AKIPRESS.COM - President Vladimir Putin on Thursday prolonged until April 30 a paid non-working period across Russia, stepping up measures to stem the spread of coronavirus just a week after the Kremlin said there was no epidemic. 

Russia, which has reported 3,548 cases and 30 deaths, has already imposed a partial lockdown on many regions, including the capital Moscow, which has become the epicentre of the country’s outbreak.

In a televised speech on Thursday, Putin said the partial lockdown and this week’s non-working period had helped slow the contagion, but an extension was needed, Reuters said. 

Putin said the heads of Russian regions will get extra powers as by the end of this week they will have to draw up measures to ensure people’s security and stability of economies and core infrastructure.

The regions themselves will decide which regime they prefer and which institutions and organisations should suspend their activities or can continue working, Putin said.