves of the virus in 2021.
Jan. 26
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the sixth day running. A total of 74,692 new infections and 657 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Children in St. Petersburg will be barred from sporting, cultural and entertainment establishments from Jan. 28-Feb. 13, city authorities announced.
— Russia has cut the quarantine period for people infected with Covid-19 from 14 to seven days, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced Tuesday.
Jan. 25
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fifth day running. A total of 67,809 new infections and 681 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.
— Around 70% of people infected with the Omicron variant in Russia are unvaccinated, said Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s consumer health watchdog, in a televised meeting.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital was likely to see growing coronavirus cases for at least two more weeks, as the Omicron variant fuels a record rise in infections.
Jan. 24
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the fourth day running. A total of 65,109 new infections and 655 deaths were recorded.
Jan. 23
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections for the third day running. A total of 63,205 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 679 deaths.
Jan. 22
— Russia reported a record number of new coronavirus infections as the Omicron variant continued its rapid spread across the country. A total of 57,212 new infections were recorded over the last 24 hours and 681 deaths.
Jan. 21
— Amid rising cases, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on extended a requirement for businesses in the capital to ensure 30% of their employers were working from home.
— Russia plans to cut the isolation period from 14 to seven days for those infected with Covid-19, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russian lawmakers have agreed to withdraw from consideration an unpopular bill for QR-code health passes to enter public spaces, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.
Jan. 19
— Russia reported 33,899 new Covid-19 infections and 698 deaths.
— Cases in Russia’s second city of St. Petersburg set a new record high Wednesday with 4,382 new confirmed cases. In Moscow, where Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Omicron has become the dominant strain, new infections set their third-highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic on Wednesday of 8,795.
Jan. 18
— Russia reported 31,252 new Covid-19 infections and 688 deaths.
Jan. 17
— Russia reported 30,726 new Covid-19 infections and 670 deaths.
— The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is still awaiting additional documentation on Sputnik V before it can proceed with the vaccine approval process, the EU’s Ambassador to Moscow said Monday. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Russia said Sunday the vaccine’s developers had submitted all the required information needed for its approval process, and further inspections will take place in February, though other WHO officials later appeared to contradict this, saying they were still waiting for a full data package from Russia.
Jan. 16
— Russia reported 29,230 new Covid-19 infections and 686 deaths.
Jan. 15
— Russia reported 27,179 new Covid-19 infections and 723 deaths.
Jan. 14
— Russia reported 23,820 new Covid-19 cases and 739 deaths
— Russia will delay controversial legislation over the use of coronavirus health passes for access to public spaces, officials said Friday, citing “new challenges” presented by the Omicron variant.
— Foreigners will be able to obtain a coronavirus health pass — QR code — in Russia by taking an antibody test, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Friday. The passes will be valid for six months.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday that Omicron had become the dominant coronavirus strain in the Russian capital, accounting for more than half of all new infections.
Jan. 13
— Russia reported 21,155 new Covid-19 infections — a 17.8% increase overnight — and 740 deaths.
Jan. 12
— Russia reported 17,946 new Covid-19 infections and 745 deaths.
— Russia has so far confirmed 698 official cases of the Omicron variant, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced at a meeting on Wednesday.
— President Vladimir Putin said health authorities only have “a couple of weeks” to prepare for the next wave of the pandemic.
— Russia delivered fewer than 80 million doses of its Sputnik V and Sputnik Light vaccines to other countries in 2021, according to Unicef data cited by The Washington Post. The jab’s developers had initially planned to export doses for more than 500 million people, but have been beset by production and delivery delays. The vaccine has also yet to be approved by either the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Jan. 11
— Russia reported 17,525 new Covid-19 infections and 783 deaths.
— The presence of the Omicron variant in the Russian capital is already “significant,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. He warned that the city would see a major increase in infections within 7-10 days, adding that “it is quite possible that we will face a worse situation than in previous waves.”
— Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the military to limit vacations and trips abroad for servicemen and women due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Russia will be “covered” by the Omicron variant and should brace for a “very high” number of Covid-19 cases, Alexander Gintsburg, the head of the state-run Gamaleya Institute which developed the country’s Sputnik V vaccine, said.
Jan. 10
— Russia confirmed 15,830 Covid-19 infections and 741 deaths.
Jan. 9
— Russia confirmed 16,246 Covid-19 infections and 763 deaths.
Jan. 8
— Russia confirmed 16,568 Covid-19 infections and 796 deaths.
Jan. 7
— Russia confirmed 16,735 Covid-19 infections and 787 deaths.
Jan. 6
— Russia confirmed 15,316 Covid-19 infections and 802 deaths.
Jan.5
— Russia confirmed 15,772 Covid-19 infections and 828 deaths.
Jan. 4
— Russia confirmed 15,903 Covid-19 infections and 834 deaths.
Jan. 3
— Russia confirmed 16,343 Covid-19 infections and 835 deaths.
Jan. 2
— Russia confirmed 18,233 Covid-19 infections and 811 deaths.
Jan. 1
— Russia confirmed 19,751 Covid-19 infections and 847 deaths.
Dec. 31
— Russia confirmed 20,638 Covid-19 infections and 912 deaths.
— Russia recorded more than 115,000 excess deaths during November 2021, according to official statistics published Thursday — a new record high since the start of the pandemic.
— Russia's Health Ministry on Thursday advised Russians against traveling abroad for the New Year holiday due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
— Over 100 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in Russia, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said Thursday.
Dec. 30
— Russia confirmed 21,073 Covid-19 infections and 926 deaths. Cases in Moscow rose from 1,798 on Wednesday to 2,661 on Thursday, a nearly 50% increase.
Dec. 29
— Russia confirmed 21,119 Covid-19 infections and 932 deaths.
Dec. 28
— Russia confirmed 21,922 Covid-19 infections and 935 deaths.
Dec. 27
— Russia confirmed 23,210 Covid-19 infections and 937 deaths.
Dec. 26
— Russia confirmed 23,721 Covid-19 infections and 968 deaths.
Dec. 25
— Russia confirmed 24,946 Covid-19 infections and 981 deaths.
Dec. 24
— Russia confirmed 24,703 Covid-19 infections and 998 deaths.
Dec. 23
— Russia confirmed 25,667 Covid-19 infections and 1,002 deaths.
— Moscow confirmed over 3,000 new Covid cases, a 60% jump compared to Wednesday.
Dec. 22
— Russia on Wednesday confirmed 25,264 Covid-19 infections and 1,020 deaths.
Dec. 21
— Russia on Tuesday confirmed 25,907 Covid-19 infections and 1,027 deaths.
— Russia has detected 41 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 so far, health authorities said Tuesday.
Dec. 20
— Russia confirmed 27,022 Covid-19 infections and 1,019 deaths.
Dec. 19
— Russia confirmed 27,967 Covid-19 infections and 1,024 deaths.
— Russia could send free shipments of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Africa in the future, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which finances and promotes the jab, has said.
Dec. 18
— Russia confirmed 27,434 Covid-19 infections and 1,076 deaths.
Dec. 17
— Russia confirmed 27,743 Covid-19 infections and 1,080 deaths.
— Russia claimed its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine provides “robust” long-term protection against the Omicron variant, disputing the findings of an independent study which found the Russian jab produced no antibody response whatsoever to the new highly transmissible variant.
Dec. 16
— Russia has detected the Omicron variant in 25 people so far, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
— Russia confirmed 28,486 Covid-19 infections and 1,133 deaths.
— Russian lawmakers approved legislation in a first reading that will require people to show health passes to access public places like bars and restaurants, as the country gears up for a winter Covid wave.
— Russia has not yet provided all the information requested by the WHO to certify the country’s flagship Sputnik V vaccine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. “It's true that some information needed for certification has not yet been submitted. We had a different understanding of what information was needed and how it has to be submitted, we have different standards, etc," Peskov told journalists, adding that the Kremlin is not worried by the lengthy approval process the vaccine has faced.
Dec. 15
—Russians with coronavirus antibodies from both foreign and domestic vaccines will be able to get a QR code valid for six months, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said Monday.
— Russia will scrap the proposed bill that would require QR codes to access public transport, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on his Telegram channel on Sunday.
Dec. 6
— Russia has confirmed its first reported cases of the Omicron variant. The new strain was detected in two people who traveled into the country from South Africa, Russia’s consumer and health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said. Another 10 Russians who returned from South Africa have tested positive for the coronavirus and their samples are currently being analyzed to determine the variant, the agency added.
Dec. 3
— Russia said it recorded its deadliest month in decades in October, with the total number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic surpassing 810,000.
Dec. 2
— Russia will require citizens entering the country from South Africa or neighboring countries to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival due to the Omicron variant starting Dec. 2, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova announced.
Nov. 30
— Russian President Vladimir Putin called for mutual recognition of vaccines against the coronavirus to help curtail the pandemic, as concern grows around the world about the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
— Russians returning from countries with which Moscow has not formally restored air travel will have to quarantine for 14 days, Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor consumer and health watchdog said. The validity of health passes obtained by a negative PCR test will also be reduced from 72 to 48 hours. Popova also advised Russians not to travel abroad for New Year holidays as part of a package of recommendations outlined in response to the Omicron variant.
— Putin has ordered the government to create an updated action plan for the Omicron strain by next week, he said at an investment forum.
Nov. 29
— As many as 1,500 Russian tourists have been left stranded in South Africa as countries scramble to ban flights from the region, media reported Monday.
— The backers of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V said Monday that the jab is effective against the new Omicron coronavirus variant but they were also developing an adapted booster.
Nov. 28
— The new Omicron variant may be spreading across Russia by tourists returning from Egypt, Senator and Honored Doctor of Russia Vladimir Krugly said Sunday. Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, which leads the country’s Covid-19 response efforts, later denied Krugly’s claims.
Nov. 25
— St. Petersburg aims to vaccinate 80% of its population by mid-January through vaccination, its Governor Alexander Beglov said Thursday. He said 67% of the city is currently vaccinated.
— Russian lawmakers are seeking to recognize those vaccinated against the coronavirus with foreign jabs, the Izvestia daily reported Thursday.
Nov. 24
— President Vladimir Putin repeated his stance that Covid-19 vaccination should be voluntary as regions and cities tighten restrictions on the unvaccinated.
— He added that he has received a nasal Covid-19 vaccine, days after saying he received a Sputnik Light booster shot.
— Russia has registered a Covid-19 vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced.
Nov. 23
— Russia and Hungary have agreed to mutually recognize each others' vaccination certificates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, marking the first such agreement between Russia and another country.
Nov. 22
— A Siberian region of Russia has become the first in the country to impose self-isolation rules for residents who haven’t yet been vaccinated against Covid-19.
— The republic of Tatarstan became the first Russian province to enforce QR code passes on public transit earlier Monday.
Nov. 21
