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Coronavirus pandemic

Putin warns governors against "rosy reports" on coronavirus

After his meeting with the government on Wednesday, the president addressed the regional governors, reminding them that they had been given broad powers to implement the measures against the novel disease

NOVO-OGARYOVO, November 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reminded the regional governors of their responsibility for well-timed decisions amid the fight against coronavirus and warned them against attempts to sugarcoat the facts in "rosy reports."

After his meeting with the government on Wednesday, the president addressed the regional governors, reminding them that they had been given broad powers to implement the measures against the novel disease.

"Nobody has removed this personal responsibility for, I hope, the decisions taken in due time or for those not taken. And certainly, in no way should you try to sugarcoat the situation, as it is totally inadmissible to pretend that everything is alright. Neither here in the center, nor on the ground do we need rosy reports or the veil of silence," Putin said.

The president mentioned the information from the All-Russia People’s Front which says that Russians face such problems in regions as shortages of medicines and long waits for a doctor’s visit or for the arrival of an ambulance.

"The task for all the regional heads is to persistently, daily and even hourly find prompt solutions to emerging problems and to constantly keep sight of all the fields in the fight against the epidemic as well as of key issues of the health institutions’ operation," Putin said adding that it involves both the treatment for COVID-19 patients and the planned treatments, including for patients with chronic diseases.

Putin demanded that in case of any disruption, "the response must follow immediately and the situation must be remedied urgently."

According to the president, the overwhelming majority of health workers in Russia "do their duty courageously and professionally, go above and beyond [the call of duty] and risk their lives to help people."

"It is unacceptable when their tremendous efforts and the hardest labors are being devalued because of managerial sloppiness, the inability to work like clockwork so as to ensure them with everything they need. The health workers’ needs must be attended to without red tape," the Russian president concluded.

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