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Coronavirus pandemic

Moscow extends coronavirus restrictions for another week

The city’s colleges, sports schools and supplementary educational facilities will remain on remote learning

© AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. The Moscow authorities have decided to extend coronavirus restrictions for another week, until January 21, the city’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog on Thursday.

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According to Sobyanin, the city’s colleges, sports schools and supplementary educational facilities will remain on remote learning or on holiday breaks.

"All other restrictions are extended until Thursday, January 21," the mayor said. In particular, elderly people and those from at-risk groups need to continue self-isolating and employers should make sure that at least 30% of their personnel continue telecommuting. Eating facilities should close at 11:00 pm.

Sobyanin said that about 7,600 beds for coronavirus patients were vacant in Moscow. The number of hospitalizations did not decline during the holiday season, the mayor noted, adding that over 13,000 coronavirus patients remained hospitalized in the city.

Sobyanin emphasized that coronavirus restrictions might be eased in the near future. "Experts believe that the trends will become clearer in the coming days, allowing us to make long-term decisions. If the situation does not deteriorate and the stabilizing trend holds, we will consider easing a number of restrictions," the Moscow mayor said.

Sobyanin reiterated his call for Moscow’s companies "to strictly follow sanitary doctors’ advice" and for Moscow residents to use face masks and abide by social distancing rules. "And please, don’t put off a decision on vaccination. The sooner herd immunity is established, the sooner the city will return to normal life," the mayor concluded.

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