— President Vladimir Putin said he had had a third dose of a Covid vaccine. "I had it two hours ago," Putin said on state television channel Rossiya 24, assuring viewers that his booster injection of the Sputnik vaccine had been painless.
Nov. 19
— Russia's herd immunity has surpassed 50%, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said.
Nov. 17
— Two more Russian coronavirus vaccines are currently undergoing preclinical trials, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said. So far, Russia has authorized four vaccines: Sputnik V, the one-dose Sputnik Light, EpiVacCorona and CoviVak.
— There is "no end in sight" to the Covid-19 pandemic in Russia yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
— A Far East Russian region has become the first in the country to introduce vaccine passports for internal flights as federal lawmakers race to mandate health passes for public transport and other areas.
Nov. 16
— Russia will resume air travel with Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mongolia from Dec. 1, authorities announced. It will also lift all remaining restrictions on flights with Mexico, Cuba and Qatar starting that day. Starting Dec. 12, train connections to Finland will resume.
Nov. 16
— U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has received approval to conduct trials of Paxlovid, a novel oral antiviral treatment aimed at preventing and treating Covid-19. Ninety people in a handful of Russian cities will take part in the trials.
Nov. 12
— Russia will introduce health passes for access to public places, restaurants and intercity trains and planes in a radical move designed to boost Russia's sluggish vaccination campaign.
Nov. 9
— St. Petersburg mandated vaccination against Covid-19 for all residents over 60 years old as well as people with certain chronic illnesses.
— Russia is now the world leader in coronavirus deaths for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
— The developer of Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has said Moscow should make jabs mandatory as inoculation rates remain low despite record deaths and campaigning by authorities.
Nov. 8
— Russia’s nationwide paid holiday aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus came to an end Monday. Some regions are keeping the restrictions in place and many others are implementing digital passes showing proof of vaccination or recent Covid-19 recovery.
— QR codes proving one's vaccination continue to be valid for one year after vaccination, Russia's Health Ministry and Digital Development Ministry said Monday following reports that the validity period had changed to 6 months.
Nov. 2
— Russia's single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine produces a strong antibody response among recipients, according to research published in leading medical journal The Lancet. Sputnik Light is the first dose of Russia's two-dose Sputnik V vaccine, which is the backbone of Russia's domestic vaccination campaign and is being sold around the world.
Nov. 1
— Russian authorities said that doctors were under "extraordinary" strain due to surging coronavirus cases in Europe's worst-hit country.
— The Novgorod region in northwestern Russia has become the first region to extend the non-working week. It will order all non-essential workers to take a mandated paid holiday for an additional week after Nov. 7.
Oct. 27
— The Kremlin cautioned Russians against traveling during the Oct. 30-Nov. 7 non-working period ordered by Moscow to stem a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths.
— The Israeli government will allow tourists vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to enter the country starting Nov. 15.
Oct. 26
— All of Russia's 85 regions across 11 time zones have now mandated vaccines for certain categories of workers, Anna Popova, who heads the federal health watchdog that is leading the country’s response to the virus, said.
— The European Union expects countries including Russia to investigate the sale of fake Covid-19 certificates online and take appropriate measures, an EU spokesperson told RBC. The cybersecurity company Kaspersky said last week that it uncovered counterfeit travel certificates made to look as if they were issued in France or Poland being sold for an average price of $300 on the Telegram messaging app.
— Authorities in annexed Crimea said they plan to purchase mobile refrigerators to store bodies in the city of Simferopol as Covid-19 deaths continue to rise and the city's morgues are overwhelmed.
Oct. 25
— Russian authorities were investigating nurses and a doctor in St. Petersburg accused of selling fake coronavirus vaccination certificates, as the country faces a deadly new wave. The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said a doctor and three nurses are suspected of pocketing at least 100,000 rubles ($1,430) from 12 people after selling official certificates without having administered jabs.
— President Vladimir Putin instructed regional leaders to order restaurants to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and to ban all entertainment events.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin imposed a partial citywide lockdown between Oct. 28-Nov. 7 to stem the spread of the virus.
— The restrictions suspend businesses, services, catering, sports, recreation, entertainment and film screenings with the exception of the sale of essential goods like medicines and food. Mass events, except those authorized by health officials, will be banned, and theater and museum attendance will be capped at 50% with mask-wearing and digital-code rules in place. In-person public services will be suspended and kindergarteners and school students sent home between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7.
The Moscow region introduced identical restrictions shortly after Sobyanin’s announcement.
— President Vladimir Putin will not meet people face-to-face during Russia's nationwide week-long paid holiday starting on Oct. 30 designed to curb Covid infections amid record deaths, his spokesman said.
— The pace of vaccinations in Russia has accelerated following a string of regions imposing vaccine mandates for workers in certain sectors of the economy and vaccine passports for entry into indoor venues, according to the Gogov website which tracks vaccine uptake across the country. It estimates Russia is administering more than 300,000 first doses each day — up from around 120,000 a day earlier October.
Oct. 23
— Russia's second city St. Petersburg will impose a partial lockdown from Oct. 30-Nov. 7, authorities announced.
Oct. 21
— Sochi is bracing for an influx of tourists during public holidays starting Oct. 30 designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Occupancy rates in hotels are set to be at least 75%, the city’s mayor said — equivalent to peak summer months at the Black Sea resort. The city has introduced vaccine passports for entry into restaurants and bars in a bid to stop the spread of the virus despite the mass inflow of tourists.
— Russia has detected a new sub-variant of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, which risks compounding the country’s spiraling infections and deaths, a senior Russian government scientist warned.
— The European Union’s drug regulator will not approve Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine until at least the first months of 2022, Reuters reported.
Oct. 20
— President Vladimir Putin announced a non-working week in Russia from Oct. 30-Nov. 7. Putin pleaded with Russians to get vaccinated and said the public holidays could be extended further if cases do not start to fall.
— Nationwide, 87% of hospital beds reserved for coronavirus patients are occupied, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said in a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Oct. 19
— Some 1,100 medical staff died from Covid-19 in Russia during the first six months of 2021, the chair of the State Duma’s budget committee said. That is more than twice the number who succumbed to the virus in 2020, he added.
— Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has backed plans for a nationwide non-working week starting Oct. 30. The proposal was put forward by Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova during a televised government meeting. Mishustin said the strict measures — effectively a paid vacation or orders for workers at non-essential businesses to stop going into their place of work — were “now necessary” given increased numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Golikova said some regions should introduce the non-working week earlier, on Oct. 23 and also called for unvaccinated pensioners to start self-isolating at home.
Oct. 18
— Russia's second city, St. Petersburg, announced it would tighten restrictions to battle a surge in Covid-19 cases, introducing a health pass to regulate access to crowd events.
— Moscow authorities will start fining public transport passengers whose face masks do not cover their nose and mouth, a transit official said.
— South Africa's health products regulator said it would not approve Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine due to concerns it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men. The decision was based on earlier studies testing the safety of a modified form of adenovirus — a type of virus that causes respiratory infections — known as the Ad5 and contained in the Russian jab.
— Russia will allow family members of foreigners who live in Russia to enter the country, the Foreign Ministry said. The relaxation will allow people from countries not yet on Russia’s designated list of open countries to receive a special entry permit to come to Russia, provided they have a close relative living in Russia.
Oct. 16
— According to Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova, 38 of Russia’s 85 regions have introduced vaccine mandates for certain categories of citizens and employees working in designated sectors of the economy, such as retail and hospitality.
Oct. 15
— Russia will resume regular air travel with the Bahamas, Iran, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Slovenia, Tunisia, Sweden and Thailand starting Nov. 9, the national Covid-19 headquarters announced.
Oct. 14
— Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has called on doctors who are self-isolating or even retired due to the pandemic to get vaccinated and return to work due to record increases in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
Oct. 12
— The Moscow region that surrounds the capital has imposed vaccine mandates for sales, food, transport, public service, hair salon and fitness club employees.
— Roughly 235,000 of Russia's 255,000 Covid hospital beds nationwide are occupied, with 6,000 patients on ventilators, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
— Russia’s western exclave of Kaliningrad has suspended planned medical procedures as it battles an “extremely difficult” surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. The central Mari El region also canceled routine operations and medical treatment from Tuesday, warning that it had run out of free hospital beds and may soon have to start treating patients in corridors.
Oct. 11
— The Kremlin described Russia's Covid fatality toll as "high" and the country's vaccination rate as "unacceptably" low, even as it rejected new restrictions so as to protect the economy.
— Moscow launched free express coronavirus tests at 20 locations across the city, as the capital continues to battle with rising infection rates. The tests give a result in 15 minutes, but are less effective than the gold standard PCR tests. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said rapid testing would allow “socially responsible citizens” to ensure they are not spreading the virus.
— The Leningrad region that surrounds St. Petersburg will require residents to present QR codes proving their vaccination status or a negative PCR test in order to enter theaters, cinemas, swimming pools and gyms through Nov. 15.
Oct. 8
— Russia reported 65,000 excess fatalities in August in a 45% jump on pre-pandemic mortality rates, official data showed. The country's overall number of excess deaths since the start of the coronavirus stands at 660,000.
— EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer said that the country "has repeatedly postponed" the timing of the inspection requested by the European Medicines Agency which has slowed down the approval process of the vaccine in the EU. The Russian Ministry of Health responded by saying that it presented the EU with all the necessary documents that the block requested.
Oct. 7
— A World Health Organization delegation will visit Russia this month as part of its approval procedure for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriyev said.
— The problem behind WHO's suspension of Sputnik V's approval process has been resolved, said Mariangela Simao, WHO's assistant director general for access to medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has announced that mass PCR testing will be introduced in Russia's capital in 1-2 weeks.
— Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said the federal government recommends Russian regions introduce QR-codes for attending mass events, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Oct. 4
— Russia’s top cabinet official on Monday criticized the country's stalling vaccination rates for failing to slow the spread of Covid-19 as Russians die in numbers not seen since the start of the pandemic.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--Russia’s Orthodox Church Sticks to Its Traditions Despite Coronavirus Threat

