Coronavirus cases in Russia near 25,000 after record daily rise

Moscow authorities have begun issuing digital permits to residents using cars or public transport this week in an effort to reduce social distancing violations.

A Russian police officer checks identity cards and passes of drivers and passengers in vehicles entering the city at a COVID-19 check point in Moscow. Source: AAP

Russia has reported 3,388 new cases of the coronavirus, a record daily rise, bringing its overall nationwide tally to 24,490.

The country's coronavirus response centre said 198 people in Russia diagnosed with the virus had now died, an overnight rise of 28.

The rise came as Moscow introduced a travel permit system on Wednesday to help it police a lockdown meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, a move that initially created traffic jams and long queues of people wanting to use the metro.

A traffic jam ahead of a check point set up by Russian police at an entrance of Moscow. Source: AAP

Moscow, the worst-hit region, has imposed a city-wide lockdown, ordering its 12.7 million residents not to leave home except to buy food, get urgent medical treatment, or walk the dog.

 

From Wednesday, any Moscow resident travelling by car or public transport must show a permit in the form of a

machine-readable QR code or a series of numbers to justify their travel.

 

Photographs circulating on social media showed queues of hundreds of people standing close to one other in masks as they tried to enter the city's metro stations.

A supermarket in Sochi, Russia, during the pandemic. Source: AAP

Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow's mayor, wrote on social media that the queues had been caused by police officers checking permits. He said he had asked police to prevent such crowds forming in future.

 

"The queues have been eliminated. Work has been normalised. But in future, it will be necessary to move on to automated control. We'll think about how to do this," wrote Mr Sobyanin.

 

Traffic police have also set up checkpoints on roads coming in and out of the Russian capital and said they will not let anyone pass without a permit.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.

If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.

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