Putin says Russia isn’t planning to introduce a second coronavirus lockdown

The Russian government isn’t planning to introduce severe restrictions due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus in the country, said President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on Wednesday, October 21.

“Regarding the possibility of severe, total, restrictive measures. We aren’t planning to do this. The government doesn’t have any such plans,” Putin confirmed.

During the meeting, the businessmen also asked the president not to introduce a nationwide lockdown. In response, Putin underscored that targeted restrictions will remain in place in the near future, since they have proven effective.

• Russia was under a nationwide lockdown from the end of March until mid-May: the majority of enterprises were closed and their workers were forcibly sent home. According to official recommendations, Russia’s residents were only supposed to leave their homes to go to stores selling essential goods or to visit pharmacies.
• Russian officials at various levels have said repeatedly that they are not planning another lockdown in light of the coronavirus pandemic’s second wave.
• In Europe, two countries — the Czech Republic and Ireland — introduced nationwide lockdowns in October.