Russia announces relaxation measures

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed on Monday a decree, relaxing the border restrictions.

Russian nationals will be allowed to travel abroad with the purpose of work, study and medical treatment, while the foreigners can enter Russia for medical treatment, Mishustin said at a video-conference with the government members.

But the prime minister did not specify when the changes come into effect although the day before the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation) has already requested a permission to resume international flights to 15 countries starting July 15.

Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced lifting of all major restrictions in the Russian capital in three steps.

From June 9, the digital passes are cancelled as well as self-isolation regime for everyone, including for people over 65, and the walks outside are permitted.

In addition, beauty salons, vet clinics, photo, video and sound studios, scientific institutions, recruitment agencies and car sharing services can resume their work.

Starting June 16, summer terraces of restaurants, dentist clinics, museums, exhibition halls, libraries, realtors, and advertisement agencies will be opened.

At the final stage planned for June 23, swimming pools, gyms, children gardens, restaurants and river cruises will be allowed.

Late May, the Russian government started to lift restrictions inside the country, saying the situation had stabilized and proceeded to measures of economic recovery.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced a three-phase plan to overcome the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, suggesting stabilization by the end of the year, complete restoration in the first half of 2021, and achieving sustainable growth in late 2021.

Also, he instructed the related government bodies to draft and submit to the government proposals on developing and strengthening Russian sanitary-epidemiological service in case of situations similar to the coronavirus outbreak.

The pandemic has claimed more than 403,200 lives in 188 countries and regions since originating in China last December. The US, Brazil and Russia are currently the world’s worst-hit countries.

Some 7.03 million cases have been reported worldwide, while over 3.15 million patients have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.