Russia easing lockdown despite surging cases
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS
- In Brief
12 May 2020
by Alex Teddy
On May 11 Putin said the lockdown would be eased for most people. The president claimed that the lockdown had allowed the health service to get more equipment. It begs the question why Russia was sending the doctors and aid to other countries when Russia has shortages. In Moscow the lockdown has been prolonged until May 31. People in the capital have to wear masks and gloves on public transport and shops. In Moscow people are only allowed out for short trips to buy essentials.On May 12 Russia's new coronavirus cases increased by almost 11,000. The total number is 232,000. Russia has the 3rd highest number in the world. The rate of new infections is behind only the USA. Over 2,100 people in Russia have died from the disease. The high number of cases is partly due to large scale testing detecting asymptomatic cases. Russia's mortality rate from the disease is only 1%. Some have attributed the low death rate to the relative lack of nursing homes for the elderly, and some possible outside factors such as the BCG vaccination program.
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