- The numbers: Covid-19 has infected more than 3.1 million people and killed at least 217,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
- In the US: More than 1 million cases have been recorded, including at least 58,000 deaths.
- Easing restrictions: New Zealand, Australia and several European countries including Portugal, France, and Greece have loosened, or put forward plans, to ease some of their toughest coronavirus restrictions. Several US states are also beginning to open up.
In a meeting of the government’s coordinating council for combating the spread of coronavirus, Mishustin said:
"It is still impossible to give an exact date when the restrictions imposed due to coronavirus can be completely removed, including at the borders of the Russian Federation.”
The Russian government previously barred entry to foreigners through April 30 to halt the spread of coronavirus, but Mishustin said he had signed a government decree extending border closings “until the fight against infection is complete and the epidemiological situation improves,” although he did not give further specifics.
Mishustin added that some exceptions would be granted to specialists who maintain specialized equipment needed for manufacturing essential items to fight coronavirus.