Putin allocates $127 million to fund the fight against COVID-19 in Russia’s regions
During a government meeting on Wednesday, October 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the allocation of 10 billion rubles (about $127 million) to the country’s regions to help fight the spread of COVID-19. The meeting was broadcast by the state television channel Russia 24.
“As for assistance to the regions: I know a figure of 10 billion rubles has practically been agreed upon, we need to do it and do it right now. […] The money should be spent on transport services for those in need of this support, on the purchase of personal protective equipment, on improving material and technical infrastructure, and on testing. It’s for these particular purposes and not for anything else,” Putin said.
In addition, the president demanded the immediate allocation of five billion rubles ($63.6 million) to provide free medications to people in need, who are in outpatient treatment.
During his speech, Putin twice said that it’s too early to talk about a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic. “According to specialists, in some territories this isn’t the second [wave], only the first wave has arrived,” he said.