Fox News Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered a nationwide mask mandate as a second wave of coronavirus cases put the country’s medical system under a severe strain.
The agency also suggested that bars and restaurants close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., Reuters reported.
The measures come as Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova on Wednesday told Putin and other senior government officials that the country is facing a critical situation as coronavirus cases continue to surge.
Golikova said hospital beds in 16 Russian regions were at more than 90% capacity, the outlet reported.
Doctors in the Kurgan region — about 1,220 miles east of Moscow — called on Putin to send help last week, saying there was a critical shortage of hospital space and staff, according to the outlet.
In response, the defense ministry said in a statement obtained by Russian news agencies that it will send army medics to help the region.
Russia, which has world’s fourth highest tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1.5 million, is still resisting a full second lockdown like the one imposed across the country earlier this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
