Meeting of the Presidium of the Governmental Coordination Council to control the incidence of the novel coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation

Mikhail Mishustin:"As for Russia, the situation in a number of regions has stabilised, but we should not let up now. It is very important to follow precautions. All public health requirements must be met in full".

Mikhail Mishustin's opening remarks:

Good day, colleagues.

The coronavirus is continuing to spread around the globe, while experts are warning of the emergence of a new little-studied strain. Russia has imposed air travel and entry restrictions for foreign nationals from several counties. This is necessary to minimise the risk of the new strain getting into our country.

As for Russia, the situation in a number of regions has stabilised, but we should not let up now. It is very important to follow precautions. All public health requirements must be met in full.

During the pandemic, doctors and other health workers have been working round-the-clock to help those who have caught the dangerous infection, having to stay in hospitals for hours or even days on end. However, medical professionals taking care of patients run the risk of getting ill themselves. So, on the President's initiative, additional insurance has been approved for doctors, mid-level and junior staff and ambulance drivers, in case of them catching Covid while providing medical assistance. Unfortunately, this happens quite often. This year medical workers have already been given one-time insurance payouts totaling almost 20 billion rubles. The Government has additionally allocated over 5 billion rubles for this purpose.

The spread of the coronavirus is a serious strain on the Social Insurance Fund. The amount of sick leave payments has increased. To ensure the fund's stability, the Government has replenished its budget with over 53.5 billion rubles. This amount will be used to continue providing income support to temporarily disabled employees.

The President has given special attention to one more topic. Sick leave is being granted not only to people with coronavirus condition but also to people who had contact with them. In a situation where it is not known whether a person has caught the disease after contacting the ill individual or not, it is better to stay at home to be on the safe side and to not expose other people to the risk of catching the virus. It is about taking responsibility for one's own health and that of other people.

Regarding the decision that was taken, the Government is continuing to support Russian regions fighting the coronavirus by providing funds for purchasing drugs to treat sick people and helping with the delivery of oxygen. The regions must always have stocks of drugs and personal protective gear, and spare beds, so that people who need treatment can receive it in hospital.

The Orenburg Region was allocated 500 million rubles to complete the construction of a regional infectious disease hospital, which can take in over 180 patients. It is important that the construction has been completed by year end as planned. I am asking Governor Denis Pasler to personally supervise this project.

New infectious disease hospitals are helping us address the task of providing timely medical assistance that is up to standard.

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