Russia to shut down night clubs & cinemas, crack down on hookahs amid coronavirus outbreak

24 Mar, 2020 17:25 / Updated 4 years ago

Russian authorities have decided to shut down night clubs, cinemas, and other mass-entertainment venues in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus. Bars and cafes remain open for now, but hookah-smoking will be prohibited.

The closure of public entertainment venues was ordered by the government on Tuesday. The decision will be enforced by local authorities across the country.

The shutdown affects night clubs, cinemas, and entertainment venues for children. Restaurants, cafes, and other small-scale venues will remain open for now. Smoking steam pipes in these establishments, however, will be prohibited, since using shared water pipes is best avoid as Covid-19 spreads. 

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The tightening of coronavirus measures comes as the disease continues to cause concern across the country. However, the number of registered cases in Russia remains relatively small at 495.

Thousands of people returning from badly-hit countries or who have had contact with those infected remain under quarantine and strict medical surveillance.

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