Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was not worth talking about the second wave of the coronavirus in Russia, as some regions had not yet reached the first wave.
"We are not talking about any second wave. But as we have recently discussed, the first wave is still reaching some regions, according to experts," the President said when opening the meeting with Government members.
Nevertheless, according to the head of state, there are still many questions. "In general, of course, all of us are monitoring, we are looking closely, the work is being done on a professional level," Putin said, calling to keep a finger on the pulse and respond to events in a timely and effective manner.
Medicines and personal protective equipment
The President instructed to immediately decide on the allocation of 5 billion rubles for medicines for patients with the coronavirus. "The amount of 5 billion rubles was discussed. I ask not to delay this decision, I know that in general the approvals have been completed, we will consider that these decisions have been taken. I ask to allocate these funds immediately," Putin said.
The head of the state noted that "some people who have faced an infection or are ill in a mild form, would be ready to undergo treatment on an outpatient basis. However, according to him, the question of the availability of medicines is raised. "The government has already discussed this problem and now it has come to a decision to provide our citizens, our people who need our help, with free medicines, and thus, it would be possible for this category of citizens to be treated on an outpatient basis," Putin concluded.
He also ordered to allocate 10 billion rubles to the regions of the Federation to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and coronavirus testing systems. "As for the assistance to the regions: I know that the amount of 10 billion rubles has been practically agreed upon, we need to do it and do it right now. Now I am talking about regional assistance. The money should be spent on transport services for those in need of this support, on purchase of personal protection means, on the improvement of the material and technical base, on testing," the head of the state said.
He emphasized that these funds should be allocated "exactly for the fight against the covid-infection, for these purposes, and not for any other".
Attention to the coronavirus problem
Putin demanded that officials pay more attention to the problem of fighting the coronavirus. "I would also like to address the Russian government, all my colleagues who are professionally engaged in this, I would like to address the leaders of the Federation's regions: we need to increase [attention]. We are doing it all the time, but the situation requires more attention to this problem," the head of state stressed.
He expressed confidence that the authorities will cope with all the difficulties encountered against the backdrop of the fight against the coronavirus but instructed Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova to "separately and purposefully" deal with the territories where the situation is alarming.
Putin said that he "would not like" to convert hospitals to covid treatment but if necessary, heads of regions should make such decisions.
"If there is a need to deploy additional beds, then it is necessary to do it, if there is a need to re-profile something, of course, I would not like to, because it is necessary to work in the current mode, but if there is such a need, please assess this need, consult with specialists of the Ministry of Health, with your specialists, be close to them during this period of time and take appropriate decisions", Putin addressed the governors during a meeting with members of the government.
The President reminded that in some regions the bed fund occupancy rate was about 95%. According to him, this is due not only to the coronavirus but also to the current situation with influenza and viral respiratory infections. "I want to address to heads of regions of the Russian Federation: we are monitoring, as Tatiana [Golikova] said, [the situation] in each territory, we help and will help, but please do not forget about your responsibility, about what should be done in the near future. We need to take what needs to be done right now very seriously," the President emphasized.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS