Coronavirus restrictions aim to ensure functioning of Russian economy, social sector, to avoid lockdown - Deputy PM Golikova

MOSCOW. Oct 5 (Interfax) - The Russian government has elaborated a number of measures to protect the population from Covid-19 and to avoid a lockdown, the phased measures will be put into place on the orders from public health officials, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said.

"The Russian government and regions - we held a meeting yesterday - have discussed a series of measures aimed exclusively at the maximum protection of our population from Covid-19, the reduction of mortality rates, and the provision of further operation of the economy and the social sector without a lockdown," Golikova said at a government meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

"These are phased measures that depend on the situation in a particular region, and they will be put into effect consistent with the opinion and decisions of public health officials in regions and, in certain cases, of the Russian chief public health official," Golikova said.