Saint Petersburg eyes virus lockdown amid record deaths
Russia's second city Saint Petersburg registered a record number of virus deaths on Tuesday as authorities warned of an imminent lockdown and shuttered restaurants for the New Year's holidays.
Saint Petersburg—one of Russia's most popular tourist destinations—is struggling with a major health crisis, with hospitals overwhelmed with coronavirus patients but residents flouting social distancing and other measures.
Saint Petersburg, Russia's worst-hit city after Moscow, on Tuesday recorded 3,734 new cases and 86 new coronavirus deaths, a record since the start of the pandemic.
By comparison, Moscow, the outbreak's epicentre, registered 5,232 new cases and 71 new fatalities.
On Monday, Saint Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov warned that the city was close to a formal lockdown as local hospitals were nearing full capacity.
"A time has come for Saint Petersburg when very little separates us from a full lockdown," Beglov said.
He added that the approaching New Year's holidays should not become a "marathon of spreading coronavirus".
Last week, Saint Petersburg authorities announced new virus restrictions, including the closure of bars and restaurants from December 30 until January 3.
The decision prompted an outcry from local businesses with over 100 bars and restaurants announcing that they will not obey the orders in the absence of any tangible government support.
'Map of Resistance'
They published a so-called "Map of Resistance" online, showing locations around the city that will remain open despite government orders.
A statement on the website said that if businesses remain open they will have a "faint chance of survival".
If the order is observed, around 5,000 bars and restaurants "will die" and more than 100,000 people will become unemployed, the statement said, noting that Christmas markets and festivals in the city will remain open.
The Saint Petersburg administration had also ordered the closure of theatres and museums and cancelled any concerts for the duration of public holidays in Russia from December 31 until January 10.
The focus is on New Year's and Orthodox Christmas which is celebrated in Russia on January 7.
With the holidays approaching and international travel limited, the head of Russia's health regulator Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, on Tuesday asked Russians to stay at home for the New Year.
Since the start of the outbreak, 5,947 people have died from COVID-19 in Saint Petersburg.
Russia has registered a total of 2,515,009 infections, over 44,000 of them fatal.
Despite the growing number of cases, authorities have shunned a new lockdown, pinning their hopes on the development of a vaccine.
© 2020 AFP