Despite medical experts ’ warnings that the coronavirus can be transmitted by saliva and survive on surfaces for days , thousands of worshippers lined up at Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg this month to kiss a holy relic with no form of sanitation except the occasional wipe with a rag .
In the city of Kazan on March 15 , video showed an Orthodox priest continuing to use a single spoon to serve communion wine to worshippers .
As panic over the pandemic that has killed 21,000 has intensified — and churches worldwide have shut their doors to prevent its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its 164 million worshippers have been slow to change their ways .
“ The churches must not be closed .
God sees all and will protect worshippers .
In Italy the Vatican closed , and you see what happened there , ” said Irina , a 59-year-old pensioner , pausing during a walk in Moscow ’ s Petrovsky Park this week .
Nearly all of them are elderly , one of the most at-risk groups for the coronavirus that has swept the globe .
Many of them believe that God , unlike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quiet Saturday outside service hours , worshippers walk with reverence through the shadowy interior of Moscow ’ s Yekhovo Cathedral , crossing themselves repeatedly in front of the rows of icons adorning the gilded walls .
And then , in accordance with Orthodox practice , they end their silent prayers by touching their lips to the sacred pictures .
A man kisses an Orthodox icon in the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery in central Moscow .
A worker sped around the cathedral to disinfect the icons about once every hour .
This seeming recklessness stems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church — and in other Eastern Orthodox branches — that believes faith in God will protect the devout from illness .
On Sunday , a video of popular priest Andrei Tkachev entertaining his congregation by entering church to deliver his sermon wearing a gas mask prompted an outcry .
“ Turn off the television and there will be no coronavirus , ” he told them .
The video was later removed by the pro-Kremlin journalist who first posted it to Instagram .
Despite the indifference toward infection , the Church last week took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure people can continue to worship while minimizing the risk of transmission .
The list forbids worshippers from kissing the cross , the communion chalice or the priest ’ s hand during liturgies .
It also calls for disinfection of the communion spoon after each use and the use of Q-tips to anoint parishioners .
Worshippers will still be able to kiss icons , but churches are ordered to disinfect the icons between each use .
“ If the virus spreads and the number of infections grows , if new orders from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Church will respond to them , ” said Metropolitan Hilarion , the head of the Church ’ s public relations department .
“ This applies both to the Church as a whole and to individual dioceses.
” Days after they were announced , it appears that some of the guidelines are not as binding as they may seem , with each diocese able to decide how strictly it wants to adhere to them .
None of the churches visited by The Moscow Times gave visible notice to worshippers that they should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also no apparent standard in place for disinfecting icons .
Only one of the churches said it had started disinfecting icons after each use due to the coronavirus .
At another , an attendant hurriedly sprayed and wiped down the icons every hour or so .
“ Some of these things can not be stopped , ” Hieromonk Konstantin , a priest at the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery in central Moscow , told The Moscow Times .
“ I ’ m not saying you can not become ill from kissing the icons — you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the icons and try to disinfect the others as much as possible .
But you can ’ t stop a person if they really want to do that.
” Hieromonk Konstantin said the monastery ’ s parishioners have shown mixed responses to the changes in their weekly services , which strictly follow the Church 's official guidelines .
“ The older people are surprised and they register a certain degree of dissatisfaction with certain things .
But I don ’ t think they really realize the depth of the crisis , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s easy not to realize it because everything is running .
We ’ re not in lockdown — yet.
” While the Russian government has shut down cultural venues , sporting events and all gatherings with more than 50 attendees to prevent the virus ’ spread , it has largely given the Russian Orthodox Church free rein to operate as usual , apart from orders to start restricting attendance .
The Church says it has no plans to suspend its services even as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , the Church said its Moscow services will continue as usual despite the mayor 's advice to the public to avoid church .
It has , however , said it will work to limit the sizes of its services .

