COVID-19 New Cases Surge... Russia and India Attempt Partial Lockdown Easing

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Despite the sharp increase in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Russia and India have partially eased lockdown measures considering economic circumstances. This move comes amid a situation where more than 10,000 and 4,000 new cases are being reported daily in each country, raising concerns about difficulties in COVID-19 prevention.

According to TASS news agency and others on the 11th (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a nationwide address regarding the epidemic, ahead of chairing a government video conference on COVID-19 measures that afternoon, that the nationwide paid leave for workers, which had been in place for about six weeks since the end of March, would be lifted.

President Putin said, "Thanks to the previously implemented restrictions, we have been able to move to the next stage of gradually easing the control system," but emphasized that the easing and lifting of restrictions would be done cautiously and sequentially. He demanded that governors and other local government heads take responsibility for making decisions to supplement, ease, or maintain restrictions based on regional situation analysis and doctors' recommendations, as the COVID-19 situation varies by region.

The problem is that Russia recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases on the same day. The Russian government announced that 11,656 additional confirmed cases were reported across 84 regions nationwide, including Moscow. This is the highest number since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Russia at the end of January.

Additionally, there have been reports that Russia's COVID-19 death toll is more than three times higher than the official count. The New York Times (NYT) cited COVID-19 death statistics released last month by the Moscow city government, pointing out that COVID-19 treatment was only provided in some hospitals in Moscow, suggesting that many people who died from other diseases might also be included.

India is in a similar situation to Russia. On the 11th, Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated his intention to partially ease the COVID-19 lockdown measures, which are in effect until the 17th, during a video conference with governors. He said, "We face the dual challenge of preventing the spread of the disease while gradually increasing economic activities," and stressed the need for a gradual lifting of lockdown measures.

However, the day before this statement, on the 10th, India reported 4,214 new COVID-19 cases, marking the largest increase ever. Until mid-last month, the number of new cases was around 1,000, but it has risen to the 2,000 to 3,000 range since the beginning of this month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.