Moscow eases lockdown while cases surge

AUTHORITIES in Moscow, the centre of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, have begun easing its lockdown despite a surge in cases.

Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor, said shopping centres and all non-food shops would reopen, allowing approximately 300,000 Muscovites to return to work. However, residents were told yesterday that wearing a mask would be obligatory outside the home. Muscovites were also, for the first time in nine weeks, allowed out for walks and for limited exercise following a special “walking” schedule.

The schedule has been developed to eliminate crowds and reduce the risk of infection.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, recently said the situation has stabilised, and is eager to keep the economy going.

Tatiana Stanovaya, non-resident scholar at the Moscow Carnegie Centre and head of the R.politik political analyst firm, said Russian authorities believed the state had successfully countered the pandemic.

“When you listen to Putin it’s obvious how proud he is talking about success in fighting the virus. So even if the numbers grow, they explain it with larger testings and say that 40 per cent have no symptoms,” Ms Stanovaya said.

“The easing of the lockdown is a political decision, based on the belief that the state succeeded in countering the virus.”

Russia confirmed 9,035 new coronavirus cases yesterday, with more than 9,000 cases for the second day in a row.