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Non-working period starts in capital

THE Russian capital has started a non-working period intended to stem coronavirus infections as new daily cases and deaths from Covid-19 surged to all-time highs.

The government coronavirus task force reported 1159 deaths in 24 hours, the largest daily tally since the pandemic began. The country’s official death toll from the pandemic, by far the highest in Europe, now stands at 235,057.

To slow the spread of the virus, Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a non-working period from tomorrow to November 7, when most state organisations and private businesses are to suspend operations. He encouraged the most affected regions to start sooner, and some ordered their residents off work earlier this week.

Moscow followed yesterday, shutting schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores, and allowing restaurants and cafes to only provide service for takeout or delivery. Food stores, pharmacies and companies operating key infrastructure remained open. Access to museums, theatres, concert halls and other venues is limited to people holding digital codes on their smartphones to prove they have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19, a practice that will remain in place after November 7.

Putin has also instructed local officials to close nightclubs and other entertainment venues and ordered unvaccinated people older than 60 to stay home.

The number of new daily cases in Russia rose by 40,096 yesterday, topping a previous record reached earlier this week. The government hopes the period will help curb the spread by keeping most people out of offices and public transportation.