Russia is beginning what Vladimir Putin called a “non-working week”, to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The government is urging people to stay at home, though mixed messaging has left many Russians confused.
Officials now hint the new restrictions could be extended beyond 5 April, depending on the health situation.
The number of Russians infected with Covid-19 passed 1,000 on Friday, with most cases detected in Moscow.
Based on that figure, the Kremlin spokesman has stressed that there is “de facto no epidemic” here, comparing Russia’s position favourably with the crisis in Europe.
And whilst state TV’s rolling news channel has changed its name to We’re Staying Home – broadcasting from presenters’ living rooms – many people are struggling to adjust after its previous insistence that Covid-19 was a “foreign threat”.
