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Putin Lengthens Lockdown As Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Surpass China

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This article is more than 3 years old.
Updated Apr 28, 2020, 04:17pm EDT

TOPLINE

With Russia recording a new daily high in its number of new coronavirus cases and deaths on Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin extended the country’s lockdown measures for another two weeks, warning that the worst of the outbreak is still to come.

KEY FACTS

In a televised speech on Tuesday, Putin made his most somber comments on the outbreak to date, saying that a “hard and difficult path lies ahead,” with Russia not yet reaching a peak in infections.

Russia reported a record 6,411 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the nationwide total to 93,558. That means Russia now has the eighth-worst outbreak worldwide, surpassing the number of cases both in China, where the outbreak started, and in Iran.

Another 72 people died from the virus on Tuesday, with the total number of fatalities rising to 867—though that’s fewer than many other of the most affected countries, Reuters noted.

The Russian president announced that he would be extending the country’s national lockdown, which had been set to expire Thursday, until May 11; He also directed his government to begin preparing guidelines for a “phased exit” and eventual reopening.

Putin ordered officials to begin work on a new “package of urgent measures to support the economy,” which would be the third plan so far: Russia has already spent nearly 3 trillion roubles, or $40 billion, on emergency support to soften the impact of the virus.

The Russian government has faced criticism for its chaotic handling of the crisis so far, however, with hospitals overflowing and an apparent lack of medical equipment.

Putin has delivered mixed messages on the virus: On April 14, for example, he admitted that Russia was having “a lot of problems,” but five days later, he said that everything was “under full control.”

Tangent

In his speech on Tuesday, Putin acknowledged the “deficit of some items,” including medical equipment like PPE. He said Russia has ramped up production recently, and ordered his government to increase those rates further.

Key background

Russia originally shut its border with China in late January, before putting major cities on lockdown on March 30. It had initially reported less cases than other major European countries in the early weeks of the pandemic, until the recent surge in new infections over the last few days. As part of the government’s economic response, it has been proposed that big banks pursue more aggressive state debt purchases in order to fund budget shortfalls and stem the hit from coronavirus.

Crucial quote

“Ahead of us is a new stage, perhaps the most intense stage of the fight against the epidemic,” Putin said on Tuesday. “The risks of getting infected are at the highest level, and the threat, the mortal danger of the virus persists.”

Big number: 5%.

That’s how much analysts forecast the Russian economy will contract this year. According to Reuters, the lockdown measures are reducing the country’s annual GDP by 0.5% each week they’re in effect.

Further reading 

Can Putin’s Russia Survive Weak Oil And The Coronavirus? (Forbes)

Look For Russia To Further Cut Oil Production (Forbes)

Putin Admits Need For ‘Extraordinary Measures’ As New Coronavirus Cases Rise In Russia (Forbes)

Russia In Coronavirus Lockdown: Soaring Vodka Sales And Improvised Ballet (Forbes)

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