BFF-33 Putin says no plans for lockdown despite record cases

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ZCZC

BFF-33

HEALTH-VIRUS-RUSSIA

Putin says no plans for lockdown despite record cases

MOSCOW, Oct 29, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – President Vladimir Putin said on
Thursday there were no plans to introduce a nationwide lockdown in
Russia as the country set a record for new coronavirus infections and
fatalities.

“We clearly understand how to act and therefore we are not planning
to introduce sweeping restrictive measures, to launch a so-called
nationwide lockdown, when the economy and business operations
practically stop,” he told an investment forum.

Earlier Thursday, the government announced an aid package worth 11
billion roubles ($138.6 million) for the country’s regions which have
been overwhelmed by a rapid increase in cases.

The support was announced amid reports of ambulance queues at
hospitals, shortages of medical supplies and patients bringing their
own beds to hospital.

At a meeting with Putin on Wednesday, deputy prime minister Tatyana
Golikova described the situation in 16 regions as “critical,” saying
that over 90 percent of hospital beds for coronavirus patients were
occupied.

Russia on Thursday set a record for new coronavirus cases and
deaths, with health officials reporting 17,717 new infections and 366
fatalities.

Russia has the fourth-highest caseload in the world, with a total
of 1,581,693 recorded cases and 27,301 deaths.

BSS/AFP/MRU/2248hrs