Moscow faces rising COVID-19 cases, toughens enforcement of mask and glove requirements

Moscow to toughen enforcement of COVID-19 rules as cases rise Authorities in Moscow said on Wednesday they would step up enforcement of rules requiring people to wear medical masks and gloves in indoor public spaces due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Russian capital. Reuters Reuters

Authorities in Moscow said on Wednesday they would step up enforcement of rules requiring people to wear medical masks and gloves in indoor public spaces due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Russian capital.

Russia on Wednesday reported 10,407 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, its highest number of daily infections since early March. In Moscow, there were 4,124 infections, creeping past the 4,000 mark for the first time since mid-January.

"The epidemiological situation is worsening in Moscow, the number of cases is rising," RIA news agency quoted city official Yevgeny Danchikov as saying.

"The enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment by people in public places, including on public transport, on the metro and at entertainment centres, ... will increase."

Muscovites are required to wear masks and gloves on public transport, in taxis and in places like shopping malls, but the rules are not strictly enforced.

People without personal protective equipment can face fines.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin -- who last month remarked on how few residents had chosen to get vaccinated against COVID-19 despite free and easy access to shots -- said on Wednesday the city of more than 12 million was not planning to impose a fresh lockdown. ...