Putin suspends all non-essential work in Russia, calling a nationwide stay-at-home holiday next week to curb the spread of coronavirus

In a major effort to curb the spread of coronavirus in Russia, Vladimir Putin has canceled the next workweek nationwide, suspending work for all non-essential laborers from March 28 to April 5. The president also indefinitely postponed a nationwide plebiscite on constitutional amendments that was previously scheduled for April 22.

In his nationwide address on March 25, Putin also outlined a series of federal measures to sustain Russia's economy and social safety net, announcing debt protections for persons diagnosed with coronavirus and tax and bankruptcy protections for small- and medium-sized businesses.