NOVO-OGARYOVO, March 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his representatives in the federal districts to pool efforts with the regional authorities to keep the prices of foods and medicines hygiene items under control and prevent shortages in retail trade.
"We’ve created the necessary reserve of essentials. Yet I am asking you to keep an eye on the current state of affairs and to take joint action with your colleagues in regions to prevent local shortages in the retail trade segment and, which is very important for the people, to keep under control the prices of foods, medicines, hygiene items and other goods that are in great demand today," Putin told his representatives in federal districts.
He stressed it was essential to rule out any attempts to restrict the flows of goods among regions, adding that Russia experienced such incidents in its recent past.
"I would like to stress that our country is one large family, but there is no family without a black sheep. This is why I am asking you to prevent any profiteering and attempts at price hikes," Putin said.
In Russia, a total of 1,836 novel coronavirus cases have been registered as of March 30. Sixty six patients have recovered and nine died. Most of those infected are in Moscow (1,226 cases). The Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public informed about the coronavirus situation.