On a quiet Saturday outside service hours, worshippers walk with reverence through the shadowy interior of Moscow’s Yelokhovo Cathedral, crossing themselves repeatedly in front of the rows of icons adorning the gilded walls. And then, in accordance with Orthodox practice, they end their silent prayers by touching their lips to the sacred pictures. Nearly all of them are elderly, one of the most at-risk groups for the coronavirus that has swept the globe. Many of them believe that God, unlike the virus, will show mercy. “The churches must not be closed. God sees all and will protect worshippers. In Italy the Vatican closed, and you see what happened there,” said Irina, a 59-year-old pensioner, pausing during a walk in Moscow’s Petrovsky Park this week. As panic over the pandemic that has killed 21,000 has intensified — and churches worldwide have shut their doors to prevent its spread — the Russian Orthodox Church and its 164 million worshippers have been slow to change their ways. Despite medical experts’ warnings that the coronavirus can be transmitted by saliva and survive on surfaces for days, thousands of worshippers lined up at Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg this month to kiss a holy relic with no form of sanitation except the occasional wipe with a rag. In the city of Kazan on March 15, video showed an Orthodox priest continuing to use a single spoon to serve communion wine to worshippers.
A man kisses an Orthodox icon in the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery in central Moscow. A worker sped around the cathedral to disinfect the icons about once every hour. Sonia Kopelev / MT
This seeming recklessness stems from a mindset within the Russian Orthodox Church — and in other Eastern Orthodox branches — that believes faith in God will protect the devout from illness. On Sunday, a video of popular priest Andrei Tkachev entertaining his congregation by entering church to deliver his sermon wearing a gas mask prompted an outcry. “Turn off the television and there will be no coronavirus,” he told them. The video was later removed by the pro-Kremlin journalist who first posted it to Instagram. Despite the indifference toward infection, the Church last week took some action by distributing sanitary rules to ensure people can continue to worship while minimizing the risk of transmission. The list forbids worshippers from kissing the cross, the communion chalice or the priest’s hand during liturgies. It also calls for disinfection of the communion spoon after each use and the use of Q-tips to anoint parishioners. Worshippers will still be able to kiss icons, but churches are ordered to disinfect the icons between each use. “If the virus spreads and the number of infections grows, if new orders from the authorities appear regarding the fight against coronavirus, the Church will respond to them,” said Metropolitan Hilarion, the head of the Church’s public relations department. “This applies both to the Church as a whole and to individual dioceses.” Days after they were announced, it appears that some of the guidelines are not as binding as they may seem, with each diocese able to decide how strictly it wants to adhere to them.
None of the churches visited by The Moscow Times gave visible notice to worshippers that they should exercise caution during prayer. There was also no apparent standard in place for disinfecting icons. Only one of the churches said it had started disinfecting icons after each use due to the coronavirus. At another, an attendant hurriedly sprayed and wiped down the icons every hour or so. “Some of these things cannot be stopped,” Hieromonk Konstantin, a priest at the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery in central Moscow, told The Moscow Times. “I’m not saying you cannot become ill from kissing the icons — you can. We have taken away many of the icons and try to disinfect the others as much as possible. But you can’t stop a person if they really want to do that.” Hieromonk Konstantin said the monastery’s parishioners have shown mixed responses to the changes in their weekly services, which strictly follow the Church's official guidelines. “The older people are surprised and they register a certain degree of dissatisfaction with certain things. But I don’t think they really realize the depth of the crisis,” he said. “Here in Moscow it’s easy not to realize it because everything is running. We’re not in lockdown — yet.” While the Russian government has shut down cultural venues, sporting events and all gatherings with more than 50 attendees to prevent the virus’ spread, it has largely given the Russian Orthodox Church free rein to operate as usual, apart from orders to start restricting attendance. The Church says it has no plans to suspend its services even as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church has advised branches worldwide to do so. On Thursday, the Church said its Moscow services will continue as usual despite the mayor's advice to the public to avoid church. It has, however, said it will work to limit the sizes of its services and will broadcast liturgies online.
A worker disinfects an icon with an alcohol solution in the Church of St. Alexis in Rogozhskaya Sloboda. Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency


themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--Sochi Asks Muscovites to Stay Away During Russia’s Coronavirus Holiday

Putin announced the paid holiday between March 30 and April 5 as part of social and economic measures he unveiled in his first public address since Russia confirmed its first coronavirus infection over a month ago .
The popular southern Russian resort city of Sochi has asked Muscovites to stay away during a week-long nationwide holiday that President Vladimir Putin declared in a move to slow the spread of coronavirus .
Alexei Kopaygorodsky , the mayor of Sochi , which hosted the Winter Olympics in 2014 , urged guests and residents to avoid his city during that period .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visiting public places in the coming days for your health and for the common good , ” Kopaygorodsky wrote on his VKontakte page Wednesday .
“ I separately request potential resort guests to treat the situation with understanding and not visit Sochi for at least next week , ” he added .
The Krasnodar region where Sochi is situated has suspended access to nightclubs , cinemas , food courts , swimming pools and other public spaces until further notice .
Sochi has confirmed five coronavirus cases in the city .
Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest day-to-day increase on Thursday .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has also asked Russians from other regions to avoid traveling to the Russian capital after ordering the closure of recreational centers and nightclubs .
The mayor later ordered the city ’ s shops , with the exception of pharmacies and grocery stores , restaurants , cafes and bars to close from March 28 until April 5 .
“ There ’ ll be nothing to do in Moscow , ” Sobyanin said Wednesday .
“ So it ’ s better to stay home @ @

