The Latest: Moscow mayor lifts some coronavirus restrictions
MOSCOW — Moscow's mayor on Wednesday lifted some coronavirus restrictions in the Russian capital, citing a downward trend in new infections.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said starting Wednesday, employers are no longer required to have 30% of staff work from home, although a recommendation to continue doing that remains. Sobyanin has also allowed cafes, restaurants and bars to operate between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“Over the past week, the number of new infections didn’t exceed 2,000-3,000 a day ... More than 50% of beds in coronavirus hospitals are free for the first time since mid-June,” Sobyanin said. “The pandemic is on the decline ... and it’s our duty to create conditions for the economy to recover as fast as possible.”
The number of new coronavirus infections reported by Russian authorities has been on the decline this month, dropping from up to 25,000 a day in early January to under 20,000 this week. In Moscow, the number of daily new infections dropped to under 2,000 on Wednesday, from roughly 5,000 two weeks ago.
Russia has reported a total of 3.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases and over 70,000 deaths in the pandemic. In December, Russian authorities launched a vaccination campaign with the domestically developed Sputnik V jab, that is still undergoing advanced trials to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
___
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— AstraZeneca and EU to meet in Brussels to talk over vaccine production delays
— French drugmaker Sanofi to produce coronavirus vaccines of its rival Pfizer s ince its own vaccine won't be ready until late 2021
— U.S. boosting vaccine deliveries amid complaints of shortages
— U.K. becomes first country in Europe to pass 100,000 coronavirus deaths
— IOC, Tokyo Olympics to unveil rule book for beating...