MOSCOW (RUSSIA) – Residents of Moscow were once again able to return to museums and summer terraces on Tuesday for the first time in more than two months as the Russian capital relaxed more coronavirus curbs although the country continues to record over 1,000 new daily infections.
From Tuesday, museums, libraries and zoos in the city of nearly 13 million are reopening their doors with limitations on the number of visitors. Dentists are also getting back to business.
Authorities have given the nod for sporting events though spectators must take up no more than 10% of a given venue’s capacity.
Moscow began to ease restrictions last week, allowing residents to leave their homes, freely use public transport and travel across the city in their vehicles.
Critics have accused authorities of lifting restrictions too fast to pave the way for a nationwide vote on reforms that would allow President Vladimir Putin to contest for presidency twice after 2024 when his current term ends.
Voting will take place over a period of seven days, culminating on July 1. The Kremlin has denied decisions to ease restrictions were politically-motivated.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday it was time to further ease restrictions because the pandemic was on the wane and pressure on the city’s health system was easing.
Moscow has been the area worst-affected by the pandemic in Russia, which has the third highest number of cases in the world.
Moscow has recorded 208,680 infections and 3,386 fatalities.
Updated nationwide figures released on Tuesday said the overall tally of coronavirus cases across Russia had reached 545,458 and the total number of deaths 7,284, a much lower figure than many other countries.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
