Vladimir Putin announced non-working days from October 30 to November 7

President Putin today discussed the epidemiological situation in the country with the government. Due to the difficult situation with the coronavirus, the head of state declared the days from October 30 to November 7 non-working days, traditionally with pay.

The meeting with government members was broadcast by Rossiya 24. Putin agreed to introduce non-working days from October 30 to November 7. But if necessary, the regions can introduce a non-working regime from October 23 and extend it after November 7. The President stated that the level of vaccination remains low, and called on citizens to “actively get vaccinated.”

to announce non-working days the day before Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova proposed due to the increase in the incidence of coronavirus. At today's meeting, First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov announced measures to support business, but did not propose anything new: just like last year, small and medium-sized businesses will be able to receive a payment in the amount of the minimum wage per employee and apply for a preferential loan at 3%.

Later on Wednesday, Putin signed a decree on non-working days from October 30 to November 7, while maintaining the salaries of workers.

How will this affect the economy

The decision on non-working days at the beginning of November fits into the logic of “lengthening the holidays” that has already become traditional for the Russian authorities. In May 2021, Vladimir Putin declared May 4-7 non-working days between the May holidays. And a month later, Sergei Sobyanin introduced a “long weekend” in Moscow on June 12-20 (four non-working days were added to the calendar holidays and the Day of Russia).

The only hard lockdown announced in 2020 lasted 42 days (from March 30 to May 11) and, according to ING economist Dmitry Dolgin, cost Russia about 1% of annual GDP. Non-working days in a flexible format, which the government now coincides with the holiday (November 4-7, 2021, and so fall on the weekend associated with the Day of National Unity), will not have such an impact on the economy. According to ACRA estimates, the direct potential effect on business activity will be only 0.05–0.35% of annual GDP.

But Dolgin calls the very fact of the worsening epidemiological situation a risk factor for the economy, which the Central Bank will take into account at a meeting at the key rate on October 22 with a potential decision to tighten monetary policy. It is possible that in the long term, the deterioration of the situation with the coronavirus will be perceived as an obstacle to economic growth, which “limits the medium-term potential for a rate increase.”

What restrictions were introduced in Moscow

On the eve of the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers with Putin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated a new period of growth in the incidence of COVID-19 in the capital: "Compared to August of this year, the number of detected cases of infection has increased 4 times - up to 42 thousand cases per week." New restrictions have been introduced in the city:

• Home regime for unvaccinated Muscovites over 60 and people suffering from chronic diseases for the period from October 25, 2021 to February 25, 2022. Those who work among them can apply for sick leave. Walks and physical education in the fresh air are not limited.
• Transfer of at least 30% of employees to remote work, as well as all employees over 60 years of age and suffering from chronic diseases for the period from October 25, 2021 to February 25, 2022. An exception is provided for those whose presence is critical to the organization. The requirement also does not apply to those who have been vaccinated and recovered from the coronavirus, as well as to employees of medical organizations, defense industry enterprises, Rosatom, Roskosmos and some other industries.
• Businesses and organizations in the service sector must ensure vaccination of at least 80% (the previous threshold was 60%) of the total number of employees by 2022.

Moscow maintains its leadership in the growth of cases of coronavirus - 5847 over the past day. According to Sobyanin, the situation with the incidence of coronavirus among the older generation is of the greatest concern. According to the mayor, out of 3 million Muscovites over 60 years old, only 1.14 million were vaccinated against COVID-19.

What's in the regions

Almost all regions have introduced mandatory vaccination of employees in areas that require constant contact with other people. As of 13:15 Moscow time on October 20, only Ingushetia did not introduce or announce such measures, follows from the RBC infographic. The QR code system is being actively tested in the Volga region.

During a meeting of the president with members of the government, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova called critical mortality from coronavirus in 18 regions. The rise in the incidence in Russia, according to her, is associated with insufficient rates of vaccination and non-compliance with restrictive measures. Last week, the country's incidence rate was 151.4 per 100,000 population (15.5% higher than a week earlier), and the proportion of hospital beds for patients with coronavirus was 86.6%, Golikova said.