Moscow (dpa) - Despite the dramatic situation in the corona crisis, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has declared the nationwide non-working period to be over. However, some restrictions remain.
Putin announced on Monday at an online conference broadcast on state television. Non-working time was introduced at the end of March.
Putin promised extensive financial aid to families with children. According to this, there should be a payment of over 10,000 rubles (125 euros) for every child aged three to 16 years. Smaller companies in sectors affected by the crisis should be exempt from some taxes.
As of Tuesday, half a million people will be working in Moscow again. For example, construction sites and industrial plants are allowed to open in the capital. Shops remain closed. In addition, in many cities, gloves and protective masks are mandatory in transport and supermarkets. Putin had left the regulations in detail to the respective regions.
However, many Muscovites have to wait until they can go to the hairdresser, for example. There have been strict curfews for weeks. Anyone who has to go to work needs a special permit from the city.
Russia has a very sharp increase in the number of infections. According to the authorities, another 11,600 new cases were added on Monday - a new daily high. Half of it was in the capital Moscow. This means that 221,344 people across the country are now infected with the virus.
According to figures from the US University John Hopkins, Russia has now reached the level of Italy and Great Britain in the total number of infections reported. Most cases are in the United States.
People over 65 years of age and with chronic illnesses must continue to stay at home in Russia. The 67-year-old Putin called this self-isolation. In Germany, politics had always spoken out against discrimination against older people. Putin also reaffirmed surcharges for medical personnel after complaints about non-counted help.
The number of deaths in Russia on Monday was given as 2009. This is low compared to other countries that are severely affected. Physicians had explained this by stating that other causes of death, such as pneumonia, were indicated on the death certificates - only clear Covid 19 deaths were reported as such.
Corona statistics Russia