Putin eases Russian lockdown as cases rise
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that from Tuesday the nationwide coronavirus lockdown will be eased and businesses will get back to work.
He said the country's "non-working period" imposed to curb the virus had lasted six weeks.
The easing of restrictions will affect all sectors of the economy, Mr Putin said, however, many regions may keep tighter controls if necessary.
Russia now gets the third-highest number of confirmed infections worldwide.
In the last a day it reported an archive daily rise of 11,656 cases, bringing the state total to 221,344.
That means Russia now has more confirmed cases than both Italy and the UK. Only Spain and the US have reported more infections. However, comparisons between countries aren't always accurate as a result of different factors such as the extent of their testing.
According to official figures, 2,009 people in Russia have died from the virus. However, many question the reduced figure, and believe the tally is far higher.
What did President Putin say?
In a televised address, the Russian leader announced a finish to six weeks of countrywide restrictions, which he said had allowed the country to get ready its health system and save "many thousands of lives".
"Starting from tomorrow, May 12, the national period of non-working days will be over for all sectors of the economy," Mr Putin said. Individual regions however will be able to keep rules set up if needed.
Large public events remain banned and people must still follow "strict sanitation demands", nonetheless it is in everyone's interest for the economy "to come back to normal quickly", he said, adding that construction and farming ought to be one of the primary industries to restart.
But the outbreak is definately not over, the president warned, saying that "danger remains".
"We must not allow... a new wave of the epidemic and the growth of serious complications," he said.
The address comes just days following the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, extended the capital's lockdown until 31 May.
Though construction and commercial workers must now go back to work in the town, everyone must wear face masks and gloves in shops and on public transport.
Residents still cannot set off unless to look, work or walk the dog, and must have a digital permit to travel.
