As President Vladimir Putin told Russians to stay at home to the end of the month, Moscow on Thursday Russia launched an investigation into a coronavirus outbreak in a remote northern region.
Russia's Komi Republic, 1,000 km northeast of Moscow, has reported 56 cases of the virus, more than any other region outside Moscow, its surrounding region and St Petersburg.
Fifty-five of those cases were related to a single hospital in the district of Ezhva in Komi's regional capital, Syktyvkar, according to a statement by the regional administration.
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A coronavirus outbreak could be difficult to control in a region with a less well-equipped health service than western Russia.
Russian media have reported that a surgeon could have been the source of the infection and the Investigative Committee that handles major crimes said on Thursday it was investigating.
"Preliminary checks were arranged following media reports that one of the medical workers of Ezhva's district hospital could have infected a large number of people," the regional branch of the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Russia has reported 3,548 coronavirus cases, 80 per cent of which are in Moscow, its suburbs and St Petersburg, the most populated areas that have access to more advanced healthcare than the rest of the country.
The checks could take up to 30 days, Svetlana Korovchenko, a spokeswoman for the local investigative committee said.
"I think healthcare infrastructure in Komi is absolutely unprepared for an explosive outbreak of Covid-19," said Ernest Mezak, a lawyer at the Public Verdict human rights group who is conducting his own investigation into the outbreak.
"Neither officials nor regular people were taking Covid-19 as a serious threat in Syktyvkar just a week ago."
Last week Russia opened a criminal investigation into a senior infections specialist in the southern city of Stavropol who failed to self-isolate after a trip to Spain and allegedly infected several people.
The news came as Mr Putin 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, Mr 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 to keep operating, and grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open.
Mr Putin said that it would be up to the regional authorities to decide which sectors should keep working in their areas.
He said Russia’s virus-prevention strategies have bought time and helped slow down the outbreak in the country, but he also warned that infections haven’t yet peaked.
Mr Putin said that along with protecting the public’s health, it’s also important to protect people’s incomes and prevent a spike in unemployment.
He emphasized that employees should continue receiving their regular pay during the non-working period.
