The Moscow mayor's office called the easing of the self-isolation regime premature

The Moscow City Hall considers it premature to talk about the weakening of the self-isolation regime, Alexei Nemeryuk, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, said on the air of Ekho Moskvy.

“According to various estimates - experts, including our colleagues from the economic complex, called figures - in the region of 0.5 million people left from Tuesday, from the 12th, to their jobs. We speak with Rospotrebnadzor. In principle, they have some plans, of course, they have them, they are now forming them. But still, until about the 21st, 22nd, it’s premature to talk about the indulgences that could be in the near future, ”Nemeryuk said.

Nemeryuk said that even now the city is "quietly" starting to return to normal life, but "still you have to be very careful."

The self-isolation regime in Russia has been in effect since the end of March. In Moscow and the Moscow region, the authorities extended it until May 31, while from May 12 the work of industrial enterprises and companies in the construction sector is allowed. On May 15, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova , announced that Russia had stopped the rate of infection with the coronavirus.

The deputy head of the mayor's office also commented on the topic of masks in Moscow and the high prices for them (the BBC Russian Service reported that the authorities were selling masks and gloves with a markup of up to 1800%). According to Nemeryuk, the city needs about 4 million masks every day. Most of the masks do have a low cost (about 7 rubles apiece), but the authorities are handing them over to medical institutions. The rest of the masks are delivered from China at a different cost (about 26 rubles apiece). Nemeryuk also explained why the city does not give out masks for free, as authorities in other cities around the world do. “In the same Paris, a black market for masks and speculation arose at once. That is, if it is issued for free somewhere, then, accordingly, it immediately flows for free somewhere for a fee. That is, everyone has already gone through this, and this is not a proven fact by us, but world practice,” said Nemeryuk.