President Putin extended May public holidays

Vladimir Putin agreed on the extension of the traditional May public holidays. The head of the Russian Federal State Agency for Health and Consumer Rights Anna Popova came up with a corresponding initiative.

A break in non-working days can worsen the epidemiological situation, said the head of the department. The main risks, she said, were associated with public transport, which Russians are likely to use more intensively, leaving the city and returning back.

"If you think that it is necessary, we will do so, and today I will sign the corresponding decree," replied the president (quoted by the RIA Novosti agency).

The head of the state also noted the need to listen to the opinion of experts who understand the mechanisms of spread of the virus and who are directly fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

A day before, the head of the Ministry of Labor announced that the department was discussing the possibility of extending the May public holidays. This initiative was put forward, in particular, by the State Duma deputy and the leader of the Just Russia faction, Sergei Mironov.

The presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov on April 12, in a conversation with reporters, did not confirm any plans to extend the May public holidays. "We, frankly, have work plans for this time," answered he the questions from the representatives of media.