
news
Here’s Russia’s plan for facing the coronavirus crisis and preventing new infections, point by point
Source: Meduza
On March 16, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced his cabinet’s plans for battling the global pandemic of COVID-19. The proposal is scheduled to be revealed in full on March 18, but media sources like Vedomosti and Kommersant have already uncovered a number of the measures it contains. The federal executive branch has now confirmed some of those steps, particularly those related to business and the economy.
The cabinet’s proposals so far
- Allocate 300 billion rubles ($4.06 billion as of March 16) to support Russian citizens and the Russian economy;
 - Compensate quarantined citizens for lost income using employer records or doctors’ notes;
 - Set aside funds in the federal budget for unemployment payments;
 - Pay pensions and other benefits in advance;
 - Limit or ban events with more than 1,000 attendees throughout Russia, including international athletic events;
 - Extend school vacations or make school attendance voluntary;
 - Allow delivery options for over-the-counter medicines purchased online;
 - Create a prize fund for standout doctors fighting the virus;
 - Provide for increased coronavirus test production;
 - Create an online alert system for coronavirus updates;
 - Guarantee personal protection funds for individuals;
 - Cancel duties on imported medications and medical supplies;
 - Establish a ‘tax holiday’ for businesses, including tour agencies and airlines;
 - Give small and mid-sized businesses a one-quarter extension on paying their taxes;
 - Temporarily halt audits of small and mid-sized businesses;
 - Give state corporations an extension on paying out dividends;
 - Add the coronavirus to the list of acceptable force majeure circumstances on government contracts;
 - Allocate government credits to regions that meet their economic development goals;
 - Cancel limits on transportation for chain markets in Russian cities;
 - Guarantee systemically vital companies credit for their current work and any recursive tasks.
 
More on Russia’s unique circumstances
- Putin reportedly plans to address the nation and postpone Russia’s constitutional plebiscite, though the Kremlin currently denies it
 - Why are there so few reported COVID-19 cases in Russia?
 - Lining up for coronavirus kisses The Russian Orthodox Church isn’t shutting its doors or using clean spoons, despite a global pandemic
 
Text by Alexander Baklanov
Translation by Hilah Kohen