With new COVID-19 cases in Russia at an all-time high, Putin ordered a night curfew

According to Russia Today (RT), the Russian government has banned bars, clubs and restaurants from opening at night as part of a nationwide measure to reduce the surge in coronavirus infections and record deaths.

Russia Today (RT) reports with image

In a list of directives signed by President Vladimir Putin on Sunday (October 24), senior Russian officials were ordered to take a series of new public health measures. These include "the prohibition of entertainment in the evenings and at night, as well as the provision of hospitality services". According to the directive, venues must be closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.

The Russian government must now report to the Kremlin by Nov. 30, after which the regulations will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Some regions of Russia introduced similar regulations at the beginning of the year in response to a sharp rise in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and Moscow and St. Petersburg also implemented similar measures again this summer, completely removing restrictions after the epidemic slowed down.

On Monday (October 25), Russian officials reported that a total of 37,930 covid-19-positive cases had been recorded in the past 24 hours, the highest number since the outbreak began last year. At least 1,069 deaths were also recorded, close to the all-time high recorded last week.

Putin has signed up to a plan to extend the national holiday, with some districts telling workers to rest at home for at least an extra week with full pay. Meanwhile, shops, bars, restaurants and other non-essential shops in Moscow have been told to close completely, and Putin said the country must "break the chain of virus transmission."

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told citizens: "The status quo is in line with the worst-case scenario envisioned. In the coming days, we will reach a historic peak in the incidence of COVID-19. All enterprises and organizations in the city of Moscow should suspend their work, except those that ensure the operation of the city's infrastructure, those that work continuously, and those whose activities are necessary and cannot be interrupted. (Edit: SDY)