Moscow starts nonworking period as infections, deaths soar

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian capital has started a nonworking period intended to stem coronavirus infections as daily cases and deaths from COVID-19 surged to all-time highs. The government coronavirus task force reported 1,159 deaths in 24 hours, Russia’s largest daily toll of the pandemic. The number of new confirmed cases rose by 40,096 Thursday, topping a previous record reached earlier this week. To contain the spread, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a nonworking period from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 when most state organizations and private businesses are to suspend operations. He encouraged the most affected regions to move faster, and some introduced the measure earlier this week.