Putin announced the paid holiday between March 30 and April 5 as part of social and economic measures he unveiled in his first public address since Russia confirmed its first coronavirus infection over a month ago.
The popular southern Russian resort city of Sochi has asked Muscovites to stay away during a week-long nationwide holiday that President Vladimir Putin declared in a move to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Alexei Kopaygorodsky, the mayor of Sochi, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 2014, urged guests and residents to avoid his city during that period.
“I ask all residents to refrain from visiting public places in the coming days for your health and for the common good,” Kopaygorodsky wrote on his VKontakte page Wednesday.
“I separately request potential resort guests to treat the situation with understanding and not visit Sochi for at least next week,” he added.
The Krasnodar region where Sochi is situated has suspended access to nightclubs, cinemas, food courts, swimming pools and other public spaces until further notice.
Sochi has confirmed five coronavirus cases in the city. Russia’s overall coronavirus cases jumped to 840 after the largest day-to-day increase on Thursday.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has also asked Russians from other regions to avoid traveling to the Russian capital after ordering the closure of recreational centers and nightclubs. The mayor later ordered the city’s shops, with the exception of pharmacies and grocery stores, restaurants, cafes and bars to close from March 28 until April 5.
“There’ll be nothing to do in Moscow,” Sobyanin said Wednesday. “So it’s better to stay home.”


themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--‘Nuclear Reaction’: Russian Medics Warn of ‘Explosive’ Coronavirus Spread

As of Thursday , Russia has confirmed 840 cases of coronavirus and three deaths .
Wednesday and Thursday saw Russia ’ s largest one-day increases in new cases as Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned President Vladimir Putin that the real number of cases is likely much higher than official numbers suggest .
Russian doctors are preparing for an “ explosive ” escalation of the coronavirus situation across the country as the country ’ s number of cases began to increase exponentially , Moscow ’ s top infectious diseases specialist said Wednesday .
Nikolai Malyshev , the chief infectious diseases specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an `` explosive development like a nuclear reaction '' is not out of the question , suggesting that `` a huge number of people will be infected . ''
`` At first , we saw an linear increase of patients .
But now it is exponential .
Over the past day , the infection rate has almost tripled , '' the RBC news website quoted Malyshev as saying in a television interview .
Malyshev said that new hospitals and beds are being readied across Russia to prepare for the potential influx of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia will suspend all regular and charter flights to other countries in an effort to slow the spread of the infection within its borders , while Moscow will close all restaurants , cafes , non-essential shops and parks for a week starting Saturday .
President Vladimir Putin declared that next week will be a national holiday to encourage people to stay at home – a move that observers have criticized as an ineffective measure to stop the pandemic ’ s spread .

As of Thursday, Russia has confirmed 840 cases of coronavirus and three deaths. Wednesday and Thursday saw Russia’s largest one-day increases in new cases as Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned President Vladimir Putin that the real number of cases is likely much higher than official numbers suggest.
Russian doctors are preparing for an “explosive” escalation of the coronavirus situation across the country as the country’s number of cases began to increase exponentially, Moscow’s top infectious diseases specialist said Wednesday.
Nikolai Malyshev, the chief infectious diseases specialist in the Moscow Health Ministry, warned that an "explosive development like a nuclear reaction" is not out of the question, suggesting that "a huge number of people will be infected."
"At first, we saw an linear increase of patients. But now it is exponential. Over the past day, the infection rate has almost tripled," the RBC news website quoted Malyshev as saying in a television interview.
Malyshev said that new hospitals and beds are being readied across Russia to prepare for the potential influx of new cases.
Starting March 27, Russia will suspend all regular and charter flights to other countries in an effort to slow the spread of the infection within its borders, while Moscow will close all restaurants, cafes, non-essential shops and parks for a week starting Saturday.
President Vladimir Putin declared that next week will be a national holiday to encourage people to stay at home – a move that observers have criticized as an ineffective measure to stop the pandemic’s spread.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--Moscow to Shut Cafes, Shops in 'Unprecedented' Virus Measure

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced a non-working week from March 28 to April 5 to keep Russians at home .
But the measures imposed by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin take the president 's measures a step further .
Moscow will close cafes , shops , parks and other non-essential services for one week starting Saturday , its mayor said Thursday , in an `` unprecedented '' move to fight the spread of coronavirus .
Sobyanin had already ordered Muscovites aged over 65 to stay home starting Thursday , but stopped short of ordering a strict quarantine .
The closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is a serious measure to prevent COVID-19 , '' the mayor said in a statement on his website .
All cafes and restaurants must stop admitting customers and may only deliver food or prepare orders to go , according to the decree .
Stores selling non-essential items must close , as well as beauty salons and spas .
Moscow 's parks will also shut .
The mayor first hinted at the new measures in a televised interview Wednesday evening , saying `` there will be nothing to do in Moscow '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today are unprecedented in Moscow 's modern history and will create many inconveniences , '' Sobyanin said in his message Thursday .
`` But trust me , they are absolutely necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus infection and decrease the number of the ill , '' he said , also asking Russians from other regions to put off travel to the capital .
Moscow registered two coronavirus-linked deaths on Wednesday , the first nationally .
A total of 840 cases have been recorded nationwide , according to official statistics on Thursday @

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced a non-working week from March 28 to April 5 to keep Russians at home. But the measures imposed by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin take the president's measures a step further.
Moscow will close cafes, shops, parks and other non-essential services for one week starting Saturday, its mayor said Thursday, in an "unprecedented" move to fight the spread of coronavirus.
Sobyanin had already ordered Muscovites aged over 65 to stay home starting Thursday, but stopped short of ordering a strict quarantine.
The closures announced Thursday "are not a holiday, it is a serious measure to prevent COVID-19," the mayor said in a statement on his website.
All cafes and restaurants must stop admitting customers and may only deliver food or prepare orders to go, according to the decree.
Stores selling non-essential items must close, as well as beauty salons and spas. Moscow's parks will also shut.
The mayor first hinted at the new measures in a televised interview Wednesday evening, saying "there will be nothing to do in Moscow" next week.
"The restrictions ordered today are unprecedented in Moscow's modern history and will create many inconveniences," Sobyanin said in his message Thursday.
"But trust me, they are absolutely necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus infection and decrease the number of the ill," he said, also asking Russians from other regions to put off travel to the capital.
Moscow registered two coronavirus-linked deaths on Wednesday, the first nationally. A total of 840 cases have been recorded nationwide, according to official statistics on Thursday.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--Champion of Murmansk Media Quits Over Censorship

