Putin: Regions want to avoid lockdown with new restrictions

MOSCOW, Jun 30 (PRIME) -- Russia’s regions have introduced their new coronavirus restrictions in order to avoid a full-scale lockdown, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during a Q&A session.

“Actions of our colleagues in 10 different regions were aimed at avoiding a lockdown, when companies are closed, people are left without jobs and wages, when small and medium sized entrepreneurs go bankrupt, and when people’s incomes fall,” he said.

In introducing mandatory vaccination for some people, the heads of Russian regions complied with a 1998 law on the immune protection of people. The first part of the law says the national schedule of vaccinations is mandatory, while the second part says that chief sanitary officers of regions are allowed to introduce mandatory vaccinations for some categories of people during epidemics.

“This was the article of the law … that the heads used to introduce mandatory vaccination for certain categories from the so-called risk groups. This was done under the 1998 law. There is no mess here in Russia, everyone acts in the framework of the law,” he said.

It is only possible to prevent further spread of the pandemic through vaccination, Putin said, adding that he hoped that Russians’ prejudice against the anti-coronavirus vaccines will subside.

However, it is illegal for the employers to force their employees vaccinate against the COVID-19 if the employees have a medical exemption, he said.

Putin refused to disclose what vaccine he used to vaccinate saying he was asked to keep silent  to avoid unfair competitive advantages for the vaccines.

Russia also plans to invest in a rehabilitation system for the people that suffered from the coronavirus.

“We are now going to invest serious money, we’ve earmarked special funds for the rehabilitation system. We will start signing contracts for acquisition of necessary equipment r now. The thing is that special equipment is necessary for rehabilitation after the COVID, as the COVID hits blood vessels, respiratory organs, and other systems of an organism,” he said.

End %%md/jst%%