Putin lifts Russia’s shutdown, but keeps many restrictions

President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared an end to a partial ecomic shutdown across Russia due to coronavirus pandemic, but he said that many restrictions will remain in place.

In a televised address to nation, Putin said it will be up to regional goverrs in far-flung country to determine what industrial plants could reopen starting Tuesday. He emphasized that it’s essential to preserve jobs and keep ecomy running, provided that workers strictly observe sanitary rms.

“ nationwide nworking regime is coming to an end,” a somber-looking Putin said. “Gradually, and very carefully, we are starting to ease restrictions.”

Putin also said regional authorities should consider allowing people to take walks and exercise wherever and whenever possible. He emphasized that all mass garings will remain prohibited and ted that it’s essential for all Russians who are older than 65 or have chronic illnesses to continue staying home.

Since outbreak began, Putin has given Russia’s regions broad authority to determine ir own coronavirus strategies, arguing that situation in various localities differs widely. Kremlin critics have described that policy as an attempt to shift responsibility for high number of infections and bruising ecomic dam from outbreak.

Putin had ordered ecomic shutdown in late March, although key industrial plants and some or sectors were allowed to continue operating. Most Russians have been ordered to stay home, except for shopping in nearby stores and pharmacies and visits to doctors.

Putin’s decision to ease restrictions comes as Russia registered a daily record of over 11,600 new infections in last 24 hours, more than half of m in Moscow. That has brought national total to more than 221,000 cases — world’s fourth-highest after United States, Spain and Britain — including about 2,000 deaths.

Some observers say official statistics reflect just a fraction of real numbers and pointed out that actual death toll could be significantly higher. Unlike United States, Italy and some or countries, Russian totals don’t include some of deaths of those who tested positive for coronavirus. Those with chronic illnesses who died are counted separately, even if y had virus.

Doctors across Russia also have decried shorts of protective equipment and questionable infection control procedures at hospitals, and hundreds of medical workers have gotten infected.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said last week that up to 2.5% of capital’s 12.7 million residents, or about 300,000 people, could have been infected.

Sobyanin and or Russian officials have argued that increased number of cases reflects wider testing and ted that nearly half of those infected have slight symptoms or ne at all. y argued that lockdown has helped avert a surge in number of gravely ill and so far prevented hospitals from being overwhelmed.

Putin said that in recent weeks Russia has increased capacity of hospitals treating coronavirus patients from 29,000 to 130,000 and has a sufficient reserve of ventilators.

He said number of tests performed daily will increase from 170,000 to 300,000 by mid-May.

Regarding lifting of restrictions, he argued that a “single pattern can’t be applied, as in some regions certain actions may raise risks, while in ors y may result in unwarranted restrictions.”

“I repeat, lifting restrictions will t come fast,” Putin added. “We mustn’t allow a fallback, a new wave of epidemic and a rise in grave cases.”

Moscow has taken lead in allowing all of its industrial plants and construction sites to resume work starting Tuesday, and Putin said or regions might want to follow suit. Still closed in capital are hairdressers, car dealers, stores or than food shops and most or service sector businesses. But in some of Russia’s provinces, some of those businesses already have been allowed to reopen.

Putin emphasized that restrictions must be lifted gradually to avoid triggering a new wave of contagion. He said that he fully understands public’s desire to return to rmal life, but he warned that caution is essential.

“I realize that patience is running out to observe restrictions, but getting infected is much worth than that,” he said.

A large part of his speech was devoted to outlining new measures to soften devastating ecomic impact of outbreak. Putin, who has faced criticism for failing to offer tangible help to population as well as small and medium businesses hurt in health crisis, anunced a pack of new support measures.

He said unemployment has doubled to 1.4 million, and said that government will subsidize loans to encour businesses to keep as many of ir employees as possible. He also anunced tax breaks for businesses and various additional payments to families with children and for or categories of population.