Russian President Vladimir Putin met yesterday with members of his government, headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, to discuss the worsening COVID-19 crisis and development plans for the Russian economy. After some discussion of the Plan for Achieving the National Development Goals until 2024 and the planning period until 2030, Putin – who regularly runs into opposition from within his own government, based on monetarist austerity considerations — stated bluntly: “For now there is only one thing that is lacking, as people say – it is necessary to carry out this plan…. I do hope that all of us will do everything we possibly can to implement it properly.”
On the COVID crisis, Putin took a report from Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova on “how we are countering the coronavirus pandemic.” She presented a sobering picture, and talked about the new measures being adopted: “The situation continues getting complicated…. You are aware that a resolution of the Chief Sanitary Doctor has come into force today. It requires the mandatory wearing of masks in public places, public transport and other crowded places. Proceeding from the epidemiological situation, the regions have been recommended to ban mass public events from 11 pm to 6 am, and to toughen sanitary and epidemiological measures as regards people aged over 65 and those with chronic diseases.”
Golikova also talked about the pressure on the hospital system. Putin was very sharp: “Ms. Golikova has just mentioned that some 90 some-odd percent, or up to 95% of beds are already occupied. We have discussed this; it has to do not only with COVID-19, but also with the current situation with the flu and ARVI cases. They are overlapping. As I have said, experts believe that just the first wave of the pandemic rather than a second one is coming to some territories. Therefore, we must be very serious about what needs to be done right now. If it is necessary to deploy additional beds, this must be done.”
Putin then demanded: “Please allocate these funds immediately.” He then asked both Golikova and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov when this would be done. After some hemming and hawing, he got them both to say: “tomorrow.” Putin responded: “Good.”
