Putin orders govt to mull lifting COVID restrictions after May 12

MOSCOW, Apr 28 (PRIME) -- President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered the Russian government and the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Oversight to prepare recommendations before May 5 on gradual lifting of the coronavirus restrictions starting from May 12.

“I order the government and the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Oversight in contact with the State Council’s working group to prepare recommendations in a week, by May 5, including the criteria and parameters for a gradual lifting of the restriction regime starting from May 12. This will obviously depend on the current epidemiologic situation and on its consistent forecast,” he said in an online conference.

The Russian regions should receive these recommendation in advance so they have some room for action and for making decisions on their own to soften restrictions, including the lockdown and resumption of work of industrial companies and companies in the services, trade, constructions, agriculture sectors and others. Still, it will be a long process, he said.

Putin also ordered the government and the regional authorities to prepare a national plan for restoration of the economy.

“I ask the government to start work on a large-scale national plan of actions together with regions and the business to normalize business activities, to restore employment, people’s incomes, and economic growth,” he said, adding that work should be started immediately so that the authorities are able to launch the plan simultaneously with gradual lifting of the coronavirus restrictions.

The plan should ensure long-term structural changes in the Russian economy taking into account the new reality, he said.

He also ordered the government to work out new emergency measures to support the economy and people as soon as possible.

Stabilization of the coronavirus situation should not calm the authorities as the situation remains difficult. The stricter the people comply with the lockdown requirements, the faster the situation will pass, he said. The coronavirus is deadly dangerous, it may hurt anyone, he said.

The authorities have fulfilled the plan for creation of hospital beds, but this is not the reason to stop working and to think that everything possible has been done. The regions should continue accumulating resources and raising readiness of the regional healthcare authorities, he said.

Russia managed to start production of many types of medicines from scratch during the pandemic. Production of medical masks soared more than tenfold, he said, adding that Russia mobilized industrial resources as well. Still, Putin ordered the government and the Industry and Trade Ministry to continue working on raising the output of necessary goods every day.

The government allocated staggering money to fight the pandemic, and the governors of regions are personally responsible for support of the economy.

He also said that May 6 through May 8 will be paid days offs in addition to the Day of Spring and Labor and the Victory Day holidays. Nevertheless, the governors should continue working, he said.

COVID-19 SITUATION

Anna Popova, head of the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Oversight, said that the restrictions that the government introduced allowed the country to contain spreading of the COVID-19 virus and win some time.

Over the past month, new coronavirus cases’ appearance in Russia slowed down by 71.5%, she said.

“Over the past month, dynamics of the infection cases growth slowed down by 3.5 times, it is a result of the month of measures that were introduced under your decree, (the growth in infection cases) fell to slightly more than 7% from 27%,” she said, adding that only 15% of the people that contracted the coronavirus are over 65.

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