Russia

MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/: The non-working period in Russia will end once the coronavirus spread is minimized, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"As long as the threat of the virus spread and the epidemic persists, as well as the risk of an increase in infection cases, the [non-working] period about which the president spoke yesterday will continue. Once the threat is over or minimized through joint efforts, there will be no more need to extend the period," Peskov pointed out.

MOSCOW, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Thursday an extension of paid leave for all Russians to April 30 due to COVID-19.

"If the situation allows, we will adjust the announced period of forced non-working days in the direction of its reduction," Putin said in a televised address to the nation.

The country's regions, depending on the objective situation, would decide which institutions and organizations should suspend their activities and which could continue their operations while strictly ensuring the safety of citizens, he said.

MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/: Belarus will not be able to buy 2 million tonnes of oil from Russia at a price of $4 per barrel, if there is no corresponding market supply, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on the statements of Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Rumas.

SIMFEROPOL, April 2. /TASS/: Two natives of Central Asian countries suspected of planning to join terrorists in Syria have been detained in Crimea, the regional branch of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement.

MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/: Russian Railways (RZD) has ceased implementation of infrastructure projects in Iran, press release of the holding said on Thursday. The Iranian side has been notified, the company noted.

In this regard, RZD International, which is in charge of the holding's foreign projects, has stopped work on electrification of the Garmsar - Inche Burun line and closes a branch in Tehran.

MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/: Manufacturers operating under the aegis of the Russian space corporation Roscosmos in February submitted applications for obtaining registration of a ventilator for newly-born babies and a medical gas mixer.

"The pneumatically driven and manually controlled machine is meant for providing respiratory support for newly-born babies in apnea or condition of grave respiratory deficiency in the first minutes after birth," Roscosmos said.

MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/: The number of coronavirus cases in Russia grew by 771 in the past 24 hours, reaching 3,548, the coronavirus response center said in a statement on Thursday.

"A total of 3,458 coronavirus cases have so far been recorded in 76 Russian regions. As many as 45 patients recovered in the past 24 hours, 235 were discharged from hospitals. Six coronavirus patients died in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 30," the statement reads.

MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/: Russian agencies and Qatar's authorities are making maximum efforts to organize evacuation of Russian citizens from Doha, Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS on Wednesday.

"Work is underway to unblock the situation with Russian citizens in Qatar. Russian agencies and Qatar's authorities are making maximum efforts so that Russian citizens may leave for Russia," Zakharova said.

Earlier reports said that around 380 Russian citizens are waiting at the Doha airport to fly to Russia.

MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/: All citizens must keep a distance of no less than one meter from each other, this restriction does not apply to taxi trips, reads the executive order issued by Russia’s Chief Sanitary Physician Anna Popova posted on the official website of regulatory legal acts on Wednesday.

"Citizens must keep a distance of no less than one meter from other citizens, including in public places and public transport, except for the provision of services to transport passengers and luggage by taxi," the document reads.

AERODROME CHKALOVSKY (Moscow Region), April 1. /TASS/: A Russian plane with medical equipment on board has departed for the United States, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The Russian plane with medical masks and medical equipment on board has departed for the United States," the ministry said.

A spokesperson for the US Administration told TASS that the US authorities are expecting the Russian plane to arrive on Wednesday.