Russia’s Putin orders non-working month to curb coronavirus

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Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses Russian citizens on the State Television channels at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Putin has ordered most Russians to stay off work until the end of the month to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Speaking in a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said he was extending the non-working policy he ordered earlier for this week to remain in force throughout April. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin has ordered most Russians to stay off work until the end of the month to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Speaking in a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said he was extending the non-working policy he ordered earlier for this week to remain in force throughout April. He said there are exceptions for essential industries will keep operating, and grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open. He says Russians who aren’t working should continue earning their regular salaries. Putin said Russia’s virus-prevention strategies have bought time and helped slow down the outbreak but also warned that cases haven’t yet peaked.