Update – 18.06.2020

June 18, 2020

On Thursday, June 18^th, Russia recorded 7,790 new cases of coronavirus in 83 Russian regions, raising the official number of positive results to 561,091, with 7,660 dead. Most new COVID-19 cases (1,040) were registered in Moscow, raising the total number of Muscovites with confirmed COVID-19 to 210,785. In the meantime, a total number of 313,963 Russian patients are known to have recovered from coronavirus. Russia is still the 3^rd most-affected country in the world in terms of confirmed cases, after the USA and Brazil.

The Ministry of Defence and the Health Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health are starting to test coronavirus vaccines on humans, the military department said. The Ministry of Health issued a permit for clinical trials and agreed on quantitative and qualitative parameters for a sample of volunteers, including the ratio of military to civilians, to whom a new vaccine will be introduced.

70% of Russian tourists are waiting for the opening of international destinations and 80% are not ready to purchase domestic travel packages instead of trips to foreign destinations. These are the results of the survey held by one of the leading Facebook travel trade groups with over 11 000 Russian travel agents. Agents have confirmed that the majority of their clients are ready to travel abroad as soon as international flights from Russia are resumed.

On Monday, June 15^th, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted on his website that Moscow is continuing to note a reduction in newly detected cases of COVID-19 infection and the number of serious cases requiring hospitalization of patients. Compared to the week of June 1st to 7th, last week, the average number of hospital admissions decreased by 22%, from 753 to 587 cases per day.

From July 1^st, up to 70% of the regions of the Russian Federation may open to tourists from other regions, predicts Yuri Barzykin, vice president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT). “We believe that from July 1st, both the Krasnodar Region and the Republic of Crimea, and, I think, up to 70% of our regions will open their borders. Of course, with some restrictions,” said Barzykin. At the same time, it is estimated that the occupancy of Russian hotels in July, will not exceed 60%, according to the forecast of the PCT Vice President. This is in light of recommendations by the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare regarding the organization of tourist accommodation, within the framework of the gradual removal of coronavirus restrictions.

As of Wednesday, June 17^th, more than 15.6 million coronavirus laboratory tests were carried out in Russia. People all over the country have been tested, including those who came into the country during March from abroad. Russia ranks second in the world for the total number of coronavirus tests carried out.

On Saturday, June 13^th, during a government briefing, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova reported that the peak of coronavirus infection in Russia was noted on May 11th. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the daily increase of coronavirus cases has decreased 16 fold from the end of March to the present day. Today the total daily increase of coronavirus cases in Russia is 1.7–1.8% on average, Golikova added.

According to Rosaviation (Federal Air Transport Agency), the number of transit flights over the Russian Federation in May increased by 45% in comparison to April. The number of domestic flights in May was 25% more in comparison to April, but 39% less than May 2019.

Kazakhstan

On Thursday, June 18^th, Kazakhstan recorded 335 new cases of coronavirus, raising the official number of positive cases to 15,877,with 97 dead.

From Saturday, June 20^th, Kazakhstan Airlines are allowed to gradually resume flights to Turkey, China, South Korea, Thailand, Georgia and Japan, according to a report by the Civil Aviation Committee. “At present, Kazakhstan and foreign airlines have pre-compiled a schedule of international flights. Flights will be operating according to the officially published schedule on each airline website,” the statement said.

On Wednesday, June 17^th, Kazinform News agency reported on the introduction of additional quarantine measures at a national level in Kazakhstan, proposed by the deputies of the Ak Zhol (Bright Way) party. Deputy Meruert Kazbekova noted that the party appreciates the efforts of the government of the republic, however, in some regions of Kazakhstan, an increase in positive cases is still being observed.

On Monday, June 15^th, Tengrinews.kz reported that the number of severe cases of COVID-19 has increased in Almaty. This was confirmed by the head of the public health department, Kamalzhan Nadyrov. According to the report, the number of severe cases has doubled in the past week.

Ukraine

On Thursday, June 18^th, Ukraine recorded 829 new cases of coronavirus, raising the official number of positive results to 34,063, with 966 dead.

On Wednesday, June 17^th, Prime Minister Denis Shmygal reported that The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine extended the adaptive quarantine in the country until July 31^st due to the unfavorable epidemiological coronavirus situation, so that each region will be able to strengthen restrictive measures independently.

On Friday, June 12^th, at an extraordinary government meeting, the decision was made to resume the operation of checkpoints and control points at Ukrainian airports, while ensuring the possibility of foreign citizens crossing the border from June 15^th.

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