Self-isolation regime in Moscow extended until May 31

MOSCOW - A self-isolation regime in Moscow introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus has been extended until May 31, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday.

"Temporary restrictions on the functioning of trade, public catering, services, culture, education, sports and other non-productive industries, as well as the regime of self-isolation of citizens, will be extended until May 31," Sobyanin said in a statement on his website.

It is still too early to open restaurants, theaters and sports facilities, he added.

"From May 12, 2020, we begin the first stage of easing the restrictions imposed and returning to a normal lifestyle, of course, while maintaining maximum caution and enhanced measures to protect human life and health," Sobyanin said.

"In the event of a worsening situation with the spread of coronavirus, canceled restrictions can be reintroduced," he said.

Also from Monday, Moscow's residents will be obliged to wear face masks and gloves at trade facilities and in public transport in the city, he said.

Moscow confirmed Thursday 6,703 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing its total to 92,676.

Sobyanin said that although the number of new cases of coronavirus infection detected daily is still quite large, it is mostly due to an increase in testing volumes, and not to a real increase in the spread of COVID-19.

A more important indicator is that the number of hospitalizations with severe and moderate pneumonia has stopped growing over the past two weeks, he said.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the regions to develop and implement action plans to exit the regime of forced restrictions imposed from March 30 to May 11.