Russia prepared for new wave of COVID-19, no lockdown planned

The Russian authorities are not discussing a possibility of a national lockdown across the nation due to another outbreak of the coronavirus infection, Kremlin's official spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on January 18, TASS writes. The implementation of separate restrictions depends on the decision of the heads of entities with special powers. The situation with coronavirus may change from one region to another, Peskov said. Governors effectively exercise their powers at this point, as the situation with COVID-19 is changing due to the emergence of the omicron strain.