Vyacheslav Gorodetsky says he can not accept the authorities ’ growing interference in local journalism .
Gorodetsky is a veteran in Murmansk media .
In 2005 he established the B-Port , a news agency that has developed into a leading newsmaker in the north Russian region .
Since then , much has changed in regional journalism .
On March 25 , the director and editor-in-chief announced that he is leaving the company he created almost 15 years ago .
The reason is growing censorship from regional authorities , he explains in a post on Facebook .
`` The situation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing , and not in a good direction , '' Gorodetsky says .
`` The opinions and posts that are published on our site suddenly have become unwanted and a source of irritation , '' he adds .
According to the editor , his news agency is now increasingly often contacted `` from above '' and told to remove or change content .
He argues that there have appeared `` absurd prohibitions and strange limitations '' and that it now is considered `` undesired '' to express personal opinions that diverge from settled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to deliver content , but now without Gorodetsky .
`` Over many years I have invested not only power and resources , but also parts of my soul .
And of course I will not allow my soul to be wiped by my feet . ''
According to MMK News , Gorodetsky owns the B-Port together with regional politician Igor Morar .
Reportedly , a recent issue of conflict has been the news agency ’ s coverage of the coronavirus .

Vyacheslav Gorodetsky says he can not accept the authorities’ growing interference in local journalism.
Gorodetsky is a veteran in Murmansk media. In 2005 he established the B-Port, a news agency that has developed into a leading newsmaker in the north Russian region.
Since then, much has changed in regional journalism.
On March 25, the director and editor-in-chief announced that he is leaving the company he created almost 15 years ago. The reason is growing censorship from regional authorities, he explains in a post on Facebook.
"The situation is such that our news arena is rapidly changing, and not in a good direction," Gorodetsky says.
"The opinions and posts that are published on our site suddenly have become unwanted and a source of irritation," he adds.
According to the editor, his news agency is now increasingly often contacted "from above" and told to remove or change content.
He argues that there have appeared "absurd prohibitions and strange limitations" and that it now is considered "undesired" to express personal opinions that diverge from settled truths.
The news team at B-Port will continue to deliver content, but now without Gorodetsky.
"Over many years I have invested not only power and resources, but also parts of my soul. And of course I will not allow my soul to be wiped by my feet."
According to MMK News, Gorodetsky owns the B-Port together with regional politician Igor Morar. Reportedly, a recent issue of conflict has been the news agency’s coverage of the coronavirus.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--80% of Russia’s Coronavirus Aid to Italy ‘Useless’ – La Stampa

Around 80 % of the coronavirus supplies that Russia has sent to Italy are “ useless , ” the country ’ s La Stampa daily reported Wednesday , citing high-level political sources .
Russia sent 600 ventilators and 100 military virologists and epidemiologists to Italy following talks between President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte last Saturday .
Footage of Russian military trucks en route from Rome to the coronavirus epicenter of Bergamo circulated online this week .
“ Eighty percent of Russian supplies are totally useless or of little use to Italy .
In short , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” an unnamed source told La Stampa .
The source said the Russian supplies consist of disinfection equipment , a field laboratory for sterilization and chemical prevention , and other similar tools .
La Stampa ’ s sources claimed that Putin is pursuing geopolitical and diplomatic opportunities with the aid package dubbed “ From Russia With Love , ” while Conte accepted the aid in order to secure a good personal relationship with Moscow .
“ Such assertions are the product of a perverse mind .
A selfless desire to help a friendly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Razov told Russia ’ s state-run RIA Novosti news agency .
With more than 7,500 victims and 74,000 overall cases , Italy has recorded more coronavirus-related deaths than any other country .

Around 80% of the coronavirus supplies that Russia has sent to Italy are “useless,” the country’s La Stampa daily reported Wednesday, citing high-level political sources. Russia sent 600 ventilators and 100 military virologists and epidemiologists to Italy following talks between President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte last Saturday. Footage of Russian military trucks en route from Rome to the coronavirus epicenter of Bergamo circulated online this week.
“Eighty percent of Russian supplies are totally useless or of little use to Italy. In short, this is little more than a pretext,” an unnamed source told La Stampa. The source said the Russian supplies consist of disinfection equipment, a field laboratory for sterilization and chemical prevention, and other similar tools. La Stampa’s sources claimed that Putin is pursuing geopolitical and diplomatic opportunities with the aid package dubbed “From Russia With Love,” while Conte accepted the aid in order to secure a good personal relationship with Moscow.


themoscowtimes--2020-03-26--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Jump to 840

Russia's Coronavirus Cases Jump to 840

Russia ’ s officially reported numbers — which are still smaller than those in European countries — have sparked suspicion @ @ @ @ @ past week .
Experts warn that Russia 's testing capacity is hampered by bureaucracy , @ @ @ @ @ real number of cases is likely much higher .
Most of the new cases , @ @ @ @ @ .
This week , Moscow changed the way it counts its coronavirus cases , with @ @ @ @ @ single positive test rather than having samples sent to a lab Novosibirsk for further verification @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-related deaths so far .
Worldwide , the virus has infected more than 460,000 people @ @ @ @ @ .

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.